Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-21
Rcaping n Reward
excusable.

7 MESS the general character Of the Ameri-
- people has undergone n peculiar and
striking change rs a result Of nearly two
years of war, the prediction may be safely
made that the President and the party which
he speaks for in this nation are due for a
comeback In popular favor Germany's de-
cison to sign the treaty OF peace and the prac-
teal collapse Of the opposition in the Senate
to the league OF nations are the vital circum-
stances which will signaize the change in
feeling toward the administration.
1t is useless to blind oneself to the fact
that the President and his party have been
the objects of distinct reaction throughout
the country. Every observer of cause and
effect, OF the shifting of the tide. and the
crossing of the currents in American life,
knows this 10 be true. Every one knows that
the President has been made the victim Of
all the cumulative soreness Of the war, Just
Republican President would have been il
he had been in power.
This reaction has had its manifestations in
many directions The loss by the Democrats
of the House and Senate in the last election
was mark Of it, Even while the war was
still in progress the people turned unreason-
ingly against the party in power. But since
il was ended with the signing of the armistice,
the hostility has been present. 1t may be felt
in almost any quarter, and the knowledge
of it caused the Republican Senator'S to make
Of the whole league Of nations program. They
thought it would be both safe and popular
TO fight anything bearing the Wilson brand
II presidential election were held to-
morrow, it is more than likely that it would
result in Republican victory. That party
would have the benefit OF all the disgruntled
elements throughout the nation. Those who
are sore over taxation; those who are sore OF
the draft law: those who sore over the
y, icr1-.a l.; rJ,a l;.;,,
are sore over the reduction of war wages;
those who are sore because they are Germans
or German mpathizers-every man who is
sore about anything naturally would feel the
inclination 10 strike at the party in power.
This has always been the case in American
politics, and probably always will be.
II is more than year before another Presi-
dent is elected. 1t is almost year before the
political parties nominate their candidates.
Much can happen in that time. Much has
happened within the past few weeks After
being defeated on the battle field, Germany
suffered another defeat at the hands OF the
peace conference, and il was Woodrow Wilson
who had the leading part in that proceeding
The Republican partisans in the Senate, pre-
Stunning far upon the hostility OF the
American people toward the President, sought
to strike down the league OF nations. thea
reconsidered and decided that II would be un-
wise to make the death dealing move
All these things add TO the prestige OF the
President both At home and abroad His
treaty will be ratified by the Senate and this
nation pledged in the same breath, to charter
membership in the league of nations. When
that Is accomplished the Republicans will
find the man whom they fear and whom
many OF them hate, standing forth as the
greatest figure in the history OF the nation
since Lincoln. And when the President as
sumes that position before the world his
party will regain much, If not all, its strength