The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1919-11-07
AN UNsAvoRY RECORD

us who have strong convictions like
wise have strong prejudices.
1t is difficult for US to weigh with
blind judicial fairness things of pass
ing moment however much they may
mean for the betterment of the world
We seem prone to give tinge OF
color to suit our own precOnceptiOna
and are controlled in a large measure
by party, factional and denomina
tional bias.
Sweeping aside and overcoming
those prejudices as far as possible
and viewing the action of the present
congress and the conduct OF the re-
publicans in that body during the
continuance of the war with as much
leniency as possible, it does occur
TO us that it's record is unsavory
enough to Overwhelm it.
Under the tutelage of exPresident
Taft, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.
Prof. Eliot of Harvard, and leading
republicans without number, the re-
publican party was almost if not
wholly committed to the formation
of a league of nations SO aptly term
ed by Lord TennysOn as "a parliament
of man. the federation of the world"
but when it became possible to real
ize and put into force this benign
vision, because the honor OF accom-
plishing it would fall largely upon
the brow OF President Wilson and
give the party to which he belongs
large measure of popularity and
perhaps continue it in power indefn-
itely. the republican members Of
congress have done everything pos
sble to defeat it.
Senator Lodge occupies the unen-
viable attitude OF having foresworn
his own statements and many OF
his colleagues stand with him.
With the object of making the lea.
que covenant unpopular they have
raised against it any number Of base,
and frivilous objections and have pro-
posed and debated with more or less
~ temper f0rty-fve amendments
which they now admit that they
were convinced would never pass
Oh occasion they flooded the sen,
ate chamber with crocodile tears over
the loss OF Shanturg to China whicl
was wrested from her more than
twenty years ago by the German kaAI
ser and did not hesitate to accue,JI
the president of the United Stat -
as being a particeps criminis = thatI
shameful transaction.
Then they raised the falls" ardl
frivolous cry that England had six
votes in the league to Americas one
then they pretended that one OF the|
articles would involve US in the in
ternal quarrels of Europe when It'll
bore no such Interpretation.
They now propose to do by reser-
vations what they failed to do by
All along their course has been
marked by w,nt of candor and rank
duplicity
In the less weighty affairs of the
nation they have given listening
ear 10 back stairway gossip that has
been strangely appalling.
During his widowerhood it was
guardedly whispered that the presi-
dent had "affinities" and after his
speaking tour. when he was hurried
to Washington a very sick man, it
was given out that his illness was all
sham and was staged to manufac-
ture sympathy in order to gain votes
for the ratification of the peace
treaty.
When his sickness could no longer
be questioned it was ominoUsiy
whispered that his mind was serious
" affected. that if, perchance. he
were restored to physical health he
would forever remain a hopeless i'm,
beetle
50 iasiStent were these rumors set
afloat that the appointment OF a
com nittee to investigate his mental
ity was seriously considered the
paramount hope being that in SOME
way his inability to discharge the
functions of his office could be shown
Gu tbat Woo procidoDt NTarO[o II