Woodrow Wilson as I Know HimTumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
History
Woodrow Wilson as I Know Him
Tumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
I am not objecting to the size of these corporations. Nothing is big
enough to scare me. What I am objecting to is that the Government
should give them exceptional advantages, which enables them to succeed
and does not put them on the same footing as other people. I think
those great touring cars, for example, which are labelled "Seeing New
York," are too big for the streets. You have almost to walk around the
block to get away from them, and size has a great deal to do with the
trouble if you are trying to get out of the way. But I have no
objection on that account to the ordinary automobile properly handled
by a man of conscience who is also a gentleman. I have no objection to
the size, power, and beauty of an automobile. I am interested,
however, in the size and conscience of the men who handle them, and
what I object to is that some corporation men are taking "joy-rides"
in their corporations.
Time and time again men were reminded of the great speeches of Lincoln and
thought they saw his fine spirit breathing through sentences like these:
Gentlemen, we are not working for to-day, we are not working for our
own interest, we are all going to pass away. But think of what is
involved. Here are the tradition, and the fame, and the prosperity,
and the purity, and the peace of a great nation involved. For the time
being we are that nation, but the generations that are behind us are
pointing us forward to the path and saying:
"Remember the great traditions of the American people," and all those
unborn children that will constitute the generations that are ahead
will look back to us, either at those who serve them or at those who
betray them. Will any man in such circumstances think it worthy to
stand and not try to do what is possible in so great a cause, to save
a country, to purify a polity, to set up vast reforms which will
increase the happiness of mankind? God forbid that I should either be
daunted or turned away from a great task like this.
Speaking of the candidate who opposed him:
I have been informed that he has the best of me in looks. Now, it is
not always the useful horse that is most beautiful. If I had a big
load to be drawn some distance I should select one of those big,
shaggy kinds of horses, not much for beauty but strong of pull.
On one occasion, when he had been talking about his and Mr. Lewis's
different conceptions of the "constitutional governor", and telling his
audience how he, if elected, would interpret the election as a mandate
from the people to assist in and direct legislation in the interests of
the people of New Jersey at large, he paused an instant and then in those
incisive tones and with that compression of the lips which marked his more
bellicose words, he said curtly: "If you don't want that kind of a
governor, don't elect me."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account