Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-23

because 1t Is unnecessary, violative oi
propriety and good taste, and n measure
| which NAV actually destroy the unity
and harmony which aro its announced
objects
President Wilson seems tU have three
PURPOSES in mind-to discuss with the
allied statesmen the principles of the
peace settlement, to deliver a keynote
address which shall give his program Il
controlling efficacy, and to supervise the
deliberations and decisions Of the Amcri-
can peace delegates But it is obvious,
! as 10 the first item. that these discussions
would not keep him in France indefinite
ly"; us TO the second that from no ros-
trtim could be speak more effectually
than from his place as chief executive OF
the great western democracy, in it's capi-
tai: and as 70 the third, If cable communi-
! cation permits him to conduct the affairs
of the nation from a distance OF 5000
miles, the same facilities would enable hlm
To direct the Notions of half n dozen pence
delegates
The pretense that his physical presence
LIS necessary ~ All ailront To intelligence
As comrnanderin-chief OF the American
army and navy he led this nation in the
greatest war in history from hls desk IN
Washington and from that place he de-
lIvered judgments which profoundly at-
fected the course of events, he did not
have to transport himself to the North
Sea on the American flagship, nor move
his office to General Pershing's headunar
ters, nor whisper his peace demands into
the ears of Lloyd George and Clemenccau.
As 10 the peace treaty, the United States
Senate has equal power with him over
the terms, and there is just as much rea-
son for tn body to transport itself to
Versailles as for the President To go
Two imTelling motives arc plain. Mr.
Wilson is unable To resist the unparalleled
Opportunity To hear tho plaudits Of tho
world: and he Is determined tn reassert
the pence dictatorship which he was coin
pclled to abdicatc when he turned Ger
many's arrnis,ice appeal over 10 the nj
lied supreme war council
The appearance in Europe of per
sonally conducted excursion, incl ding
the President, official delegations and
shipioad of snbordna'es and relatives,
will undoubtedly create n memorable
spectacle, and will inspire ceremonies
the splcndor of which will be reflected
upon the whole nation. But most Amer
cans, we think, would be willing To fore
GO their share Of the fame rather than be
put in the position of courting, If not
actually extorting, the applause. The
greatest honor this nation has ever won
has been the worlds acknowledgment of
the self respecting modesty of the Afneri-
can army, and 1T is regrettable that this
reputc should I've dimmed by a needless
and spectacular parade
Niue Eravcr considerations are the
possible effects OF a form of intervention
which President Wilson alone among the
world leaders has undertaken 1t shows
The real meaning behind bis appeal for
election of a aubservient congress which
would make him "thc unpmhnrrnssed
spokesman Of America lie had hoped
to go 20 Europe with a political victory
To support his demand for acceptance
of his program hy the Allies having fniied
to get that authority, he feels, perhaps,
that il * still more desirable for him to
employ his personal presence as o dom
mating factor.
The remarkable argument il offered that
his presence ~ Versailles will make for
harmony, that the Allies will welcome
hi m as the "oonciliator Of disputes and
composer OF differences" and that he will
fulfill the treme endous function OF acting
as 'thc Colonel Housf of the world
Equally 20 be considered, we think, are
the possibilities that his appearance as self
constituted arbitrator and judge will tend
to divide the conference into prO-Nilson
and antiN llson groups, and that Ger
many will not be backward IN exploiting
any conditions Of that nature which may
arise Philadelphia North American.