talked about but little acted upon. Here are other great pieces of constructive legislation waiting to be done to which we could turn without any controversy except, as I have said, as to the best ways of doing them.

I believe that ways can be found to do these things readily enough if the country will give us its generous support and trust us to do them; and it would have been a genuine pleasure to me to ask to be given again colleagues such as I have had in the two Houses of Congress during the present memorable session.

I trust that there will be many occasions upon which I may have the privilege of calling the attention of my fellow countrymen to the fine and unselfish service which has been rendered them by their present representatives, ready at all times to respond to any appeal which spoke convincingly of the public welfare.

TIME TO "STAY ON JOB."

But in view of the unlooked-for international situation our duty has taken on an unexpected aspect. Every patriotic man ought now to "stay on his job" until the crisis is passed, and ought to stay where his job can best be done. We must do whatever is necessary and forego whatever is not necessary to keep us in close and active concert in order to relieve in every possible way the stress and strain put upon our people during the continuance of the present extraordinary conditions.

My job, I now know, can be done best only if I devote my whole thought and attention to it and think of nothing but the duties of the hour. I am not at liberty, and shall not be, so far as I can see, to turn away from these duties to undertake any kind of political

canvass.

HE MUST KEEP AT WORK.

In the present emergency I am keenly aware of the twofold responsibility I am called upon to discharge; the responsibility which devolves upon me as President of the United States and the responsibility under which I am laid as leader of a great political party.

Of course, the whole country will expect of me and my own conscience will exact of me that I think first of my duties as President, responsible for exercising so far as I have the ability, constant guidance in the affairs of the country, both domestic and foreign.

MUCH DEPENDS ON PRESIDENT.

The labors of Congress have a natural and customary limit; the work of the houses can be and will be finished; Congress can adjourn. But the President can not, especially in times like these, turn away from his official work even for a little while. Too much depends upon his keeping all the threads of what is occurring in his hands.

I have therefore reached the conclusion that I can not in any ordinary sense take an active part in the approaching campaign; that I must remain here to attend to the serious work sure to fill the months immediately before us-months that will carry with them obligations, no doubt, of the most tremendous sort. I know that

you will feel similarly about your own obligations, will feel that they must remain to do their work of necessary and pressing service, and bring it to a successful conclusion.

SHALL LET PUBLIC KNOW.

I shall, no doubt, take occasion, as opportunity offers, to state, and perhaps restate, to the country in the clearest and most convincing terms I can command the things which the Democratic Party has attempted to do in the settlement of great questions which have for many a long year pressed for solution, and I earnestly hope they will generously open their minds to what I may have to say, but I shall not allow my eagerness to win their approval or my earnest desire to be granted by their suffrages the support of another Congress to interfere with the daily performance of my official duties or distract my mind from them.

The record men make speaks for itself. The country can not be deceived concerning it, and will assess it justly. What it chiefly expects and demands, and what it will certainly be most surely won by, is the performance of duty without fear or favor and without regard to personal consequences.

COUNTRY GREATER THAN PARTIES.

And certainly this is a time when America expects every man to do his duty without thought of profit or advantage to himself. America is greater than any party. America can not properly be served by any man who for a moment measures his interest against her advantage. The time has come for great things. These are days big with destiny for the United States, as for other nations of the world. A little wisdom, a little courage, a little self-forgetful devotion may under God turn that destiny this way or that. Great hearts, great natures, will respond. Even little men will rejoice to be stimulated and guided and set an heroic example. Parties will fare well enough without nursing if the men who make them up and the men who lead them forget themselves to serve a cause and set a great people forward on the path of liberty and peace.

Cordially and sincerely, yours.

Hon FRANK E. DOREMUS,

WOODROW WILSON.

Chairman Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

WASHINGTON, D. C.

O

SENATE

2d Session S

No. 578

THE DUTY OF

A NEUTRAL NATION

SPEECH

IN THE

SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

RESPECTING THE DUTY OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, AND ESPECIALLY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, DURING THE TERRIBLE STRUGGLE NOW RAGING IN EUROPE DELIVERED ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1914

By

SENATOR WILLIAM J. STONE

OF MISSOURI

CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN RELATIONS

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

S D-63-2-vol 29-22

SUBMITTED BY MR. GALLINGER.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,

September 5 (calendar day Sept. 9), 1914

Ordered, That the remarks of Senator Stone, delivered in the Senate on September 9, 1914, on the "Duty of a Neutral," be printed as a Senate document, and that 5,000 additional copies be printed for the use of the Senate Document Room.

Attest:

JAMES M. BAKER,
Secretary.

By H. M. ROSE,

Assistant Secretary.