AMERICA AT WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 196, 8 May 1918, Page 9

AMERICA AT WAR

NATION'S TRUST IN THE I'ltESl- ■ ■ DENT. Some interesting sidelights on polities and public opinion in the United States lire thrown uy a private letter from a "well-intormed correspondent," txtracts from which are piinted in a recent issue of the "New J-vuropo." "Wilson's unquestioned leadership and the confidence of the. nation in luni are, 1 think," says the writer, "unparalleled in our history; indeed, the danger is that »;o shall leave everything too muck to liin, and fail to keep within range of .his constructive thinking. Congress is, as so often, sadly provincial and inadtquate. I need not tell you how proud we ire of the part he is playing in world statesmanship, or of the skill with which ho is playing it. ... At the sanie time, it must tie confessed that his strength' lies in diplomacy rather than in administration. We- shall probably liay.e a good iHal more centralisod authority, and probably some Cabinet changos in Washington before our war lnachino-is really eib'edent. That is tlio only ( hing which will , interfere with our maximum contribution, for the spirit of tho country is magnificent. We shall go ou inoreasing our military force to.tho very limit untO victory is won, no matter bow long i or how much it of course, Wilson's clear definition of what he means fry victory. Tho political situation is extraordinary. Tho bankruptcy of tho Republican party is ogam shown by its failure "as an opposition to press for administrative eihcioncy, and its petty nagging at real leaders like Hoover, 'itli'e administration cutsido of the President leaves a good deal t<s be deeircd, /and tho n'suUing one-mnn lendership is), a most unusual situation. Roosevelt h»s lost a grail opportunity and a large -following by his inability to rise above his personal opposition to Wilson. Taft, on the other hand, Us qreatly strengthened himself by liis self-eitac-ing and davotert service in rousing the nation. What tho ■political future holds .in Store no one can tiness. One thing only is clear , —your country and mine a,vo at 'last linked together, as by AngloSasun ■ heritage and democratic destiny tliuy belong together, in playing for the greatest stakes in Human welfare and world peace for which nations have- ever striven « fought."