The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-02-28
OUR THIRTIETH PRESIDENT

estimate difficulties; in his pre-con-
vention campaign and even in the
general campaign he was about the
least hopeful of Hoover men. But in
politics, as in war, it is better to over
estimate than under-e estimate the
strength of the enemy; it costs moth
ing but mental wear and tear and en-
sures ample preparation for any con-
tingency.
President Hoover will care as little
about the pomp and circumstances of
his great office as any man who ever
lived in the white house. Power for
powers sake has no appeal to him.
In Europe for time after the armis-
tice he welded greater power than
any crowned head; there is no new
"kick" in that for him.
1t will become evident that in the
organization of his administration,
while he will have due regard for the
obligations of party utilization and
support, President Hoover will have
only the highest possible efficiency in
mind. He realizes that if his admin
istration is success public sentiment
will support him; any yielding to
pressure or expediency which may i'm
pair the efficiency of his administra-
ton will weaken public confidence and
make his task more difficult. There
will be no petty intrigue, no playing
to the galleries, no compromising of
principles, with a view to the effect
on another national election.
It is probable, indeed, that the small
variety of politics which is so much
on view in Washington, will cease, in
the light of President Hoover's ex-
ample, to be as popular as it has been
in the past. Perhaps the leadership
of President Hoover will serve to
impregnate many others with the
thought that the national government
is too important an institution to be
made the football of personal and
partisan ambitions.
What of the Hoover era in national
affairs? Will it realize the expecta-
tions of those who hope for so much
from a new type of leadership which
is a symbol of the great change that
has made the functions of our nation
al government primarily economic
rather than political?
That is not all up to Mr.. Hoover.
Much will depend on the support CIV
en- him by those who elected him, and
by those millions who opposed him
for election to the presidency but who
as loyal Americans have accepted the
result and have the same interest as
their erstwhile adversaries in advanc-
ing the welfare of the American peo-
pie. Much will depend on the atti-
tude of legislative leaders of both the
Republican party and of the opposi-
ton party as well.
There is reason to believe that we
are only on the threshold of national
progress; at the beginning of an era
of invention, organization and CO.
operation which will bring about that
abolition of poverty which Mr.. Hoov-
err has declared to be a realizable
dream.
"The American system" of social
and economic service, as Mr.. Hoover
pointed out in more than one of his
notable campaign addresses, means
the widest possible diffusion of pros
perity and opportunity. 1t means the
unloosing, rather than the claiming,
of the spirit of individualism which
has been responsible for our almost
miraculous national progress.
Americas service to the world de-
ponds upon the maintenance of our
own national heritage and ideals, not
in accepting the outworn European
conceptions of the master state and
the subject citizen, whether monar-
chial or socialistic. 1t depends upon
the maintenance of our own national
economic as well as political indie
pendence. 1t depends upon the main
tenance of both moral and military
defense against the elements, from
within and without, which cannot
comprehend the unique value of our
national heritage and would destroy
it. 1t depends upon the greater earn
ing and wider diffusion of wealth, the
broader opening of opportunity for
the millions; upon better and happier
homes, whose hearthstones shall be-
come affairs of American patriotism.
And thus may we assume leadership
in the world: by the power of example
and the influence of our worthwhile
achievements. We may well hope to
see our country travel far on the way
toward this goal under President
Hoover.
g0GS@0GGH@@G@ %G@GGS@1@S@4