Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-05
The Passing Flood Of Criticism

A PPARENT hostility toward President Will
a son, not that which fails to rise about
political expediency, but the spirit of antago-
nism which seems to have overleaped party
lines, presents an interesting study in national
psychology, for, after ALL and the history OF
the next few months will prove the correct
ness of this assertion, the tide of disapproval
now sweeping the country is almost purely
psychological, its sources not rising in reali-
ties. AS works the mind of the individual,
so works the national mind which is but
the aggregate of individual thought and feel
ing Dam up the free flow Of individual
thought as interpreted by words, then remove
the obstruction suddenly and the stored-up
reservoir will overflow. Dam up nations
thought for nearly two years. then without
warning lift all restrictions and the result
invariably will be what is witnessed now. a
torrent from the pent-up miscellaneous ideas
which have been denied freedom of expression,
ana mat torrent sweeps over whatever may
be in its path To-day the deluge from the
pent-up mind of the United States is loosed
and its currents swirl around the White
House. but it's force soon will be spent. and
when it is the object Of its violence will be
found mistaken and unscathed, with public
confidence in his stability strengthened by
his proven ability to withstand such hostile
forces.
Since the first day OF American participa-
ton in the war free public expression in the
United States has been held in restraint by
the dam of loyalty. and that barrier was self
raised. Loyalty TO the administration, which
spelled loyalty TO country, was the keynote
OF the nations thoughts words and actions.
In that wave of loyalty all else was sub
merged and individual opinion was sup
pressed or subordinated to the one great
theme of the victory that must be won.
Therein the American heart proved the stout
oak of which it is built. 1t was not that
the general course or particular policies OF
the administration did not have critics. There
was disapproval OF many things. The Pres
iuents friends, as we'll as his enemies, found
many things to criticize; at various stages
OF the conflict his wisdom was questioned,
but whatever there was of dissatisfaction or
discomfort was held fast behind that bar of
loyalty which restrained public expression
when 1T was so vitality necessary that the ma
ton present an involate unbroken front
Then the day of victory came. On that
day the dam which had held back the flood
OF American thought and emotions was
dashed down and the waters Of individual
opinion surged forth. The period Of repres-
sion over, apparently every one of Americas
more than 100.000,000 set up clamor for a
hearing of real and imagined grievances in
the exercise of their inalienable right of free
speech. Strong in that privilege, self-denied
for so many months, OF denouncing and con-
demning, publicly and privately whom, where
and how they will, they now are making up
for lost time, and, unfortunately their hasty
words are not always based on a foundation
OF ripened judgment. 1t is rather a sort OF
Babels towertof words which will fall of its
own emptiness
But II is 4 sad commentary on the Amer
lean character that the whole vexatious flood
should center upon the President, who led
the allied world to victory and brought i'm
perishabc glory to the United States. He has
been tried III the fire of war and found OF
pure metal; he has been weighed in the hal
ances of the worlds judgment and found not
wanting In those things demanded OF the
worlds great leaders. With all this a matter
OF history before them, there are those who
seek TO PREJUDICE him in his work at the
peace table. II is unjust to him. and his
oetractors and critics are unfair to them
selves and enemies to the nation Of which
they are q part. But he has passed through
other crises. So he will pass through this
one and shame and silence the fault-fnders
however he needs the popular support That
IS as vitality essential now as it was when
battles were being fought and civilizations
late was IN the balance. This he will have in
inc luieSt measure SO soon as the mental
reaction loIiowing the stress OF war has
passed. As the vultures fatten on carrion
ms pohNca. opponents will cling to their
dungheaps OF nagging criticism but the
great heart of the American people beats
true TO him as he goes 10 help settle those
problems which will determine the future
course of mankind
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