The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-26


derstood there as we'll as here that
the Republican leaders desire not 20
much to support the President as to
control him." Again: The people
of the allied countries with whom we
are associated against Germany 80"
would find it very difficult to believe
that the voters Of the United States
had chosen to support their Presi-
dent by electing to the Congress q
majority controlled by those who are
not in fact In sympathy with the at
tltude and action Of the tWilson]
Administration"
Now, passing over the utter false
ness Of the implied charge that the
Republican citizens Of this country
are less patriotic Than the Democratic
citizens in backing the Governments
war measures with votes and deeds
and sacrifices for the country's flag
and cause, these insidious words. II
they mean anything, can mean only
one thing. The President does not 60
so far, on the surface Of his utter
ance, as to assert directly, like some
Of the partisan managers and agents
of his own party in campaign litera-
ture recently and bideously conspicu-
Gus, that a vote for a Republican
candidate for Congress is vote for
the success Of the Hun enemy. He
refers guardedly to "the other side
Of the water" But whether he in
tends by his reference to the other
side Of the water to suggest an effect
that will hearten Germany for further
resistance and consequently be ad-
verse to this nations prestige or In
terests, or an effect in Great Britain,
France and Italy weakening conf
dence In the unity Of American sen
timent and the flrmness Of Americas
purpose, the suggestion amounts to
exactly the same thing, namely. aid
and comfort to the enemy.
And a plea for votes for Democrats
on the ground that the votes for Re
publican members Of Congress will
lend aid and comfort to the enemy Is
nothing short Of the imputation Of
traitorous activity to the American
Republicans casting such votes; for
by the Constitution Of the United
States the giving Of aid and COM
fort to the enemy is treason.
There has been much in Mr.. Will
SONS deiiverances requiring subse-
quent explanation. His amazing i'm
plications concerning the effect Of a
Republican success on November s
seem to us to belong Enthusiastically
to this class Of expressions.
There could be written a curious
commentary upon the Presidents re-
iterated description Of himself as the
servant" Of the people at the very
time when he Is submitting to them
in a political campaign IN unprece-
dented bid for mastery.
Not few Of the interested stu.
dents of this partisan document will
recall the views Mr.. WILSON ex.
pressed IN his treatise on Constitu.
tlonal Government in the United
States, wherein somewhat loose ideas
of. constitutional restraints were com
bined with very definite suggestions
of national leadership by force OF
personal qualities. Some Of his AGA
demic utterances Of long ago now
seem almost prophetic in the Light OF
his practical achievements in the ex
pansion of Executive power.
The constitutional system as It had
existed was thus set forth, although
without expression Of personal ap
proval, on page 40 of the book:
Under cur own system the people a,
whole consciously take part in the
choice of but one man, the President
and he Is not expected TO lead Congress
but only TO assent or 10 dissent from tn,
laws It seeks to enact and to put thos'
which receive his signature or ar,
passed over his veto into execution
while Congress Is guided by men whom
the nation may or may not have re
garded as It's leaders and who are pre-
ferred to places OF leadership in tn,
House and Senate by processes which
those houses have themselves devised
Tho President may be of one party ant
the houses OF Congress OF the other
The Executive and Legislature are no
! necessarily united in counsel with us a!
they are In England"