WILSON, _a shadow of himself, is at his desk_. TUMULTY _as usual is
behind the President’s chair. The President is reading a telegram._
WILSON: Tumulty, this is bitter. Bitter.
TUMULTY: Yes, Governor.
WILSON: They’re meeting beyond the sea in Paris. The League that
received birth in American ideals. And the chair of America is empty,
not by the declared wish of the people--I’d not believe it, were such
a wish expressed--but by the strength of personal rancour in the
Senate. It’s unbelievable.
TUMULTY: And no one there to represent American ideals and aspirations!
WILSON: Brazil. This telegram says the Brazilian spoke for the whole
American continent: that was brave and far-sighted of him. But it cuts
me to the heart to think that the duty of speaking for America should
rest elsewhere than on us.
TUMULTY: It’s hard.
WILSON: Hard? It’s cynically false. Tumulty. I can’t believe that is
the wish of the country. I will take them the Covenant with my two
hands, reason with them, explain....
TUMULTY (_gently_): No, dear Governor, you have done all that a man
could do. Another effort would waste your life----
WILSON: I would give it gladly.
TUMULTY: To no purpose, now.
THE SCENE CLOSES.