The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-27
CRITICISM

II 10 OI VI lS NHild SISuNS Vi Jul CHO ldkN IOlh VI
government and democratic frame of mind to want to know what
President Wilson is going to do when he gets to France, how
long he is going to stay and what arrangements he is gong
to make for the transaction Of business during his absence.
The Eastern press, for some reason, presumed to tell the
president in the outset that he should not go, and at the same
time criticized every suggestion of the representatives he would
appoint to the task.
1t is perfectly patent that no great issue is involved in this
transaction. The president is admittedly breaking a precedent,
but there are a lot Of precedents that might be broken without
serious consequences, The purpose Of this great cutlery, Of
which we hear very little, if anything, in this section, is merely
the beginning Of an era of captious criticism that the president
is going to feel from now until the end of his term.
Political capital will be made of every expression and Of
every act henceforth. Things Of small and even insignificant
consequence will hereafter be magnified and distorted by poEti-
cal enemies, and every effort will be made to dscredit the presi-
dent and the Democratic party during the next two years.
There will be no objection to the fullest investigation of the
exposure OF the gratters. But the country will insist that the
activities in those directions be confined to the disposition to
render the country a practical service, rather than for the pur-
pose of making political capital.
The criticism can be very largely alayed by the Democrats
if they will at once begin to dsband the expensive boards that
served a useful purpose during the war, but which will be
regarded as a sore affhchon if they are permitted to continue
for any length of time after the end of the war.
The election of a Republican congress does not mean that
the Republicans have assumed immediate control. The Demo
Gratis have yet a few days of grace in which to establish the
party and vindicate its record. This can be done if they will
apply themselves with whole-hearted devotion, and will work
as industriously to get the country back on a peace basis as
they worked to get it on a war basis.
II the "mopping up" process is left to the Republicans the
Democrats will not be able to escape a just and well-merited
ClfuSlsH' IL Is oe OF IN open secrets IN Washington that the
democrats IN the congress are not in entire accord with the
president in all things, and the fault is not entirely theirs. He
has not taken the great body Of intellectual men of both houses
into his confidence. Some of his closest advisers have not been
men of influence with their fellow members. The president has
admittedly been too much disposed to confine his association
to a small group Of men with whom he is personally congenial.
There were abundant reasons why no expression of resentment
was made openly during the days Of crisis that have happily
passed. The sentiment that was crysalizing in those days may
unfortunately deprive the president of the support of men who
otherwise would have been glad to be classed as his warm
defenders. The distinction between Democrats, based upon his
personal like, rather than upon the honesty Of their convictions
and their ability to serve the country, has been the cause of
further disafection in the party.
But this is all aside now, The people are looking for con-
structive expressions and not captious criticism. The president
is not obliged to take everyone into his confidence, and it would
be the height Of folly for him to attempt to define his status at
the peace conference, where many other powerful nations will
assemble. 1t will be a manifestation of exceeding lttleness if
those who have harbored grudges shall attempt to embarrass
the president in the execution of a program of no less Importance
than the waging of the war itself.