Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-27
Slurrang Pershing
From the Omaha World.Herald.

And now even General Pershing is made =
victim OF the hangover OF racial pfejudics ami
cratic congressman have discovered that he has
"aped" European fashions by carrying cane
and that his coat is fashioned and his trousers
bagged like the English uniform. He Is there
fore "pro-British"-a more recent term of op-
probrium which is replacing that good old
standby of hysteria and malice, "pro-German."
We wonder how long it will take otherwise
sensible men to learn how silly they make
themselves, and how little they injure their
enemy, when they indulge in such mean and
petty attacks. We wonder if they realize that
every man who is real Americap can spot an
other real American when he sees him.
It John J. Pershing isn't an American. IL
mind and bone and Drawn and spirit, then there
aren't any. He was born in old Missouri, edu
Gated in West Point and the University Of
Nebraska, and he came so near to being .
democrat that many people still shrewdly sus-
pect that.he is one. The World Herald is frank
to say it entertains the highest respect for him,
as a man every inch an American--and every
inch soldier. He IS great leader who wore
the uniform of his country through the great
his grave responsibilities with high credit,
obeyed orders implicitly and who never, dur.
ing the war or since, has dabtled in the dis
graceful contentiousness inspired by the spirit
OF partsanship. He never complained; he never
sulked; he never carried sores around on public
uCsCl SllISiECu ldHlpOouCu
his superior officer, the president of the United
States, commander chief of its army and
navy.
Because it believes that the duties and trials
OF the next four years will call for wise and
experienced statesman rather than great mill
tary leader in the White House, the World
Herald has no sympathy with the efforts to
make General Pershing presidential candidate.
And it eonmends the good taste and excellent
judgment he has displayed in refusing to give
countenance or support to the campaign waged
by his jealous friends, including our enthusiasts
tic neighbor The Omaha Bee. 1t believes that
If he were nominated he would lead his party,
however bravely and devotedly, to certain de-
feat at the polls. But whether he remains in
the army, retres to civil life, or is awarded the
highest honor his party can bestow, here is one
Nebraska newspaper that will resent, as keenly
as any of his partisan supporters, any surs ON
his honor or his undiluted patriotism whether
coming from republican or democratic
quarter
The great political contest that lies before
us involves momentous issues of vital concern
to every citizen. 1t will be so big contest
that it should not be fought in petty way. 1t
should be marked by dignity and fairness and
calm reason. The people, who are the jury,
should resent-and we believe will resent--the
tactics OF that advocate, democrat or republican,
who resorts to pettifoggery with mean appeals
to passion and prejudice and ignorance. There
are many men of both parties who in the great
emergency of the past few years have served
their country honorably, unselhshly and well.
John J. Pershing is one of them. Let us accord
to all alike at least decent treatment.