The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-10-14
DISCUSS THE REAL ISSUES
BY NJ. r. Vaughn

country are reading, with chagrin and
disappointment the declarations Of
partisans in this years presidential
campaign. Everyone admires an ag-
gressive fighter. Criticisms that are
honestly offered can never be con-
demned, but spurious and maligning
generalities hurled against an individ-
ual, or a cause only, show the lack
Of information and desire to give
forth the truth.
At the close Of Washington's Sec
ond administration, the Boston Ga
zette declared, "If there was ever n
period Of rejoicing, this is the mo-
ment. Every heart in unison with
the freedom and happiness of the
people ought TO beat high with exulta-
ton that the name of Washington
ceases from this day TO give currency
to political iniquity and to legalized
corruption" 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 was going down
through the ages, gathering luster as
the years go by. William II. Seward
and other arrogant politicians Of the
old order denounced President Lin
coin in most impolite terms and de-
clared that he was too ignorant to
be president Of the United States.
President Lincoln believed in truth,
believed in honor, and refused to
stoop TO the viewpoint of the colos-
sal dignnitaries that posed as his su-
periors in craftsmanship and brains.
His attitude can best be expressed
by the following story:
A number of Congressman waited
upon him and reported the successes
Of the Union Army. Each one re-
ported 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 1000, 900 men,"
THAT is impossible!" exclaimed the
congressman. mot according to your
figures" replied Mr. Lincoln, "the
Union Army today has about 1.000,-
900 soldiers and IL, as you have re-
ported, in every conflict in which they
engaged, the Confederates had four
soldiers to your one, they must have
100000 men,"
In like manner the future histo-
rian and story teller will write about
President Wilson. We, his contem-
roraries. can see his faults. The
honest contemporary accepts them at
face value, while the untruthful and
the slanderous contemporary enlarges
them, exaggerates them, misrepre-
sents 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 consideration. It was quite
evident that the League of Nation,
sponsored by President Wilson, would
be an issue, and IL it were separated
in the camapign from Wilson himself,
his professional haters would leave
him out of the discussion, and discuss
the League on its merits. But such
has not been the case. President
Wilson is the main issue, from the
Republican standpoint. Writers upon
the question dodge the issue, and i'm
mediately bark back to the KAISER
ism of Wilson"
The meanest thing that today ex-
lists in American politics is Islander
No nation in the world emits from ita
press, its orators and propagandists
so much SANDER and vituperatior
against its presidents and statesmen
as does the United States. The only
objection have to the campaigning
Of Governor Cox is that he spends
more time than is necessary in de-
nouncing his opponents. To get a
fair estimate of the type of campaign
that is being waged this fall, all you
have to do is to read the literature
that the si5,Ooo,000 campaign fund
is sending broadcast over the coun.
try. hold in my hand series OF
leaflets issued by the National Re.
publican Committee that are as spur.
ious and maligning as could be pub.
lished. Eugene Debs is in the Fed.
eral prison at Atlanta for saying
things and doing things that are far
more truthful and more courteous thar
these printed pamphlets. There is
running in newspapers in Kentucky
paid advertisement that in Itself
should be an offense to the woman.