THE REPUBLICAN VICTORY IN AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 88, 8 January 1919, Page 5

THE REPUBLICAN VICTORY IN AMERICA

PRESIDENT WILSON'S ERROR OF ■ SPEECH.. Commenting on the result of the American elections, the Washington correspondent of the "Morning Post" says: , "Several reasons may. be given .for this reversal of public sentiment, ivhich is the first important defeat President Wilson has met since he entered politics, his career heretofore having been remarkable, among other things, for his uniform success and almost instinctive knowledge of the trend of public opinion. I shoTiJd unquestionably place the maiii ..responsibility for his defeat upon President Wilson himself and his ill-timed appeal to the country .last month, urg-. ing the election of a Democratic Congress, and intimating that the Republicans ought not to be entrusted, with the conduct of affairs. Up to that time the Republicans were apathetic, and practically admitted defent. but President Wilson's appeal aroused their fighting Bpirit, and was' undoubtedly resented by the country, which regarded it as Mi effort to turn tho war to partisan'advantage. . • "The country for the time being had dismissed politics, and was intent only on winning tho war, and when President Wilson sought to inject party politics into the war it naturally caused indignation. Had Austria not collapsed, and were not Germany on the point of capitulation, in all probability President Wilson -would have Trailed through because of the feeling the Americans have that division in time of war is treason, but now that' the Americans believe that tho war is practically over they are thinking of peace and the~problems peace will bring. President Wilson's obßcuire demand for tho freedom of the seas and the abolition <.f economic barriers in his fourteen principles did him much harm, and'created a fear in the mind of the country. "Exactly what ho meant by the use of the worda freedom-of the seas no one knew, and he did not think it necessary to explain; but the public- interpreted the ambiguous words to mean that Germany after the war would be left in uiidistua'bed • possession of her Navy; and by, some> hook or crook there would be written into international law a prohibition against blockade or the legitimate exercise of sea .power in preventing contraband Teaching the enemy.' Americans know, the importance of sea power. Their history has'taught them that, and they, no more than the English, would consent to their safety being endangered by tho Navy being rendered useless. President Wilson's 'economic barriers' was another unfortunate expression. The Republicans said it meant universal Freetrade, and they made much of this bogey. .After the mischief had been done President Wilson explained that -he. meant nothing .of the kind, but it was .then too Int6.