Evening star., 1921-03-03
Rate by Mail-Payabie in Advance
Nf.,,.f,r., o,,d VIRGINIA.
The Retiring President.

President Wilson closes. perhd oi
eight busy. weighty years. lie en-
tered upon the presidency as n result
of deep schism in the repubiican
marty, caused by the detection OF the
following of Roosevelt upon the nomi
nation of Taft. Any democrats nomi
nee would have been elected il the
circumstances. Yet the democracy
had put forward it's probably strong
est candidate. He had gained pres
tige as a successful coptestant Tor
the governorship of New Jersey IN
his initial venture into the political
field after lifetime of educational
work. He was known as deep stu
dent of political affairs. and keenlF
interested in questions of statesma IL
ship.
In his first action MIR. Wilson dem
onstrated an independent disposition.
with Indifference to the established
practices of the office. He chose To
address Congress in person, rather
than by written message. He set
forth his recommendations clearly and
pointedly. and with q finished liter
ary style that marked his official eX-
pressions beyond the ordinary course
Of presidential deliverances. He
sought for certain reforms that We're
granted by a cooperative Congress,
though eventually this Willingness;
lessened and ne secured results with
greater difficulty.
Seventeen months after he took the
oath the great war broke in Europe.
A difficult situation was created by
the sudden flaming of American parti-
sanship against Germany. He be-
sought the people of this country to
remain neutral, even in thought
This was impossible, but officially at
least the government of the United
States remained impartial as to the
merits Of. the struggle in progress.
German aggressions upon American
rights forced the issue of participa-
ton. The President hoped to the very
end to remain aloof from the war.
Involvement was inevitable. When
the crisis came MIR. Wilson met 1t
courageously and at once organized
the country upon a war basis.
Whether OF not the war work of this
country was done economically, as to
time and money, the fact remains
that despite handicaps of unreadiness
In every particular, the American
forces were eventually put into the
field in France in numbers to turn
the scale, and by their actual per-
formances. as well as their moral en-
couragement to the allies, they brought
the struggle to victorious conclu-
sion.
The war over. the President enter
"a upon his role as peacemaker. He
chose to go himself to Paris as me-
gotiator Of the final treaty. In that
he erred in Judgment. No peace COM
mission headed by the chief executive
could possibly haze been other than
q one-n,an delegation. Upon his own
shoulders Mr.. Wilson took the whole
burden of the dealings at Paris. Upon
him rested the sole responsibility for
that result should be ratified by the
American Senate. He. in effect. chal-
lenged the Senate. The challenge was
accepted. and the President was de:
feated.
That he sacrificed himself physical
ly to the cause he had espoused is
not to be doubted. He fell In the field
OF his own selection. His life has been
spared, but for a year and half he
has been incapacitated. save for few
exertions. for the discharge of his
presidential duties. Fortunately, the
country has continued on its orderly
course. despite the stress of the ire.
mendous adjustment incident to the
sudden shift from wartime TO peace
time Industrial conditions.
Mr.. Wilson has devoted himself TO
an ideal of world wide peace He
leaves office with his work uneom-
pieted. Asperities engendered in his
stormy career have been softened by
sympathy for his physical misfortune
Judgments have been tempered by a
belief that he has in this remarkable
effort been sincere in his purpose to
bring about a better state of world
relationship.
If his health improves. Mr. Wilson
may write about his work at Paris,
or upon the broad theme of his presi-
Dental endeavors. Such a work will
be a contribution to history. Today,
on the eve Of his departure from an
ONCE that has brought him world
wide renown and much deep distress.
he doubtless contemplates with eager
ness the rest from official cares that
will soon be his to enjoy and the pros
pect OF later freedom to express him
self fully on the subject with which
his name is now most definitely asso.
ciated.