Charles W. Gordon to Woodrow Wilson
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Dear Mr. President
Last night from Hartford I ventured to send you a telegram. I confess I was urged to do so by an emotion deeper perhaps than you can quite understand -For a year and a half at the Front we have talked this thing over & over - in trenches & in dug outs - in many a black hour - we longed with an intensity deepening into bitterness at times that President Wilson should speak his mind upon this thing, that had called so many thousands of us from our work & from our homes & children to this place of horror & of death - we wanted him to say to the whole world what was his judgment upon this whole business of militarism which roots itself in dynastic and despotic autocracy & issues in a ruthless bloody brutal exercise of force that disregards pledged Honor, that tramples Freedom into the dust of desolated lands, that with strong-hearted inhumanity lets loose its fury and its lust upon weeping women and terrified little children - we were burning to hear his word in regard to that whole system of scientifically ordered autocratic & oligarchic government whose ambition for world power planned the destruction of states small and great, schemed to poison the loyalty of people to their rightful authority, scorned such sacred things as freedom faith & Righteousness, and with appallingly lighthearted callousness contemplated the destruction of millions of human beings -We were close to these things, their horrors were branded upon our souls - I have seen the children, whose parents have suffered those horrors unspeakable I have seen their pitiful homesteads - Perhaps, you will understand how we felt in the trenches in that awful Ypres salient - as we waited for your word - and my feeling last night when it came. Thank God - the God of Eternal Righteousness & of mercy & compassion -And will you let me say the utterance is worthy of the cause in which it speaks - worthy of yourself - worthy of your Great Republic - Not for Revenge, not for insulted Honor much less for secure sea-ways for your ships nor even safety for your people - but for those great treasures of man & of nations Freedom & Faith - Humanity & Righteousness and Peace secured by fair dealing - Because these God given things were in peril & because the rights of nations in them were challenged, you for your people accepted war.
I can hear the cheers from Canada, from London that old home of freedom, from my comrades in the trenches, from all the free peoples in the world small & great - cant you? And long after this generation has passed away these cheers will continue to reverberate down the corridors of Time.
Before I return to the Front which will now be soon I should greatly like to see you again if I might hope for such an honor & privilege in the midst of your pressing & heavy cares
-With new admiration& regard
-I am Dear Mr. President
Major 43rd Br. Cameron
Highlanders of Canada
—P.S. Will there be issued a copy of your message?
CWG
Charles W. Gordon
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