Evening star., 1932-03-27


widely known a lawyer of probity
and skill a shrewd onlooker, as writer OF
worth and welcome. known also as fair
dealer and square player, The John Day
Co. publishes the little volume
The essential title of the book is What We
Do to Our Presidents I quote from its early
pages:
George Washington, referring to the bitter
attacks upon him, said that such exaggerated
and indecent terms could scarcely be applied to
a Nero, a notorious defaulter or even to q
common pickpocket' And upon his retirement
to Mount Vernon, a grandson of Benjamin
Franklin said of him, If ever there was
period for rejoicing, this is the moment-every
heart In unison with the freedom and hap
piness of the people ought to beat high with
exultation that the name of Washington from
this Gay ceases to give currency to political
iniquity and to legalized corruption"
And, now, 1892 is being given over, heart
and spirit, to continuous program Of homage
to the great name of George Washington
Tributes from the wide world over. And here
at home, year-long commemoration Of our
common debt to Washington for the United
States itself
Let me quote again: Jefferson was an an
archist and an atheist to the malcontents Of his
administration. Jackson. was denounced as q
usurper, an adulterer, a gambler, cookhghter
brawler, a drunkard and murderer, while
his wife was 'baselessiy attacked Cleveland
stigmatized a chronic drunkard.' Wilson's
private life was bespattered by calumny. AS
late as. 1864 a preacher speaking in Chicgao,
said Of Lincoln, blush that such a felon
should occupy the highest gift Of the people
Perjury and larceny written all over him."
And yet, the long list through our Presidents
are still alive. Each one growing in vital in
fuence and power as time evaluates him by
other measures than human passion.
There have been so far in our national history
three periods of acute crisis. Periods of war,
all three. Therefore, times Of high general
excitement Times of unreason, of senseless
credulity, Of nervous fears, Of incalculably
futile, vicious, reactions
First, there was washingtons war, that gave
us an independent Nation. There was Lin
coins war that saved the Union. There was,
and is, the World War which, having passed
out of it's purely military phase is now oper-
ating in worldwide economic sequence of the
event itself. Perhaps, the most momentous
and menacing situation that has yet confronted
man, that has yet tried the human out in
respect to his fitness for influence and control
That has yet tried him out in proof of his
claim to civilization. In proof that he has
indeed, emerged from the primitive savagery Of
his beginnings and to which now, under high
pressure. he shows tendencies of reversion
Certain 1t is that Presidents have not
been OF an equality in public service. Nor have
the problems and obligations been equal Yet
as representatives, In common, of their hiah
oflce, their percentage OF wise and efRcient
service far surpasses that of leaders in any
other vast enterprise whatever There are no
failures here. On the contrary as time
ameiiorates on the one hand, and clarifies on
the other, America has reason to be proud of
the essential craftsmanship of its Presidents
tbs, however, Is not. the point. The main
point OF Arthur Trains book is that the road
to the presidency is the road to crucifxion.
And that point, in effect turns the solid
cfTTH nf <
from our Presidents and upon us, the people
VINO make Presidents and then proceed to de-
Stroy them. Proud of the free ballot we pass
to one man the greatest political gift on earth
The greatest gift, and the heaviest RESPONSE
bility. But, with the gift goes the pledge of
every American, regardless Of party for fun
support In trying to understand the enormous
problem, for cooperation, for postponed judg-
ments, for true American sportsmanship
toward the great office and its incumbent By
no other program can any presidency hope to
fuinH It's obligation. BY other concept
can this free country be saved to its own free
dom. No man, no woman, of sufficient intel
hgence to cast vote can deny this obligation
OF loyal cooperation to the President of the
United States
One more point-what difficult book to
leave! Such q little one, too! But packed
with thrusts of deep self elf-searchina,
However, that other point is that we are
incapable OF patternng values in human life
that greatly surpass ourselves. Even the deity
of the small man is one of relatively small
concerns, immediate and material in rewards
for this and that and that But, as time
moves on and life opens and horizons widen
and views clarity, as the true value of little
things like kindness and UNDERSTANDING come
into their own then the great God of the uni
verse begins to expand in the soul of man.
Maybe in all reverence, it is true that man
creates God in his own image.
Now in simple analogy may it not be equally
true that all these years we have been creating
our leaders in our own hkenesses? You. in
yours? I, in mine? And is there deep within
me, unsuspected and unwelcome, the liar the
thief, the swindler, the enemy of nv country