Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-04
A RIGHTEOUS PROTEST.
etterin sunday star.
Mr.. SNELLENBURG DEFENDS
HIS POLITICAL COURSE

Editor Delmarvla sunday star: 4
number OF my friends have called upon
me. some TO remonstrate, some TO pro-
test. and some, it might appear, 70 almost
threaten, because |. who have n the past
BEEN known as a Republican, now find
il necessary in my conscience and IN my
estimate Of nv duty rs a man, 70 support
with my vote and such influence rs
might possess, the policies Of President
Wilson, and incidentally IN 20 doing, 20
vote for the reelection Of Senator Sauls-
bury and Congressman Polk.
To me II appears strange, even a
marvellous thing, that man might have to
defend himself because ne openly ex-
presses his opinion and takes sides when
questions Of such universal and eternal
significance and potency are at stake. Il IS
a strange conception OF free institutions
which insists on playing the political
game with loaded dice II it IS strange, I
insist II is also wicked.
I will have no controversy with those
who talk about autocracy and the ike
while referring to the recent message Of
President Wilson 10 the American people
We are not granting nor are we asked to
grant nor will we grant any right or power
70 the President which we cannot and will
not take away from the President. II is
difficult TO make myself believe that many
of these who express their fears of autoc-
racv believe ali they say. The appeal
thev make bellies their argument.
The talk about czars and autocrats
appeal 10 me as political bunk
am an American who believes totally
and entirely in the American concept Of
government Nothing in my life time has
caused me so much qualification and
hopefulness as watching under the gllid-
ance and BY the Interpretation Of Presi-
dent Wilson this chastc concept invading
and conquering the political world
Ii am an American in my beliefs and
convictions it is because I see American
ism as a great human discoverer can
see its purpose as discovering the good
in the man everywhere 1t is un-American
to insist on speaking while YOU would
make your opponent hold his peace.
There appears to me therefore, some
thing sinister in the suggestion which is
borne to me BY these remonstrants and
protestants and those who approach the
border land Of threats.
| have been voting in Delaware for
more than 70 wears and | have been the
more or less consistent partisan of one
particular party during those 70 years.
If | adhered to it, 1t was because | be
lleved it could be made to work for the
good Of one no more or no less than this.
All this time have had desire | was
going 10 say n passion, for betteunent OF
conditions here
Near worked into wear and decade
ran into decade and preached and urged
that things would be done | hoped i'm the
PARTY to which was attached but thev
praised themselves and they denounced
and derded and there ii was born and
there ii died
am not attacking | am calling AT
tention to the fact that President Wilson
has interpreted and emphasized our
splendid ideals lof lls and agree with
him accept With him
Tie offers ali the promise and all the
hope that comes from believing in he
man What do the remonstrantS. the
protestants and the tnreat-bearer offer?
1t seeks for itself.