Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-07-04
CITIZENSHIP VS.. pARrlsAnsHlp

IN inAt tldtf wy W nc AkpiitAi
was greater than 10 be king" II
Roman citizenship Ia those days was
such q priceless possession how much
more should, we as American citizens
prize our inheritance2 Yet We are be-
Jag asked to barter this priceless gem
for a mess Of pottage. We have dan
gled before ua the lure OF world domn-
ance world lendt rship. manifest des-
tiny. preservation Of world democracy.
These things are presented TO Us
dressed IN the honled yerbiage OF the
master OF sweet phrases DO not be
deceived. fellow citizens Granting that
woodrow Wilson ia as honest and pat
rlotic In his motives In urging us TO
adopt his league Of nations az you are
In considering Il this Is q question ~
volying such mighty consequences as
70 demand that al personal and par
tisan and 0thcr more or less selfish
Incentives 10 action on II must be firm
~ brushed aside. Il ~ a question TO be
settled on the broad bnHis Of Citizen
snlp and not partisanahip. Woodrow
Wilson being a member OF the Demo-
cratic party Is mere incident. II Is
inercly the instrument used by him to
secure the power necessary TO promul-
gate has ideas lie no more represents
the Democratic party than he does the
Republican party aud Ia accepting his
judgement on 20 important measure
as the league OF nations 10 II but the
pnrt Of wisdom Go consider his personal
pecuiiafitics Of thought and action 20
determine az Tar as possible to what
extent his leadership is safe TO follow
10 80 important a matter
We are often told that wise man
changes his mind but tina; fool never
changes II that were our only stand
ara OF wisdom then an must agree That
woodrow Wilson ~ fully as wise man
aa even his own estimate 81 himself
seems 20 be- What is there Ia his rec
cord ua President 10 justify MS In ae-
ceptlnr hia Judgements without reserve
ria judgement on the league OF nations 4,
lie was first elected on platform de-
.nanaine. among other things. one
term FOR "a president free tolls for
American shipping in The Panama ca-
nal History records his reversal on
both Of these propositions. An even
casual inspection ct that platform VIII
reveal IS promises violated more often
than Kept rs more scratch. he was
reelected ON the whining and cowardiy
and untruthfui cry lie kept us out OF
war" After oar entry into the war n"
important stop WIS ever taken hy nun
until literally forced into &c by pressure
from the great patriotic citizenship
acting through To- senators and CON
rrcssincn who were patriots first and
pariieana afterwards
And az every such step Wilson and his
geakilnra denounced al those who
forced them into aciioa as selfish I'M
ia administration n would he a
waste OF tiu,e and space here % 80 into
ne details Of his war time activities ,
rhey are an well known to the public. !
ass Intense partisanship in every act.
80 fear 81 al men of large cahbef. I
whether Democrats or Republicans. D
ma his constant effort 10 prevent such
nen from serving the country in its Z
iour OF need. 10 the best ~ their great &
blhties His surrounding himself by
mail men Of the Baker and hurlcSon
tfipe. men % aspbtfui morals and
ouhsful patriotism AS George Greet y
"a Rev. Heron. his pandering ana
citing an the radical anti-American 2
lement OF the stripe 81 Mooney and :
'ownley. men protected by his TREAT
IN nice" orders. Then his assumption
I unauthorized pow In tho neg 1
iiation of the peace treaty tnd Inv %
,rnation 81 the league ~ nations. So
,fore accepting his judgements on =
~ great vital question II " well for Hi
sery citixen 10 ask himself these Ques-
ons regarding wilson Has ht been NJ
5nesf vlth the puhiie7 HAS DE 0e- eN
eyed ~ in the p8sis Has his Judge Is
lent been worthy oar acceptance IN 20
her matters Fiaa he eliminates par
saoshlp nom bis past actionst Has -
eliminated personal ambition from re-
: past actions In honest answers 70 or
ese questions what is there 20 lead ma
70 believe his leadership in this tes
eat matter Nigh, not be as faulty
ia the other hnesf AZ
II shs league Of nations Il as great va
a good and powerful and bfissful ne'
d foii OF happiness FOR the human
&c as he represents u why does he
{ presenf ns with a PROMISE OF me
dfRD TERM. II We accept Il instead Ola
a third term IN ease we reject his IN
cit the
There Ia not citizen. thinking ard
lzen. OF the United States but would sui
dad 70 give Wilson n third term I
4 a life term IL he wished II. pro- ord
led II can De shown that tbs league wei
all Wilson claims IL TO be- The lab
~ cause for not accepting bis judge wit
nj without limit In the matter ~ told
long record OF reversal OF Judge on
Mt. his long record OF faulty judge I
Mt, his long record OF partisan mo- cou
es. his long record Of petty personal wat
bltion defacsng his great oppoftun- tryl
TO show that he places citizenship can
I'VE partisanship. II Is this record aga
4 attracts TO his support OF the mu'