Evening journal., 1919-09-04
The Presidents Swing Around
the Circle and the Fundamental
Error ofHis PoIificaIPhiIosophy
From the Ne W York SUM-

pleasure IN the applause OF multitudes,
In The cheers aud keen interest with
which a friendly populace is ever ready
10 greet the appearance OF an eminent
/ parsonage, for which Mr.. Wilson has
manifested so unmlstskable an sppe-
| lite IN his previous stumping cam
paigns both az home and abroad This
| attraction, personal TO himself and de-
! pending on purely personal traits OF
character, Is not TO be overlooked in
any consideration Of the Presidents
present movements, although The sun
prefers not 10 discuss Il at this time.
What may be done, perhaps with
advantage TO the general understanding
OF the political aspects OF the situation,
Is TO point out, in the most respectful
way, the underlying misconception Of
his relation TO the constitutional sys-
tenn Of the United States, which has
colored and controlled and in measure
perverted all Of Mr.. Wilson's public ac-
tivities since he emerged from the
groves OF Academe TO take a leading
part in the nations affairs. His idea Of
a Presidents relation 10 the Federal
Government has been as steadily enter
tanned and as consistently manifested
a. il has been variously and often dis
tressingly inconsistent in its special ap-
plications.
Reduced TO the simplest terms. his
doctrine is the doctrine OF individual
ism, Of Executive supremacy over the
coordinate parts Of the governmental
machinery. Of individually determined
policies 10 be forced upon the Legis-
lative department, If may be. by direct
personal appeal to the same people
who have already chosen I'm the con-
sttutional way their representatives in
the business Of law making. A hun
dred times. in lectures. in writings on
our form OF government, I'm speeches
ON all sorts Of occasions. in personal
acts undertaken when he was I'm a DO
sition TO give practical effect TO his
theory OF American government. this
statesman and philosopher has ex-
pressed his belief in a leadership which |
Is substantially executive autocracy,
sustained adroitly by successful ap-
peal TO the popular inclinatlons OF the
moment. His doctrine was perhaps =,
never more directly avowed than in a |
speech which he made in Detroit in |
July Of 1915. Mr.. Wilson then said:
Il am one OF those-I have some
times suspected that there were not
many OF them-who believe abso-
lutely in the Virginia Bill OF Rights.
which says that people has the
right 70 do anything they please
with their own country and their
own Government"
The particular passage in the Vir-
sinia Bill Of Rights. declared by a con-
'ention of foriy-flve burgesses at VIII
iamburgh on May 6, l776. which Mr..
Wilson had in mind when he made this
weeping statement regarding his own
Of government. is contained
n the third section. as follows:
When any government shall be
found inadequate or contrary TO
these purposes (secrity and protec-
tion against maladmnistrationl a
majority Of the community hath an
indubitable. inalienable and indie
feasible right 10 reform. alter or
abolish it, in such manner as shall
be judged most conducive TO the
public veal"
That is declaration Of the ultimate
lght Of revolution-in this case as
ne dale shows, OF revolution against