The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-08-15
WHAT BREAKS PRESIDENTS.
(From Duluth Herald)

(From Duluth Herald)
VuyITHIN few years, two presidents of the
M United States have broken down in Of
" ice One is dead; the other, after near
y four years of heroic struggle for health, is still
unable to attend the funeral of the one who lies
stricken.
What does it?
The usual assumption is that the work Of
the presidency has become too hard for one mortal
man to handle, and that it is the burden of work
that kills. There are pleas that the burden be
lightened, and that the president be given more
freedom for care-free-recreation. These are well
enough, and it will be well if they needed.
But they do not meet the need.
Any intelligent student of bodily health will
testify that hard work. done in a willing and in
terested spirit and in proper environments, sell
dom or never kills anybody. Worry about the
work or the details of the work or the success
of the work may kill. Work itself never does.
Both Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Harding had that
willing and interested spirit. There was no re-
luctance, no holding back in their giving of them
selves to the service of their countrymen. That
part was all right They had heroic labors to do,
and they did them. They were often wearied-
President Harding passed away an utterly tired
out man-but they rallied almost as often, and
Mr.. Wilson broke down on tour of the
country the purpose of which was to advocate the
League of Nations. Mr.. Harding broke down
on tour of the country the chief purpose of
which was to advocate the world court.
Did the work kill them? Was it the vigor
OF their advocacy of something they believed in
with all their hearts that broke them?
Before answering that, consider for mo.
ment the effect upon these men of the bitter OBJ
position they had to encounter. Not the reason
able, reasoning, patient opposition of men who
disagreed with them and said so and told why
they disagreed, but the opposition of men who
grew red and explosive with passion; of intoler-
ant men who disputed the honesty of anybody
who did not see things they did; of malignant
men to whom disagreement invariably entails
hatred and suspicion.
There is pathetic hint that ought to be a
lesson to America in the presidents last words:
That's good Go on. Read some more"
The presidents devoted wife had been read
ing to him an article by Samuel G.. Blythe in the
Saturday Evening Post in which he said some
nice things about the presidents policies, person
and practices. The praise was grateful to the
sick man. Why? Because he, like all men in
his place or places like it, had had so little of it
and so much senseless criticism and abuse.
We have fallen into unhappy habit in this
country OF not measuring our abuse of those with
whom we disagree. There is no place where the
saving doctrine Of the Golden Rule is more need
ed than in our dealings with those who do not
believe as we do.
# man belongs to another party than ours,
believes in certain policy when we do not. urges
q plan for human welfare which we-perhaps
through ignorant narrowness-d not believe in.
our tendency is too much toward hating him, sus-
pecting his integrity, impugning his motives and
showering him with abusive terms. When he is
high official, his place makes him conspicuous
target. We send over him gas-waves Of hate,
we hurl at him brickbats of personal abuse.
And sometimes we lay him low
The presidents work is too hard. He has
too little chance for privacy for recreation that
is not public show. We are asking him to do
too much. s
But above and beyond that, though we owe
the office and its incumbent an easier arrange