The Washington herald., 1918-04-01

We hope this week, now opening up
with an hour to spare-so We would
believe-will be free of some of the
things noted with so much displeas-
ure in last weeks Congressional pro-
gram.
Let US look toward the truth-and
toward the future. Let US not forg et
the past but let US profit by it. We
have made mistakes. There is no use
denying them or condoning them. But
let US go ahead in the light of the
experiences and do the things that
will hurt the enemy
We have wasted time and money.
II we have learned anything at all,
God help US to put the lesson into. aC-
ton, to do those things We should do
to quickly defeat the Hun and then
command the kind Of peace We want.
In the future let it be said that there
are two kinds of decidedly poor pa
triOts-so far as Congress is concern
ed-and one of these kind shall be the
member who reasons after this wise:
II am a Democrat. Everything the
administration does is good. This ad-
ministration can do no wrong. 1t is
infallible. 1t is my partisan duty TO
take this position and to keep It,.
Those who say anything against the
conduct of the war are disloyal. Those
who say anything against the admin
istration want only to get partisan
advantage and are plying politics"
The other kind of fragile patriot
and quite as foolish and as harmful
as he is fragile-is the one who rea-
sons after this wise.
II am a Republican. The Demo-
Gratis can do nothing good. 1t is my
duty to point out Democratic wrong
doing wholly from the standpoint of
politics and not at all from the stand
point of my country. Down with the
Democratic party, even at a time like
this"
Gentlemen of Congress, use your
heads always, but your tongues only
frequently. Play patriots always but
politics never. And this applies to
both parties, for prominent members
Of both parties have been concerned
in the disgusting showing made last
week in some of the attacks on the
administration and in some of the
puerile defenses arranged to meet
them.
America wants the truth and can
stand the truth. but is in no mood fol
partisan politics at this time.
Premature Presidential passion will
kill poor T. RS chance of landing the
Republican nomination. The arrow
points in that direction every day.
The Maine reception in which he was
haf l.
T. r. has the backing of many of the
leaders of the country but a decidedly
small number of the rank and file. He
has not outlived his public usefulness
we wouldn't say this, because he
hasn't-but he has outlived the op-
portunity given him to capture the
Presidency of the country again. The
sooner the colonel realizes this, and
the sooner the men realize it who
would back him for another race. the
quicker the G. o. P. leaders will get
down to business and make the next
campaign really interesting and in
vigorating for the country at large.
Beginning this week we will re.
view a chapter or two at a time
and continuing until we are
through the work, Congressional
Government" by Woodrow Wilson
There are a multitude of things in
it which are doubly interesting al
the present time. You will enjoy
the review we believe quite as much
as we did the painstaking perusal
of the book in the light of the
Presidents acts since he became
head of the nation. 1t is not 9
criticism. but only a digest of the
work with occasional observations
which we think will aid Herald
readers in understanding the Presi.
dent and in gathering from his
angle. some of the high and low
spots of contact with the law
making branch.
The reading of Senator Borah's
recent statement to the Upper
House on some of the princinlss