Part 19 (2/2)

That si of Woodrow Wilson All politicians pretend to hate and to dread war, but Woodrow Wilson really hates and dreads it in all the fibres of his huination and a heart; an iuish and the dying which war entails; a heart which yearns and aches over every dying soldier and bleeds afresh with each new-et that scene in the Cabinet Room between the President and myself He appeared like a man who had thrown off old burdens only to add new ones

It was apparent in his talk with me that he felt deeply wounded at the criticis unwillingness to go to ith Germany As he discussed the step he had just taken, it was evident to edy of it all Turning toI saw the end of this horrible thing; but I could not reat mass of our people would per position I have been placed in during the years through which we have just passed In the policy of patience and forbearance I pursued I tried to make every part of America and the varied eleo any length rather than resort to ith Gero, it would have been foolish for us to have been rushed off our feet and to have gone to war over an isolated affair like the _Lusitania_ But noe are certain that there will be no regrets or looking back on the part of our people There is but one course now left open to us Our consciences are clear, and we ht to the end

Gerhts that she must respect There were feho understood this policy of patience I do not mean to say this in a spirit of criticis journals of the country were unmindful of the complexities of the situation which confronted us”

The President then took out of his pocket an old and worn newspaper clipping, saying: ”I wish to read you an analysis of my position and my policy by a special writer for the _Manchester Guardian_, who see withat”

This special writer, co upon the Wilson policy, had said:

Mr Wilson's patience, now derided and criticized, will inevitably be the es to the side of the Allies By his methods of patience and apparent subservience to Germany, he will convince the whole American people that no other course save war is possible This policy of Wilson's, now determined on, ork a complete transformation in his people It will not evidence itself quickly or overnight The moral preachment of Wilson before and after ill be the cause that will finally bring his people to the side of the Allies

Again turning to me, the President said: ”Our course from this tiaged upon is fraught with the gravest difficulties There will be great enthusiasm in the country from this day I trust it will not slacken or weaken as the horrors of the war and its tragedies are disclosed Of course our motives will be misconstrued, our purposes misunderstood; some of our best friends willon the ill be obliged to do certain unusual things, things that will interfere with the lives and habits of our people, which will bring down upon us a storm of criticis is over, and God only knohen it will be over, will be full of tragedy and heartaches”

As he spoke, he was no longer Woodrow Wilson, the protagonist of peace, but Woodrow Wilson, the stern warrior, now grireat cause of A to me He said: ”It has not been easy to carry these burdens in these trying ti I saw the utter futility of neutrality, the disappointment and heartaches that would flow from its announcement, but we had to stand by our traditional policy of steering clear of European embroilments While I have appeared to be indifferent to the criticis these critical days, a few have tried to understand ht to do”

Then, as he lowered his voice, he said: ”There is a fine chap in Springfield, Massachusetts, editor of a great paper there, who understoodand who has syhout this whole business” For a moment he, paused, and then went on: ”I want to read you the letter I received from this fine man” As he read, the emotion he felt at the tender syripped hifield, Massachusetts, March 28, 1917

MY DEAR MR PRESIDENT:

In acknowledging your very kind and appreciative note of March 22nd, I reatest possible pleasure I prize this word from you all the more because after the political experience and conflicts of the past few years, I a summered and wintered with you, in spite of the immeasurable and rather awful distance that separates our respective places in the life and work of our time Your note, for the s to nize as a very hu to co perhaps than we shall enjoy;--even so, I shall hope to be of timely service, as opportunity favours me

I have the honour to be your adned) WALDO L COOK

”That man understood me and sympathized” As he said this, the President drew his handkerchief froreat tears that stood in his eyes, and then laying his head on the Cabinet table, sobbed as if he had been a child

CHAPTER xxx

CARRYING ON

The critics of the President will ask the question: ”What was the President doing to prepare the country for hich to him seemed inevitable?” From the inside, and without the blare of tru with the heads of the Army and Navy departments Indeed, from the minute the third _Lusitania_ note was dispatched, actual preparations for ere begun I statement was issued from the White House, under date of July 21, 1916

THE WHITE HOUSE WAshi+NGTON

July 21, 1916

The President in association with the heads of departardless of present-day conditions or controversies, has long been giving a great deal of consideration to the preparation of a reasonable and adequate naval prograress at the proper ti in the quiet of Cornish He feels, now that the note has been dispatched, that it is best, for the ti, to drop the discussion of it as far as he is concerned and is turning to questions of permanent national policy