Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1915 — THE NATION AND WAR. [ARTICLE]

THE NATION AND WAR.

Yesterday, at Springfield, Mass., President Wilson was greeted with the cry: "Keep us out of war, Mr. President.,”' to which tlie President replied: “I will if f can." For eleven months Mr. Wilson lias kept us out of the European struggle, and Lmmore than two years lie has kept us at peace with Mexico. Here is abundant proof, if any be needed, of his pacific purposes. President Wilson has done or said nothing that can be fairly construed as contemplating even the posibility of war. Facing the European horror no responsible ruler, and no sane people, could for a moment think of war except as a last and dread resort', to be embraced only under the pressure of an overruling necessity. There is. in the country no more fervent lover of peace than Woodrow Wilson. It is a fortunate thing for the nation that this is so. At such a time as this it would be a calamity to have in a high place any man tainted with jingoism. Yet it would be most unfair to deny to the people as a whole the credit that is their due for the admirable moderation and poise that have marked their attitude. They, too, have shown —and quite as clearly as the Presi-dent—-that they do not want war, Lnder strains that have sometimes been severe, they have seen beyond the grievances from which they have suffered to the awful consequences that might flow from a hasty attempt to redress them. In short, the nation, as a whole has shown that its civilization is not a mere veneer, but is, on the contrary, deeply ingrained in its life. Undoubtedly the President’s example has exerted a powerful influence. He has discountenanced the extremists, and at times has resisted considerable pressure. I3ut his task would have been much harder had not the great masses of the people been with him from the very start. The few appeals that he has made to them have been responded to with a promptness that proves that

•those appeals reflected the thoughts and desires of the people. The President simply gave expression to what was in their minds and hearts. So when the envoi" of Ambassador Bernstorff went to Germany he was able to report, and with perfect truth, that there was no warlike spirit, in the United States. There have, of course, been some men who, though they did not want war,; did not see how-wo could keen out of it. But even these are beginning to take a less gloomy view. Th e . temper of both people and government is all that could be asked. It is such that the whole world would be forced to acquit us of desiring war. even should the .curse fall on us. When the President says that he will keep the country out of war if lie “can,” we limy all hope that his power will be as effective as his pur|>os;e ;s good.—lndianapolis News.

Ebon li. Wolcott, a former resident of Wolcott and at one time state senator 1 fora this district, novv a member of the state hoard of tax commissioners and a resident of Indianapolis, wants the nomination for secretary of state on the Republican ticket next year. Ele Stansbury, of \\ illlamsport, has also shied liis hat hi the g. o. p. ring for the nomination for attorney general. Ele is about the most pessimistic Republican calamity howler we have ever heard speak, and lie certainly ought to be given some recognition by his party.