The sun., 1918-12-03

| expresses with the felicity to which his
public utterances have accustomed US
what IL in the American mind and
heart in these epochal days OF victory.
In respect Of the Presidents con-
| crete suggestions there will be differ
| ences of opinion. The statement as
to the purpose of his Journey to the
| peace conference is OF n general ma
| ture and does not attempt to answer
the objections raiseda gaiust the depart
| ure, The proposal of the President to
rollow present agencies to preside over
the critical and complicated conditions
In which we already are involved is
| neither reassuring nor safe.
Boston Herald A notably brief frac-
ton Of the Presidents address to Con-
gress yesterday deals with the subject
OF paramount interest to the American
! people. and that is the wars termina-
| ton and his own part in 1t. We in
cline to the belief, however, that they
are disposed to trust him to perform
| his duty In his own way. They would
resent, we believe, any of the plans,
like that which Senator Cumm!ns Of
| Iowa has proposed, for sending over a
| special representation to which the
| course OF events In behalf OF the Sen
ate. That would be unfortunate.
The President il entirely correct in
saying that We ought to establish n
, definite national railroad policy, that
1t is not fair to either the public or
the owners Of the roads to leave the
question unanswered. We ought to
be spared from having 100000 rail-
mn rlF NJ Oh Aat1 al
election for the party which promises
to pay them the best.
Boston POst-The Presidents mes
sage is much more along conventional
lines than was relerally anticipated.
But for its fine and at times elqs
/ quent dlction and but for its finAi
phrases 1t might take its place among
the old fashioned messages wherein
President is called upon to give to
Congress information Of the state of
the Union and recommend such meas
| ures as he shall Judge necessary. SO
reconstruction problems and measures
| hold n very large place in the message.
Louisville rier-Journal-It is on
the question OF our future railroad
policy that he is particularly discon-
| certing. The regret 10 that the Presi-
dent does not make known with all his
posit!veness of conviction and clearness
OF purpose which course he means to
urge and which he means to oppose.
II would be worth something at this
time II the great leader OF the great
American democracy, forgetting for
the moment the beauty and elegance
VI his diction, would thunder Just once
and read Jackson's by the Eternal
Me" in the face Of those who are maxi
ing no concealment OF their desire and
design to take advantage OF the pres-
ent situation to place the railroads
permanently in the hands OF the Fed
eral Government.
Philadelphia Public Ledger-The
President achieved the somewhat no.
table feat yesterday of maintaining
silence in 5000 words on any contro-
versial peace topics which may be in
the air. He has chosen to play a lone
hand. This is always a course OF peril
not only in this case for the player
but for the country, and quite posi-
bly, for humanity.
We shall only get the proper per-
spectlve on the Presidents attitude to-
ward these perplexing problems OF
peace If we keep constantly in mind
the fact-rather difficult for us TO en-
visage or even admit-that Woodrow
Wilson has become during this ire
mendous war and worldwide uphea val
of long established political conditions
something more than President of
these United States. He has made
} msef-and It surely was not an I'M
American action-the foremost spo<es-
man of the forward looking liberals OF
Europe.
II is idle to deny that IL Woodrow
Wilson had not gone to the peace con-
ference there are long submerged
millions on the plains of C2echo- Slo-
valiin. in Jugo- Slavia, in Poland and
even in Russia. who would feel that a
powerful friend on whom they had
confidently counted would be absent.
Kansas City Star-President Will
son speaks in fitting words of the
spirit Of the nation in the war His
plea for preference in raw material for
France and Belgium will meet with in
slant response. His comment on the
rapidly Of industrial reconstruction
and on the future OF the railroads is
judicious. But on the subject that is
in everybodys mind, the subject Of
the peace terms TO be written In Paris
in the next few weeks. he is thor
oughly disappointing.
1t is a safe assumption that the ma
ton is not yet ready for any such rad
ical change of policy as the President
has urged. Certainly It has not given
thorough consideration TO such pol
ICY or expressed approval for II, The
Congress which VIII be called on to
carry out the provisions OF the treaty
will be hostile.
st. Paul Pioneer Press-Nelther the
humblest OF us nor the highest is to
have a share in safeguarding the fruits
Of victory-that is a matter which the
President, in his queer sense OF per-
sonal responsibility, has con1ded to-
himself alone. One hundred and ten
million people Of the worlds mightiest
democracy occupy. In the present stu
alton, a position similar in all respects
TO the Presidents class In political
economy at Princeton.