Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1916 — THEN AND NOW [ARTICLE]

THEN AND NOW

In searching tha record of more than three years of Woodrow Wilson and a Democratic administration, with very few exceptions ft is hard to find an important policy or legislative act that did not have the approval of the Indianapolis News. Not until the political campaign had become heated by partisan prejudices was there general criticism in this editorial department. Now even the non-committal, saynothing utterances of Charles Evans Hughes, who has not put forth a single constructive or definite utterance on any subject of importance, are heralded as evidences of great statesmanship. Such utterances as those appearing in this newspaper during a campaign are a disappointment to readers who have been used to more constructive treatment in these columns. The editorials written and published when the editorial mind was freej from the heat and prejudice of a political campaign, should be accepted as the deliberate judgment of the editors:

“MIGHT HAVE BEEN UP TO OUR NECKS IN SLAUGHTER AND BLOODSHED” In an address to a delegation of Scandinavians yesterday, President Wilson said: “I can assure you that nothing is nearer to my heart than keeping this country out of w f ar and doing anything that the United States can do to show its preference for peace and for justice and for the things that make it impossible that nations should fight one another real understandings and friendships and fair dealings.” When the American government ceases to stand for these things it will be false to its ideals, and recreant to what we have always liked to think Of a nation’s mission. The American people do not desire war if it can be honorably avoided. Nor do they believe that the administratiq|i has, in its successful efforts to keep the country out of war. sacrificed the national honor. The great need of the world at the present time is, not more war, but peace, and peace based on “real understandings and friendships and fair dealings.” No man, surely, can quarrel with that program. The only question is as to whether it can be carried out. Our people are, we believe, prepared to go far in the effort to realize it. We have our hotheads, it is true, but they do not reflect public opinion. That opinion is reflected in the words spoken by President Wilson yesterday. There is nothing in them to indicate any w illingness on his part to surrender American rights. Nor is there any ignoring of the dangers that still threaten. It is much that we have for a year and a half been free from the scourge of war—as we might not have been had others’ counsels prevailed. That is so much to the good. Under other leadership we might easily have been by this time up to our necks in slaughter and bloodshed. What the future has in store for us no one knows. But we do know that the President will do everything in his power to keep war far from us. everything. that is. short of compromising American rights or honor. He is for peace, and permanent peace—if it can be had. We may not be able to command it, but we can strive for it, can try to think in terms of peace, and refuse any countenance to those who are trying to make trouble—of whom, fortunately, there are not many.—lndianapolis News, March 14, 1916.

OUR PROSPERITY SECURE That the country is at the present time wonderfully prosperous no one denies, or indeed can deny. There are, however, many who insist that our prosperity is artificial, temporary in its nature, and is likely—if not certain to be brought to an end, possibly with a crash, when peace comes "In Europe. But those who have made a careful study of present conditions without any political bias, are becoming increasingly indisposed to take this view. In a Philadelphia dispatch to the New York Evening Post it was said that “bankers and commercial interests in this market, without entering upon discussion a? to which party is to be triumphant in November, have taken the stand that the present prosperity is destined to con-

tinne,*' an* that- "practically all lines of bosiness enterprise are proceeding on that assumption.” “in this market,” the correspondent goes on to say, “the fear that recently prevailed over' possible business demoralization after the war has begun to wane, and a good many manufacturers argued that the country need have little apprehension on that score. * * * The Post’s Pittsburg dispatch is quite as encouraging. * * * Some of the surprising increase is said to be due to rail orders for 1917. We quote from the dispatch: The steel mills continue to be in a very strong position, and in order to maintain operations at the fullest capacity have no occasion to book additional business for months to come. An amount of additional business almost inconsequential frould carry them into the new year. * * * Even in Philadelphia the feeling seems to be ihat “the strength of underlyihg conditions and the momentum of trade activity have reached proportions which insure that the country will move forward regardless of political considerations.’’ June 20, 1916.