Selected Addresses and Public Papers of Woodrow Wilson

This collection of the public communications of President Wilson to the American people can only be a selection, inasmuch as the space available is not sufficient for more than a third of the full text of the public materials proceeding from Woodrow Wilson. The principles upon which the selection is made should be made clear. Nothing appears in this volume of earlier date than the first inauguration of President Wilson; at the other time extremity, it is brought down as closely as possible to the date of publication. Previous collections have been examined, but have no influence on the choice of pieces: naturally the most significant utterances of the President will find a place in any collection. The foundation for the text is a set of pamphlet editions of the President's public addresses obligingly furnished to the publishers by the President's office, and referred to throughout, wherever used, as White House Pamphlet. Titles are inserted by the editor, since few of the documents were originally printed under subject captions.

Many very characteristic addresses and letters, however, are not included in these printed materials, and have been searched for through the public records of Congress and the periodical and newspaper press. Indications of origin in previous collections have furnished useful clues to some originals. Other pieces have been found through the private collections of the editor. He has had throughout the advantage of the professional skill of David M. Matteson, whose knowledge of the sources of current history has enabled him to run down some important speeches and has greatly aided the editor in the selection and identificaton of the documents. The pieces, long and short, number ninety-two. All omissions are indicated by asterisks (* * *).

The reader will at once notice that this book includes a variety of forms of communication between the President and the People. First come the public expositions of the President's policy, in his first inaugural address, some of his annual messages, and the numerous addresses to Congress which have been a feature of the administration. No President between John Adams and Wilson approached Congress in any other way than through the written messages sent by a subordinate, which were begun by President Thomas Jefferson. The three Presidents who immediately preceded President Wilson had the habit of expressing views intended to affect Congress, through newspaper interviews and official statements given cut at the White House. They often succeeded in creating public opinion that reacted upon Congress. President Wilson has accomplished the same end by the more dramatic method of making addresses to Con gress intended for the people at large. These speeches have usually been spread widely through the press; most of them are brief. Each of them enforces one or at most a few suggestions and appeals. In those speeches will be found clear and forceful statements of the President's policy upon such topics as the tariff, trusts, foreign trade, shipbuilding, submarine warfare, conditions of the railroad men, and the declaration of war. Only a part of those addresses can be brought within the limits of a modest volume such as this.

Some very characteristic short pieces in this volume are the letters and telegrams, sent on various occasions, such as the dedication of Cleveland's birthplace, the seventieth birthday of the great scientific man, Edison, and greetings to the French and Russian governments.

The White House is well acquainted with the effect of short, snappy statements circulated through the unofficial methods of the press-such are the political bomb on the tariff lobby in 1913; the announcement on the expedition into Mexico in 1916; an appeal for support for the Red Cross and a call to school officers in 1917; proclamations to the school children and to the drafted men in September, 1917; and the taking over of the railroads.

Another group is made up of letters written to public

« Předchozí Pokračovat »

Knihy