Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-08
! Message of Faith

W/OODROW WILSON has said his last
w oflcial word to Congress. His an
nia message. read before both branches
Yesterday because tho sacrifice of his health
for his country's sake forbade its delivery
in person. is really his hail and fare
well. After eight years, during which he
led this nation successfully through the
most turbulent times the world has known
his task is all but complete, AZ last he is
TO have rest.
AS a public document. the Presidents
final message to Congress will not rank
with the great state papers that he penncd
when the world trembled on the brink OF
rate There was no reason why il should
inspiration OF former communications to
the governments legislative branch was
lacking. The country is at peace, the great
work is finished and the party of which
lie has been the central. dominant figure
and about whom the maelstroms of political
ard martial currents have edded and
swirlcd, is about to surrender its power
TO the keeping of the party which Tough,
him so pcrilously near TO death So. with
the incentive lacking which in former DAVIS
raised him TO lofty heights. the future be-
!ohd his formative guidance, the President
conhned himself almost entirely to n brief
discussion of domestic issues each of them
important to restored America and each
or them recommended by him on prey;ous
occasions only TO he rejected BY a hostile
Congress. His entire thought so far as
his message shows is for America II there
was in his mind he penned his words
thought OF Americas materia! leadcrship
IN international affairs OF the league Of
nations, which he brought into being and
Whlch now meets with Americas chair va
cant, he has given no sign
II Is as human document that the mes
sage vii! seize and hold the syInpa,hetic
attention OF the American people II is no
longer the Woodrow Wilson. fighting prcsi-
dent, battling leader OF a dominant partv
and winner OF thousand legislative com
bats who Is speaking 1t is Woodrow Will
SON The retiring chcftain of "A defeated
party the broken man who made all hut
the supreme sacrifice. the man who has
been bounded as no other President ever
was bounded. the weary disappointed man
who addresses himself to Congress and
through Congress To the American peopIe
iheTe Is no spirit of raiIcor, no word of
hitierness, no hint of Complaint There
Is only The expression OF 4 grea, and abin-
ing faith, faith that America will rise
TO It's opportunity and obligation of moral
leadership, that, the Sample de,noc.
TacT, II Will be, b. the right and Justice
"!th "h!ch II manages its own affairs. an
N"'!'P.c ~ "'He! peoples ana lead them
t" reconstruction from. wars rayages IN
peace and TO happiness
That i the keynote OF Tie message faith
IN America. just ii vas the keynote
which inspired Lincoln, whom he quotes.
iaith that America will fulfill It's destiny
ana keep fa!ih with the fathers OF the re-
pubic Win such faith in the hear,
OF the President. after such :. gtrupyI. .,s
he mas gone through. only 10 meet apparen,
defeat no" can any one doubt that the de-
'eat IS only apparent and thar the cyauish
meht OF his dreams for America future is
only an Incident in the national develop
ineEt ard that some day they w!ll ma
ierialiZc?