Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-11-21
E DIT O A L
WILSON AND THE REPUBLICANS.

WILSON AND THE REPUBLICANS.
The Daily News is publishing today a signed communication by
George Authier, who formerly spent a portion OF a summer IN wa
tertown.
We are publishing it because it indicates the general drift of the
republican leaders with reference to Mr.. Wilson and peace.
Mr.. Wilson may err on the side Of lenency, it is true, as some
Of his staunch friends are inclined to fear, but that he represents
the spirit Of a great and a growing democracy there does not seem
to be room for serious doubt.
Woodrow Wilson may have ambitions to be recognized as TIE
great character of the closing days OF the war and the dominating
force in the peace that is to follow, as the republican leaders appear
to think is the case, but. even if so, their exhibition OF a measure OF
party Jealousy is manifesty Of the same type.
The underlying element i'll the criticism hurled at the president
would seem to be based upon a desire to win party favor, and not
upon the broad and high plane of patriotism.
We do not mean to imply that the republican critics are not
patriotic, but we do mean to say that, basng our Judgment upon the
character of the verbal assaults upon the president during the cam
paign but recently closed and dovetaiing them with what has trans
PRED within the party councils within the past ten days, the anxiety
of the republican leaders is founded upon the fear that Mr.. Wilson
course during the pending peace conference may result IN more hrmlS
establishing the president in the minds and hearts Of the American
peopIe-which, Of itself, would, or might, eventuate to the dlsad-
vantage of the republican party and, consequently, would weaken
It's leadership before the country.
Woodrow Wilson, notwithstanding his environments and his
somewhat arMtoeratic bringing up is very democratic at heart.
His public and private utterances within the passing decade tend to
indicate that he believes the rank and file OF the people nave not
been getting a square deal. This country has accorded him all the
lonors that it is possible to confer upon a human being. Any FUR
ther political responsibility that may or might be placed upon hs
shoulders would be but. a continuation OF what he already bears.
III Nj. Wilson is imbued with an ambition to shine in the
peace conference and to leave his imprint upon the results OF the
deliberations thereof, we are justified in assuming that it is not an
unworthy ambition. The American people, regardless OF political
utilization (f we omit the comparatively few politicians who seem
fo constitute the background of the criticism OF the president
course), anil the peoples Of Europe. bid him Godspeed IN his mission.
In the adjustment Of conditions growing out OF tue war the
chief point to be considered is not commercial Or industrial develop
ment, as such, but the interest Of the peoples concerned and newell
fare Of the generations to come, at home and abroad. The political
aspects of the situation in either America or Europe are but sec
ondary. We are building, or We should build, not for the presiden-
tial campaign Of 1920, or the parliamentary campaign in GreatBut-
ain on France, or the particular form Of government that shall be
adopted in Germany or Austria, 50 that it is democratic IN spirit
and III practice, but for all time to come.
lie Woodrow Wilson contributes thereto the world will have
reason to rejoice Oh account thereof, even though the republican
party and the republican leadership may thereby suffer.