Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/127

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PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
99

fruits of this legislation have been a new tariff bill and a new banking bill, and it is only justice to say that both have given general satisfaction. Hating force, Dr. Wilson has made it his cardinal policy to keep the country out of war. Mexico has been, during his administration, a constant thorn in the side, and the violations by England, and especially by Germany, of our neutrality have been frequent and flagrant. But Dr. Wilson has presented to each strong representations, which have undoubtedly had their effect, though it is also true that his devotion to the primary object of peace has subjected him to the charge of weakness and indifference to American rights, and there are some who in matter of the European war would have had him take his stand upon the broad grounds of humanity and promptly registered a protest when Belgium was invaded and ruthlessly trodden under foot. It is probably too early to pronounce judgment, with accuracy, upon those matters, and in the meantime the American people, having the highest faith in the honesty and integrity of the President, have irrespective of party, let it be known that they will stand by him to the end, under the unquestionably difficult conditions which surround him.

Mr. Wilson married, June 24, 1885, Ellen Louise Axsen, a charming Southern lady, from Savannah, Georgia. Mrs. Wilson had a distinct claim on New Jersey, when her husband was so highly honored, in that she was the direct descendant of the southern branch of the Fitz-Randolph family of that state, a family which donated a portion of the land upon which Princeton University now stands. She was an artist of merit, and her death not many months ago was greatly regretted.