New-York tribune., 1920-12-08
The Presidents Apologize

President Wilson, in his final an
nual message, repeats the mistake
he has so often made before. He as
sumes that because his text is valid
his application of it is not to be ques-
toned. Throughout the ages preach
ers have failed to realize where the
infallible divine thought ended and
where their own fallible thoughts
began.
No one who is not a master in
morals challenges the transcendent
desirability of world-order wherein
reason and right shall take prece-
dence over covetousness and force
Expression of this millennial hope is
the stuff of all poetry, Of all relig-
ious aspiration, of all social dream
ing. Excelsior has always been the
motto of mankind. Against the hori-
zon of the future all behold the gilt
tering spires Of the true FL Dorado.
But is a particular plan, no mat
ter how noble the motives giving it
birth, calculated to help us on our
way? Here is question which for
ever must be answered. 1t is not
enough for a statesman to point to
what he would achieve Will the
scheme he fathers bring us actually
nearer to the shining goal? Presi-
dent Wilson, by his refusals to face
this interrogatory, has done his
altruistic cause no good.
Blind faith is beloved Of mystics
and often seems to move mountains,
but before its explosive power can
function there must be much drilling
and many preparations. SO far as
concerns the organization Of the
world for peace, the ideal can never
be attained. short of the interposi-
ton of miracle, except by adopting
means appropriate to the end. Wis
6om is as much needed as ecstasy,
and little advance is made, as the
President has discovered by assum-
ing the existence of perfection or
an enlightenment which is not vet
arrived.
Not only on his main theme, but in
subordinate discussion of it, the
President betrays his aversion to
facts. For example, he says that
the beginning of the end of the war
came when the German people found
themselves face to face with the con-
science Of the world and realized
that right was everywhere arrayed
against the wrong their government
was attempting to perpetuate."
The beginning of the end of the
war was not discernible until Luden-
dorff ran short of divisions and the
German offensive failed. Neither
then nor since have the German peo-
pie acknowledged that they were
weakened by inner doubts. The
President halls as true a myth of his
own creation.
Another seemingly fixed delusion
Of the President is that the populace
can do no wrong. He ascribes the
present sufferings Of the Old World
70 "a wanton rejection of the princi-
pie Of democracy and a substitution
Of the principle Of autocracy as as
serted in the name but without the
authority or sanction of the multi
tude." What nation does he refer
10? Has he in mind Greece, where
the people have overwhelmingly
voted for the return of the auto
cratic and perjured Constantine ?
Or does he refer to England, where
Lloyd George dances when the Labor
party pipes? Or Italy, where Giolitti
solted practically whole the program
Of the workers Of Milan? European
suHerings do not spring from lack of
popular rule. They come from popu-
lar rule which is not wise.
TIE Presidents message throws
additional light on the question Of
'ne failure Of the worlds hope. Des-
Fny gave it leaders VINO could not
zee straight or think accurately.
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