The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-06-04

OF JH6 mousse Vi ISpI CoCHInCANVos " "'oAA
ington, D. c., states most regretta-
BILE chapter which is without paral-
lei in our annals.
Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley
we're assassanated, but the deeds were
done by crazy and irresponsible per-
sons, but the attempted political as
sassinati0n of President Wilson has
been done by the leaders of great
party and men supposedly possessing
scruples Of morality and religion.
The plot to ruin him was delib-
erately planned and carried out by
men as desperate and determined as
midnight assassinS.
We do not believe that any one, if
at all familiar with the current events
of the past year or more, can read
Mr.. Pou's revelations and for mo-
ment doubt their truthfulness.
He repeats in stronger and better
language just what this paper has
been saying for long time.
Those who believe in clean politics
we believe will thank us for printing
his speech.
1t unfolds a page which for deliber-
ate infamy has no parallel in Ameri-
can history:
Mr.. Speaker, the independence OF
America was achieved under the lead
ership of George Washington. The
Union of the States was made ever
lasting under the leadership of Abra-
ham Lincoln. Woodrow Wilson led
the Nation to victory through crisis
without any parallel in the history ct
the world (Applause.) 1t would
seem that any President called to
the leadership of the American peo
ple during a time so tragic ought to
of all Americans until his task was
finished. Unfortunately, as l believe,
for the future of America this undivid
ed support was denied to Mr.. Wilson.
II is true that while the war was on,
Congress, Democratic by small ma
jority, passed such legislation as the
President deemed necessary for the
winning of the war. but we all re-
member the complaints which came
from the Republican side of this
Chamber, the unsurpassed criticism
of the committee room. and the sill
ence with which his great appeals
were received on one side of this
Chamber.
In the closing chapters of the great
tragedy now being written. no man
should complain If the whole trutd
is told
It was agreed that the peace treaty
should be written at Versailles. The
representatives of the nations, who met
at Versailles. constituted the most
uf,,l Nf nd
together to shape the future of man
kind. The task which confronted
them. in one way or another, affected
the destiny of all nations, of all peo-
pies. u was at once announced that
the pr miers of the allied countries
would probably be their representa-
tives The most powerful man of
France is not the President but the
premier The most powerful man of
Great Britain is not her King but he
premier The same is true of Italy.
Thus il was understood that the high
est. most powerful and influential
officials Of these nations would sit in
the council of Versailles to represent
them.
But when the announcement came
that President Wilson would repre-
sent America a storm OF Republican
criticism at once appeared in tho puh
lie pr."t. OF course. we all know
that. u Ter our Constitution. the Pres
ident : invested with most of the
powers exercised by the premiers of
other eat demOcracies. We have
no premier in America. unless the
President himself is the premier.
Just WHY anyone should wish 10 Criti.
else the President because he decid
eG TO attend the conference at
Versailles as one of America
representatives is hard to under
stand yet almost Immediately after
the am Ouncement was made all man
ner of criticism appeared Republi-
can politicians declared that if the
President attended. the world must
know in advance that he had been
rcpudiated in the November election
by the American people. II was even
charged that he had no moral right tn
attend rs our representative. because
Republican Congress had been elect.
ed Notwithstanding his great work
during the war, the charge was made
that he had already been repudiated
by his own people.
Think of that if you please. Mr..
Speaker. Here was the President of
the United States. man twice elected
TO that high office. charged with a
solemn duty under the Constitution.
and yet when he proposes to dis
charge that duty his political oppon-
ents Immediately inaugurate a cam.
palgn to discredit him in the esteem
OF all the other nations of the world
Inere may be parallel for this. but
l DeileTe no parallel exists. Even be.
lore the President stepped aboard the
snip IN New York Harbor to start his
nlolnehtous journey the charge was
made by certain Republican, noIiti,