747

A Negro's Estimate
of President Wilson

[column 1]
Editor Daily News:—Please permit
me to trespass upon your space far
enough to express my honest convic-
tion of the greatest man elevated to
the presidency since George Washing-
ton. This estimate is not based on
his political affiliation in any sense,
for the average politician, like the
average man of religious creed, fol-
lows it for the loaves and fish. Selfish
ambition has fourished in all ages of
th world, but God has always re-
served a faithful remnant upon which
He can depend to usher in new dis-
pensations. Political parties ar ebut
and may be made to operate for good
or bad. Much depends upon the man
ner of man at the helm of the ship
of state.

In paying homage to a person it is
but natural to seize some special vir-
tue or characteristic and lasso it
about with our best words of com-
mendation. Various minds choose va-
rious ideals in a great man. Not a few
would fail to choose wealth, fame and
popular praise. These things have
held the center of the stage so long
in our national life till their silence
at this juncture seems painfully con-
spicuous

Solomon of old was a great King
but "Behold a greater than Solomon
is here." For Solomon ruled a great
pagan civilization, but our subject
presides over the greatest civiliza-
tion, save itself, since the history of
mankind began.

(1) The frst thought that gives
Mr. Wilson pre-eminence in my esti-
mation is the character of his relig-
ious convictions. He is a Christian
gentleman from every viewpoint as I
see It. His attitude of reticence be-
tween his election and inauguration,
the brevity and significance of his in-
augural address each and all bespeak
a deep sense of culture. One express-
ion in his inaugural paper sounded
more like an inspiration than state
craft. It ran thus: We came not
to destroy but to restore. More than
eighteen centuries ago the King of
kings said in reference to Moses' law,
"I came not to destroy the law but
to fulfill," or words to that effect.

One noted churchman used this
worthy tribute in his sermon not long
since: "There was more practical
Christianity in Wilsons inaugural
than in three-fourths of the sermons
preached in Amertea today."

Mr. Wilson's latitude and longitude
of religious vision stands intensely
exemplified in the personnel of his
cabinet. 1 must digress far enough
to pay the highest tribute to Mr. Wm.
J. Bryan, the eminent statesman and
churchman. My eyes had the pleasure
of falling on a newspaper article a
few days ago in which church forces
are hungering after spiritual instruc-
tion from his masterful intellect. The
account said Mr. Bryan is wanted to
conduct the largest Sunday school
class in the world at Washington.
Vice-President Marshall is known to
be a man of deep religious convic-
tions and activity. These principles
are my ideals and have been objects
of research on my part ever since these
men came into national prominence.

(2) Next to religious fervor stands
magnanimity. President Wilson has
been in office less than a month, but
has conclusively shown himself to be
a magnanimous man. His policies are
laid out along lines of broadness.
Even the humblest man is made to
feel already that he is part and par-
cel of the social and industriat life.
He is the first president for more than
fifty years whose policies or attitude
in some way have not contained some
declaration or suggestion as food for
sentimentalists to play on the race
question in America. It cannot be
said that the whole country is tired
of the subject at all. This is onee
among the first things the rabble read-
ing class looks for through the daily
press. Many no doubt would give a
young fortune to see it.

Many republican presidents have
shown their weakness in this idea
more than anywhere else. It used to
be a nuisance to pick up a daily paper
and read such headtines as these:

"President A or B takes a rap at Mr.
Negro;" "Mr. Negro Not Wanted." etc.,
etc. It is evident now that selfish in-
terests were the ends sought, although
some good was intended and accom-
plished.

(3) After contesting the principles
of our government planted at Ply-
mouth Rock in 1820, Jamestown 1609
and organized under Gen. George
Washington in 1789, the country has
at last decided to return to its first
faith—Christian government. This
rather than as politian. This idea
in itself will prove a panacea for all
the unspeakable amazement already
that characterizes the old school of
thinkers. Many a one has already
asked what manner of man is the
president. We have never seen things
on this order before. We really ex-
pected a general reversal of the ma-
chine of state. The secret: Our pres-
ident is a Christian; behold he pray-
eth.

The action of the American people
in the United States is elevating the
presidency under Mr. Wilson or a man
of his calibre, breeds a spirit of con-
fidence and security. They have bec-
gun sound thinking. Under this in-
fluence time will modify sentiment and
consequently change options. Mr.
Lincoln no doubt was inspired with
the optimism of this fact when he re-
marked to a political opponent while
discussing the popular measure of that
day: "You may change the Missouri
compromise, you may change the con-
stitution of the United States, but you
cannot change the moral constitution
of man." Men share rights and priv-
ileges in the light of right hearts and
minds. This is the prinicpal reason
no thoughtful negro believes the ar
amendments will ever be tampered
with. The Wilsons, Bryans and other
great lights of this Christian age would
never give credence to such actions.
The church would be sure to repudi-
ate the act. The sun of civilization
is too high up the Intellectual hori-
zon.

Very truly,
MASON A. WHITFIELD.

Jackson, Miss