Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-10-12
PLEASE DISCUSS THE real. ISSUES
(By NJ E. Vaughn, Secretary of Berea College,

out the country reading with
chagrin and Disappointment the de-
clarations of iopsided partisans IN
this years presidential campaign.
Every one admires an aggressive
fighter. Criticisms that are hon
,estly offered can never be con-
demned, but spurious and malign-
ing ger1eralities hurled against an
individual or a cause only show
| the lack of information and desire
! to give forth the truth.
AT close OF Washington sec
ond administrator the Boston Ga
zette declared that "If ever there
was a period OF rejoicing this is
the moment. Every heart in I'M
\ son with the freedom and happi-
ness Of the people ought to beat
high with exultation that the
name of Washington ceases from
this day TO give, currency to poiit-
zeal iniquity and to legalize cor
ruption' This was the attitude
of a prominent newspaper that
many years ago was placed in the
obsolete list and forgotten, while
the name of George Washington
is going down through the ages,
gathering lustre as the years go
by. William H Seward and other
arrogant politicians of the old or
er denounced Abraham Lincoln in
most impOlite terms, and declared
that he was too ignorant to be.
president of the United States.
President Lincoln, believed in
truth, believed in honor, and he
refused to stoop to the viewpoint
OF the colossal dignitaries that
posed as his superiors in states
manship and brains. His attitude.
can best be expressed by the fol-
lowing story.
a number of Congressman were
waiting upon him and reporting
the success Of the Union Army.
Each one reported that the Union
side had just won big victory
with odds Of four to one against
them. When they finished one
Congressman asked the President
how many soldiers he thought the
Confederates had. The President.
said about 100000 men,"
THAT is impossible" exclaimed
the Congressman. Not accord
ing TO your figures" replied Mr..
Lincoln, "the Union Army today
has about 100000 soldiers and
if, as you have reported, the Con-
federates had four soldiers to
your one in every conflict in
which they engaged, they must
have had 100000 men,"
In like manner the future his
torian and story teller will write
about President Wilson. We, his
contemporaries, can see his faults.
The honest contemporary accepts
them at face value, while the I'M
truthful and the slanderous con-
temporary enlarges them, exag-
gerates them, misrepresents.
them.
The Democratic convention in
San Francisco chose a national
ticket, with no connection with
President Wilson, in order that
honest and fair issues might come
before the people for their consid-
Grafton. 1t was quite evident that
the League of Nations, sponsored
by President Wilson would be an
issue, and if it were separated in
the campaign from Wilson him
self his professional haters
would leave him out of the dis
cussion, and discuss the League
on its merits. But such has not
been the case President Wilson
is the main issue, fom the repub-
lican standpoint. Writers upon
the question dodge the issue, and
Immediately bark back to the
"Kaiserism of Wilson,"
The meanest thing that exists
today in American politics is SLAM
der No nation in the world emits
from its press, its orators and
propagandists, SO much SANDER
and vituperation against its presi-
dents and statesmen as does the
United States. The only objec-
ton | have to the campaigning of
Governor Cox is that he spends
more time than is necessary in de.
ncuncing his opponents. To get
4 fair estimate of the type of cam
paign that is being waged this fall
all you have to do is to read the
literature that the Republican
SIS, 100000 campaign fund is
sending broadcast over the coun-
try. / hold in my, hand series
of leaflets issued by the National
Committee that are as
spurious and maligning as could
be published. Eugene Debs is in
the Federal prison at Atlanta for
saying things and doing things.