Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-12
Woodrow Wilson
AS | KNOW HIM
BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY.

feel. no uneasiness about my
course in that respect. Through
many anxious months 1 have
striven for that object, amid
difficulties more manifold than
can have been apparent upon the
surface, and SO far L have sue
ceeded. 1 do not doubt that l
shall continue to succeed. The
course which the central Eu-
ropan powers have announced
their intention of following in
the future with regard to under
sea warfare seems for the mo-
ment to threaten insuperable
obstacles, but it's apparent mean
ing is so manifestly inconsistent
with explicit assurances recently
given us by those powers with
regard to their treatment of
merchant vessels on the Ugh
seas I must believe. that c, ID
tions will presently ensue .ch
will put different aspect upon
it. We have had no reason to
question their good faith or their
fidelity to their promises in the
past, and l for one feel conf
dent that we shall have none in
the future.
But in any event our duty is
clear. No nation, no group of
nations, has the right, while war
is in progress, to alter or disre-
gard the principles which all ma
tons have agreed upon in miti-
cation of the horrors and suffer
ings of war; and if the clear
rights of American citizens
should very unhappily be abridg-
ed or denied by any such action
we should, it seems to me, have
in honor no choice as to what
our course should be.
For my own part I cannot
consent to any abridgement Of
the rights of American citizens
in any respect. The honor and
self-respect of the nation is in
volved. We 'coVet peace, and
shall preserve it at any cost but
the loss of honor. To forbid our.
people to exercise their rights
for fear we might be called upon
to Vindicate them would be a
deep humiliation, indeed. 1t
would be an implicit, all but an
explicit, acquiescence in the vio-
lation of the rights of mankind
everywhere and of whatever
nation or allegiance. 1t would
be a deliberate abdication of Our
hitherto proud position as
spokesman, even amid the tur-
MOL of war, for the law and the
right. 1t would make everything
this government has attempted
and everything that it has &C.
conplished during this terrible
struggle of nations meaningless
and futile.
1t is important to reflect that
if IN this instance we allowed ex-
pediency to take the place of
principle the door would inevi-
concessions. Once accept sin
gle abatement of right, and
many other humiliations would
follow, and the whole fine fabric
of international law might crum-
BILE under our hands piece by
piece. what we are contending
for in this matter is of the very
essence of the things that have
made America sovereign ma
ton. She cannot yield them
without conceding her own i'm
potency as a nation and making
virtual surrender of her indie
pendent position among the ma
tons of the world.
l am speaking, my dear sena-
tor, in deep solemnity, without
heat, with a clear consciousness
of the high responsibilities or
my office and as your sincere
and devoted friend. If we should
unhappily differ, we shall differ
as friends, but where issues so
momentous as these are involv-
ed we must, just because we are
friends, speak our minds with
out reservation.
Faithfully yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
Senator William J. Stone,
United States Senate.
The publication of the letter
the president to Senator Stone wor1
ed a complete reversal of opinio
Effect Quickly Seen
Quickly the effect Of the pres
dents letter was seen, and the M
Lemore resolution was overWheln
ingly defeated.
Early IN August, 1916, the pres
dent took up his residence at ShaC
ow Lawn, New Jersey, and bega
the preparation of his speech of a,
ceptance. He forwarded me a dra1
of his speech of acceptance, whic
brought from me the following con
ment upon it:
The White House, Washington,
Aug. %, 1915
Dear Governor:
L think that failure to bring
out the hyphen question in youl
speech Of acceptance will be
vigorously criticised, even by
our loyal friends. Mr.. Hughes
will soon be compelled to speak
out on. this question. Rooseveltis
speeches on the main will force
him to do this.
You might open the subject in
that part Of your speech in
which you discuss neutrality,
showing the embarrassments UNI
der which you have labored in
trying to keep the nation at
peace. After discussing these
embarrassments; consisting Of
plots against our industries, etc,
could you not introduce a sen.
tence like this: while I am the
candidate of the Democratic
party, I am above all else an
American citizen. I neither seek
the favor nor fear the wrath Of
any alien element in America
which puts loyalty to any for
eign power first"
AS to Huerta-I believe your
s. references to him could be
strengthened. I think you
ought to- bring out the fact that
EG@era IsSsSSs ~ Ss