The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-09-11
Responsibility is Great.

"1n the present emergency I am
keenly aware of the two-fold resyon-
sibility l an called upon to discharge
the responsibility which devolves
upon me as president of the United
States and the responsibility under
which l am laid as leader of a great
political party. Of course, the whole
country will expect of me and my
own conscience will exact of me that
| think first of myduties as presi-
dent. The labors of congress have a
natural and customary limit; the
work of the houses can be and will
be finished; congress can adjourn.
But the president, especially in times
like these, can not turn away from
his official work even for a little
while. Too much depends on his
keeping all the threads of what is oc-
curing in his hands.
81 therefore have reached the con-
clusion that l can not in any ordinary
sense take an active part in the ap-
preaching campaign; that | must re-
main here to attend to the serious
work sure to fill the months imme-
dlately before US. months that will
carry with them obligations, no
doubt, of the most tremendous sort
l know that you will feel similarly
about your own obligations; that
members OF congress, too, without
distinction as to party affiliations, will
1eel they must remain to do their
work of necessity and pressing SER
vice and bring it to a successful con-
clusion.
II shall no doubt take occasion as
opportunity offers, to state and per
haps restate to the country in the
clearest and most convincing terms |
can command the things which the
Democratic party has attempted to
DO in the settlement of great uues-
tlons, which. have for many a long
year pressed for solution, and | ear
nestly hope that they will generously
open their minds to what l may have
to say; but shall not allow my eag
erness to win their approval of my
earliest desire to be granted by their
suffrages the support of another con-
gress to interfere with the daily per-
formance of my official duties or dis
tract my mind from them. The rec
ord men make speaks for itself. The
country can not be deceived concern
ing it and will assess it justly. What
IL chlefly expects and demands and
what 1T will certainly be most surely
49,. ~ 10 WIG performance OF QuCy
without fear or favor and without re-
gard to personal consequence.
And certainly this is time when
America expects every man to do his
duty without thought of profit or ad-
vantage to himself. America is great
er than any party. America can not
properly be served by any man, who
for a moment measures his interests
against her aGvanta ge. The time has
come for great things. These are
days big with destiny for the United
States as for the other nations of the
world. A little wisdom, little cour-
age, little self-forgetful devotion
may, under God, turn that destiny
this way or that. Great hearts, great
natures, will respond. Even little men
will rejoice to be stimulated and
guided and set an heroic example.
Parties will fare we'll enough without
nursing, if the men who make them
up and the men who lead them for
get themselves to serve a cause ant
set. a great people forward on the
path of liberty and peace.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
"WOODROW WILSON"