Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-02

deals with President Woodrow VIII
sons call to the country to return 10
Washington Il Democratic majority in
the House of Representatives. The
editorial uttcrances are SO diplomati-
cally written and yet SO respectfully
caustic and convincing that we have
deemed it advisable to give copious
extracts from this mastery product
10 Of Il great journalist. 1t says:
1t is only about fortnight since
Il Democratic Senator and organiza-
lion leader, Mr.. James Hamilton
Lewis Of Illinois, astoundcd the peo-
pie by introducing into The Senate u
resolution pledging that body in adj
vance to approve and indorse what
ever decisions President Wilson
might reach in his unaided mind
with regard to war policies or peace
arrangements. 1t was II proposal to
one house of the Legislative depart
mcnt to abdicatc dts constitutional
functions as an integral part of the
law making and treaty making estab
liShment; to turn over it's own pow
crs and duties, i'll the form of II blank
and yet certified check, to an EXecu
tive avowcdly engaged in making the
world safe for democracy.
Naturally, the attention bestowed
in the Senate and elsewhere upon
this proposal Of Il crude political i'm
agination and an imperfect under
standing Of our balanced system OF
representative government was most
ly of a derisive character. Senator
Lewis's conception of a republic gov
crncd by single intelligence and the
unrestricted will Of an individual
failed to fructify. 1t seemed at the
time to reduce to absurdity thcSfari-
GUS arguments and proposals tending
toward an American nutocracy. And
yet, strange as was that already nigh
forgotten incident, it is surpassed In
strangencss y thousand times over
by the proposal to the same practi-
cal effect that PROCEEDED yesterday
from tho White House in the more
subtle phrases and more sophisticat
cd augmentation OF President Will
son himself. Preserving all due re-
spcct for his already sufficiently OK
allied Office and for his personal state
ments Of motive, let Us try to SEQ
what is really signiricd by the poll
teal document addressed by the Prcsi
dent, on tho eve Of tho Congress cleo
lions, not to his fellow partsans but
to his fellow countrymen."
..-'-~.~ !
Could the language he moro care
fully chosen and could tho facts be
more forcefully stated? And again:
The President tells his fellow coun
trymcn that he will regard votes cast
ny Republicans on November for
Republican candidates for the Sixty
sixth Congress not only as votes OK
prcssivc Of lack OF confidence in him
self as War President and lack of
support for him in his war RESPONSE
bilities but also and actually though
theoretically as votes lending aid and
comfort to the enemy.
His adoption Of this view OF the
regular exercise Of the franchise
would DO almost unbelievable if his
language were less clear.
The New York Sun finds it diff
cult to restrain itself for 1t charges
that tho Chief Executive of the Nation
is guilty of having stated an UNI
truth. Here is it's language:
Now, passing over the utter false
ness Of the implied charge that the
Republican citizens of this country
are less patriotic than the Democrat
ic citizens in backing the Govern
ments war measures with votes and
deeds and sacrifices for the country's
flag and cause, these insidious words
if they mean anything, can mean on
ly one thing. The President does not
go so far on the surface Of his utter
ancc as to assert directly like somo
Of the partisan managers and agents
OF his own party in campaign litera
ture recently and hideously conspicu
Gus, that a vote for Republican can
didatc for Congress Is vote for the
success Of the Hun enemy. He refers
guardedly to 1.-THE other side OF tho
water" But whether he intends by
his reference to the other side Of the
water to suggest an effect that will
hcarten Germany for further resis-
lance and consequently be adverse
to this nations prestige or interests
or an effect in Great Britain, France
and Italy weakening confidence in the
unity Of American sentiment and the
firmness Of Americas purpose, tho
suggestion amounts to exactly the
same thing, namely aid and comfort
to the enemy.
And 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 tho imputation OF
traitorous activity to the American
Republicans casting such votes; for
by the Constitution Of the United
States the giving Of aid and comfort
to the enemy is treason.
It can be seen at once why the
Republicans are wrathy. They are
put in the same class with the pro
-