Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-26
iDEALIST CRAFTSMANSHIP.
sioux CITY Journal.

l'ApbN WY
The views OF President Wilson con-
corning the impending peace confer
ence have been termed ideaiistic and
the president himself an idealist. The
terms have been used in both APP
prevail and criticism OF his policies.
This confusion comes from failure
10 distinguish between the different
meanings OF the words, one detini-
ton of an idoalist is "one who seeks
after the highest beauty or good"
Another definition Is IAN imaginative.
impractical person with these two
uses of the words clearly distin-
gut . cd the confusion which flows
from their use is apparent. The presi.
dents defenders use the hrst defini-
ton quoted, while his critics use the
last.
II Is charged that some OF the peace
views of the president are "imagina-
tive and impractical" and while those
who criticise him on this score con-
cede that he Is seeking after the
greatest good, Il is Impossible to real
izs that good because the means OF
doing so are intangible and visionary.
in this sense idealism ~ distinguished
from practical. The presidents dec
laration concerning the freedom of
the seas contained on Of these inn
practical clements which has not been
elucidated even by himself. He de-
clared there must be such freedom
alike in times Of peace as in war,
and when his critics took up the
cudgels and declared he meant free
trade by freedom of the seas in times
Of peace. the only explanation vouch-
ssfed was that such was not the in
tention.
Superficial students OF the char
acter and craftsmanship of Thomas
jefferson hold that he was great
idealist. according 10 the definition
specifying an imaginative. unprac-
teal person" Yet II Is doubted n
any man who has occupied the posi-
tion of chief magistrate Of the nation
possessed more practical statesman
ship and hard headed common sense
than Mr. Jefferson The Declaration
of Independence rs pointed to as an
illustration OF his imaginative brain
Yet no document was ever penned
which contained so much real hu-
man application. Every sentence or
that great document is a sledgeham-
mer blow against actual, not imasi-
nary wrongs. The grievances are set
cut so succinctly that there can be
no mistake about what they We're
The author drew an Indictment
against the rulers of a nation with
the idea of establishing its truth in
court. . -
Jefferson was the embodiment OF
school OF thought which sought real
democracy He stood over AGAINST the
opposition school of centralized gov
eminent and a powerful but patriotic
aristocracy. He was the embodiment
Of simplicity rather than tdignified
ceremonies. Because he believed in
the rule Of the masses. in fact was a
great commoner. does not argue that
hc waS an 'rpracticsi dreamer, FOR
his time ne took positions which
none but a practical. though farsce-
ing statesman would have dared. he
realized that unless the young nation.
then spreading into the Ohio anc
upper Miss ssippi valleys had tree
water outlet into the Gulf of Mexico
that part of the nation would be
hampered in It's commerce and would
become willing TO unite with nations
offering better trade conditions
Great Britain occupied the north and
France the south of this, region. and
IL the western colonies united with
either an insurmountable fence would
be built behind the borders OF the ma
tion and its opportunities for expan-
sion destroyed, That was why he con-
ceiyed the scheme Of securing ~
treaty the right from France for
open navigation OF the lower Missis-
sjppi river. When the attempt was
made il was found that Napoleon die
not want 10 make q lfres.ysvty&to sell
Louisiana. and the western empire
The entire AFFAIR was z
practical. common sense proposition
in which the imagination played no
part.
President Wilson has proposed a
league Of nations. but has offered no
details as to how the league should
he formed or what rights it should
be granted or how those rights should
be enforced. The scheme, is lacking
in the practical details which marked
President Jeffersonls course in getting
an open passage to the Mexican gun
waters.