The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-07-04

D Rod il not far of when we may dek
7 material INJURY from external annoy
II aneG when we may take such
+ an attitude rs will causo tho
~ neutrality We may atany time resolve
upon, TO he scrupulously respected,
Wheh bolllgerent nations, I'm,
DER .mposslbilty of making
acquisitions upon us, will not
lghlly hazard the giving ~ provoca.
uoh' wnrn We may choose peace on
, shall counsel y '"''"''
, why lorogo the advantages of sopeeu.
liar situation Why ouil
Our own to stand upon hreicn
. ground Why by ntnrwcsr'
mg our destiny with that Of amy part of
Europe, entanglc our peace aud pros.
perlty in the tolls OF European ambi.
ton rinlship, interest humor or
caprice
1t is our true policy to steer clear of
permanent alliances with any portion of
OF the foreign world 80 iar, mean.
as we are now at liberty 10 do Il
for lot me not bo understood rs capablo
OF mIronidlng intidclity to existing en-
gagements, ! hold the maxim no less
applicable TO public than to private af
ialrs that honesty is always tho best
policy, repeat il, therefore, lot those
engagements bc observed in their
genuine scnsc, But IN my opinion il
Is unnecessary, and would he unwiso To
extend thom,
Taking care always to keep ourselycs
by suitable establishments, ON rcspcc,
table defensive POSTURE wa may safely
trust to temporary alliances Tor cxuaor,
binary emergencies
Harmony, and liberal intercourse
with all nations, are recommended hy
policy humanity and interest But
even our commercial policy should hold
an equal and impartial hand, neither
seeking nor granting exclusive myors or
preferences, consulting the natural
course oIthings, ditlusing and diversity.
ingby gentle means the streams of com
mercob forcing, nothing establishing,
with powers SO disposed, In order to give
trade stable course to define the rights
of our merchants, and to enable the
government TO support them convon-
tlonHl rules OF intercourse, the best that
present circumstances and mutual opin-
ions will permit, but temporary, and LA.
bio to be from time to time, abandoned
or varied as experience and circumstan-
ccs, shall dictate, constantly keeping
in view, that il is folly in one nation To
look tordisintorostcd layors from anoth-
en- that il must paywith portion Gifts
independence, for whatever il may ac.
coptundcr that character, that by such
acceptance il may place itself in the
condition oihWlng given equivalents
for nominal iavors and yet of being re-
preached with ingmtimdoi for not giving
more. There can bo no greater crror
than to expect on calculate upon, rcnl
favor from nation to nation II is an
illusion which experiences must cure,
which just pride ought to discard,
In offering to YOU, my oouutrymon,
these comscls Of an old aud aIltclonato
friend | dare not hope they will make
the strong and lasting impression
could wish, that they win control the
usual current of the passions, or pre-
vent our nation from running the
course which has hitherto marked the
destiny of nations, but il may evcn
tlnttcr myself that they may he produc-
tive Of some partial benefit, some occa-
sionul good; that they may now and
| then rcCur to moderate tho fury al
party spirit, to warn against the mis-
chiefs of foreign intripcs, to guard
against the imposturos OF pretended
patriotism, this hope win he n full
rccompensc for the solicitudc for your
welfare 10y which they have been die
tatCd
How far, in the discharge ofmy official
duties, | have been guided by the prin.
ciplcs which have been dclinoated the
public records and other evidences Of
my conduct must witness oyou and the
world 10 myself the assurance Of my
own conscience is, that have nj least
believed my+elrto be guided by them,
In relation to the still existing war
in Europe, my proclamation of the I'D
of April, 1913 is the index TO my plan,
sanctioned 10y yourapproving voice and
by that Of Your representatives in both
| Houses ofCongrcss the spirit OF that
measure has continually governed me,
uninhucnccd by any attempts to deter
or divert mo from it,
! After deliberate examination, with
the aid of the best lights could obtain,
was wei! satisfied that our country
under all the circumstances OF the case,
had right to take, and was bound in
duty and interest to take n neutral posi-
ton. Having taken it, ! determined,
rs far rs it should depend upon me, to
maintain il with moderation, perscvcr-
ance and iirmness.
The considerations which respect the
right to hold this conduct, IT is not
necessary on this occasion to detail !
will only observe that according
TO my understanding OF the
matter. that right, so far from being de-
MED by any of the belligcrent powers,
has been virtually admitted by all.
The duty of holding neutral con
duct may be inferred, without anything
more, from the obligation which Justice
and humanity impose on every nation,
in eases in which it is free to act, to
maintain inyiolate the relations of peace
and amity towards other nations,
The inducements of interest, for OBJ
serving that conduct, will best be re-
ferred to your own reflections and expe-
. rience, With me, n predominant mo
tive has been to endeavor to gain time
to our country to settle and mature it's
vet recent institutions, and to progress,
, without interruption, to that degree oil
strength and consistency which IS nee
/ essnry to give it, humanely speaking,
/ the command of its own fortunes,
Though in reviewing the incidents OF
, my administration, ! am unconscious of
Intentional error ! am, nevertheless.
too sensible of my defects
/. to think it probable ., =,
may have committe6oetweeh u
, errors Whatever thy Sitting l.
be, fcrvently bestroops, led
Almighty to avert or mitigat than ordu
to which they tend | shall g., ,,na
, with me the hope that my COT ~ VIZ" W.,
never cease to view them " reRui'
| - Az "a