Manchester Democrat., 1920-12-15
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1920.
WILSON IN PASSING.

Martyrs are often made by their
enemies. In much the same way the
systematic piling up Of hatreds against
q public man until q mountain OF
malice disfigures the national land
scape may finally serve as the demon
stration Of his future greatness in
history. II the anti Wilson propagan-
da in the past two years has been
half as successful as its engineers
profess to believe, there is but one
conclusion to be drawn-that Mr.. Will
son will ultimately rank with the few
great presidents of the United States
and even as one Of the foremost states
men OF modern times.
People with the anti-Wilson obses-
sion, so called, are not nearly SO
many as they are assumed to be. Yet
however numerous they may be, they
might reflect to advantage on the fact
\ that they are themselves evidence OF
the tremendous impression the object
Of their fury has made upon this Pc
Rod No small man, no weakling, no
statesman Of commonplace intellect
ual and moral powers could have
aroused such a reaction as Is alleged
to exist. II one denounces the presi-
dent as an exponent Of "one-man
government" as an "autocrat," as a
dictator Of the world" certainly the
testimonial to the object of the at
tack is noteworthy. If he can be con-
sidered in this American republic even
by his enemies, an "aut0crat" and a
dictator" the man must leave deep
and broad mark upon his time.
A little historical reading would be
excellent for the most rabid Of the
Wilson haters; it would tend to- cor
rect this perspective. When George
washington had nearly served his two
terms as president, it is highly I'M
probable that he could have been re-
elected under such broad popular
suffrage as we have today. He was
bitterly hated by very large part
Of the population because Of jays
treaty with England. On March z,
i797. as Washington left the presi-
sdency. the Aurora, the Jefferssonian
organ, sent after him this 4 parting
shot: 4ai
II ever there mas period for
rejoicing, this Is the moment
every heart, in unison with the
freedom and happiness Of the peo-
ple, ought to beat high with ex-
nltation that the name Of WASH
ington from this day ceases TO give
currency to political iniquity ana
to legalize corruption. A new era
is now opening upon us, an era
which promises much to the peO-
nile. for public measures must now
stand on their own merits.
So abused and vilified indeed was
the first president of the United States
that in a letter to Jefferson he COM
nlasned that he had been misrepre-
sented sin such exaggerated and N.
decent terms as could scarcely be ap-
piled to Negro, notorious defauitel
or even common pickpocket."
The ferocity Of the partisan attacks
ON Wilson, which have not ceased a.
all because of his illness and broker
health, may even remind some read
ers of the treatment given Olvel
Cromwell after his death by his owl
England. In the mad fury of theil ell
reaction against his rule, the restora
tionists Cromwell haters hanged hi
corpse at Tyburn, decapitated " an
left his head, stuck on pike, 10
many years on the edge OF the roo
OF westminster hall in London. Ye
TODAY Cromwell, even with all nj
hlemishes and his black record i
ireland, is rated by not few histol
ians and scholars as perhaps tn
y greatest English statesman OF all TIM
whether the majority OF the Amer
can people OF today like sit, or no
president Wilson did tremendor
thing. from any historical OF politics
view whatever, in driving the idea an
then the reality Of the League OF NJ
tions into the consciousness OF maj
kind. The League of Nations IS
hir and even so sublime In conce
tien. II is SO alive with vital pri'
cipal OF the future civilization !
the world, that regardless OF its Q
sects in its present form, the ran
of its creator and foremost cnampit
4 assured OF earthly immortality. II
most malignant enemies have by the
! assaults compelled the perpetual ide
tification Of the presidents name WI
al ideal Of international organizati'
for the promotion OF peace tnat
simply deathless Even the killing
y .Wilson's league" in q tempest OF pa
tisan passion will insure his own su
viyal as an idealist and prophet, I
when the next war" breaks out
4 great scale, as it surely must, 7
thought that 1t might have been pl
vented by the assasinated wis
league" will capture the imaginary
Of posterity.
That the reaction against this colo
sal project of human statesmansr
should have taken on fierce a
malignant temper is not perhaps 81
nrising when one considers some
the ancient susceptibilities q
traditions which in some measure
unayoidably slashes. But this reactl
ayain only testifies to the grand scs
on which Mr. Wilson worked, ana
daring genius of his plan-even