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
Have you read the papers recently attentively enough to notice the
rumours that are coming across the waters? What are the rumours? The
rumours are that the English programme includes, not only self-
government for Ireland, but self government for Scotland, and the
drawing together in London or somewhere else of a parliament which
will represent the British Empire in a great confederated state upon
the model, no doubt, of the United States of America, and having its
power to the end of the world. What is at the bottom of that
programme? At the bottom of it is the idea that no little group of men
like the English people have the right to govern men in all parts of
the world without drawing them into real substantial partnership,
where their voice will count with equal weight with the voice of other
parts of the country.
This voice that has been crying in Ireland, this voice for home rule,
is a voice which is now supported by the opinion of the world; this
impulse is a spirit which ought to be respected and recognized in the
British Constitution. It means not mere vague talk of men's rights,
men's emotions, and men's inveterate and traditional principles, but
it means the embodiment of these things in something that is going to
be done, that will look with hope to the programme that may come out
of these conferences.
If those who conduct the Government of Great Britain are not careful
the restlessness will spread with rapid agitation until the whole
country is aflame, and then there will be revolution and a change of
government.
In this speech he plainly indicated that his plan for the settlement of
the Irish question was the establishment of some forum to which the cause
of Ireland might be brought, where the full force of the public opinion of
the world, including the United States, could be brought to play in a
vigorous and whole-hearted insistence upon a solution of this world-
disturbing question.
As we read the daily papers, containing accounts of the disturbances in
Ireland, what a prophetic vision underlay the declaration contained in the
speech of Woodrow Wilson in 1910!
If those who conduct the Government of Great Britain are not careful
the restlessness will spread with rapid agitation until the whole
country is aflame, and then there will be revolution and a change of
government.
I recall his passionate resentment of the attitude and threats of Sir
Edward Carson, leader of the Unionist forces in the British Parliament,
when he read the following statement of Carson carried in the American
Press, after the passage of Home Rule through the House of Lords: "In the
event of this proposed parliament being thrust upon us, we solemnly and
mutually pledge ourselves not to recognize its authority. I do not care
two pence whether this is treason or not."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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