The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-07-12
Brief Sketch Of
Woodrow Wilson
he IS the Author Of a Number Of
Books on History and Govern
ment-Good Speaker

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ment-Good Speaker
Woodrow Wilson was born in Staun-
ton, Va, Dec. %, 1856, being the son
of Joseph R. Wilson and Jessie Wood
row. He passed nearly the whole
of his youth in the south. His father
was Presbyterian minister and dur
ing the boyhood of the future governor
occupied pulpits in Augusta, Columbia,
Wilmington and other cities in the
south. The son began his academic
studies at Davidson college. In 1875
he went to Princeton and was gradual
: ed with high honors from that institu-
tion. His essay on cabinet government
was written and accepted by the In
ternational Review while he was an
undergraduate. The old Nassau Lit.
contained his famous essay on Earl
Chatham, which is good reading teday,
and several hundred men will vividly
recall his brilliant Grafton on Richard
Golden. There was definiteness Of
purpose, maturity of achievement,
about Wilson'S undergraduate days
which are Well recalled by his associates.
Moreover, he was always good fellow,
interested in every phase of college
president Of the Athletic associa-
ton, editor of the Princetonian, q
leader in social affairs, and the most
: loyal classmate and friend.
It was natural that, after graduating
in 1879, Wilson should return to his ma
tive state, to the University Of Virginia
to study law.
He began his career as lawyer in
Atlanta, Ca, but, finding study more
congenial, gave up his legal practice to
enter academic life. In 1885 he be-
came professor of history and political
economy at Bryn Mawr college, and in
1883 went to Wesleyan university. He
returned to Princeton in 1890 as profess
sor Of jurisprudence and politics, and
assumed the presidency Of the great
New Jersey institution in 1902.
Meanwhile Professor Wilson had en-
tered upon a career of origional re-
search, which resulted in 1885 in the
publication Of Congressional Govern
ment," the first attempt made to de-
scribe the actual working of the United
States legislature. This was followed
in 1889 by ''The State" feat of
scholarship. It was the first book in
English to present the workings of all
constitutional governments as they
were carried on at that day, and it be-
came college textbook.
: In the writing Of history he showed
his skill in Division and Reunion, :"
covering American history from 1929 to
1889, and in 1897 he produced q popular
history of George Washington. These
books led up to Colonies and Nations, :"
and finally to the History of the Peo-
pie of the United States" Written
In 1902. It is the first inn
portant history of the United States
written by southerner-but it is not
a southern history. It represents all
the elements that have gone to the
making of this great country. The New
England point Of view had dominated
historical writers. Professor Wilson's
point Of view is broadly American.
During all this time Woodrow Wilson
was making q great success as teach
er, and in executive work he showed
force and diplomacy. Political parties
often invited him to run for Office and
in 1902 some democrats were thinking
Of him as q good candidate for the
presidency Of the United States.
It was not until 1910, however, that
he was induced to enter the contest
for the governship Of New Jersey. He
began by beating the machine demo-
Gratis in the nominating convention and
he beat the republicans at the election,
after an active canvas. From that
moment he became prominent asa cam
didate for the presidency. ss3j
An admlrer OF Governor Wilson, Mr..
Robert Bridges, has written Of him in
1902. iSsss3s
Though his education has been 50
varied there has been no haphazard in
his. career. Every step that he has
taken has been one Of conscious choice
leading to . definite, logical end. No
sone who knew him intimately in his
undsrg aduate days had any doubt
about his aim IN ife, d, what is more
remarkable, had they any doubt Of his
ultimate achievement That . boy un-I
der twenty should % imp other boys
under twenty u not unusual; but that
his. whole career should be an abundant
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