Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-12-05
To CONGRESS
First Annual Message a Statesman
like Paper.
BRIEF and STRAIGHT TO The POINT

|
| Currency Must Be Reformed, and
Agricultural Development Must Be
Fostered-Firm Stand for Presiden-
tiaI Primaries.
Gentlemen of the Congress-:
I'm pursuance Of my constitutional
duty to "give the congress informa-
ton of the state of the Union" take
the liberty of addressing you on sew
eral matters .lch ought, as 1t seems
to me, particularly to engage the at
tentipn of your honorable bodies, as
of all who study the welfare and pro-
gress of the nation.
II shall ask your indulgence II !
venture to depart In some degree
from the usual custom Of setting be-
fore you in informal review the many
matters which have engaged the at
tention and called for the action Of
the several departments of the gov
ernment or which look to them for
early treatment in the future, because
the list Is long. very long. and would
suffer in the abbreviation to which I
should have to subject 1t. I shall sub
NIT to you the reports Of the heads Of
these subjects are set forth in careful
detail, and beg that they may receive
the thoughtful attention Of your COM
mittees and Of all members of the
congress who may have the leisure to
study them. Their obvious impor-
tance, as constituting the very sub
stance Of the business Of the govern
ment, makes comment and emphasis
on my part necessary.
At Peace With the World.
1.-THE country. am thankful to say.
| is at peace with all the world, and
many happy manifestations multiply
about us of a growing cordiality and
sense of community Of interest among
the nations, foreshadowing an age Of
settled peace and good will. More and
more readily each decade do the ma
tions manifest their willingness to bind
themselves by solemn treaty to the
processes Of peace the processes Of
frankness and fair concession. Se far
the United States has stood at the
front Of such negotiations. She will,
I earnestly hope and confidently be-
lieve. give fresh proof Of her sincere
adherence to the cause international
friendship by ratifying the several
treaties of arbitration awaiting re-
newal by the senate. In addition to
these, it has been the privilege of the
department of state to gain the assent
in principle, Of no less than 81 ma
tions, representing four-fifths Of the
population Of the world, to the nego-
tiation of treaties by which 1t shall be
agreed that whenever differences Of in
terest or Of policy arise which can be
resolved by the ordinary processes of
diplomacy they shall be publicly ana
lyzed, discussed, and reported upon by
a tribunal chosen by the parties be-
fore either nation determines its
course of action.
There is only one possible stand
ard by which to determine controver-
sizes between the United States and
other nations and that Is compounded
Of these two elements: Our own hon
or and our obligations to the peace of
the world. A test so compounded
ought easily to be made to govern
both the establishment Of new treaty
obligations and the Interpretation of
those already assumed.
Mexico.
There Is but one cloud upon our
horizon. That has shown itself to the
south Of US, and hangs over Mexico.
There can be no certain prospect of
peace In America until General Huerta
has surrendered his usurped authority
in Mexico; until it is understood on
all hands, indeed. that such pretended
governments will not be countenanc-
ed or dealt with by the govern
ment Of the United States, We are
the friends of constitutional govern
ment in America; we are more than
It's friends, we are It's champions; be-
cause in no other way can our neigh
bors, to whom we should wish in ev-
cry way to make proof Of our friend
ship, work out their own development
, in peace and liberty. Mexico has no
government. The attempt to maintain
one at the City of Mexico has broken
down, and mere military despotism
has been set up which has hardly more
than the semblance Of national au-
thority. 1t originated In the usurpa-
, ton of Victoriano Huerta, who, after
brief attempt to play the part OF
; constitutional president, has at last
cast aside even the pretepse Of legal
right and declared himself dictator.
As a consequence, condition of af-
fairs now exists In Mexico which has
made 1t doubtful whether even the
most elementary and fundamental
rights either Of her own people or of
the citizens of other countries resi-
dent within her territory can long be
successfully safeguarded. and which
threatens, If long continued, to i'm
peril the interests Of peace. order and
tolerable life in the lands Immediately
to the south Of us. Even II the usurp-
er had succeeded in his purposes. in
despite Of the constitution Of the Re-
; public and the rights Of its people, he
would have set up nothing but pre-
carious and hateful power, which
could nave lasted but a little while,
and whose eventual downfall would
have left the country in a more de-
plorable condition than ever. But he
has not succeeded. He has forfeited
the respect and the moral support
even Of those who were at one time
willing to see him succeed. Little by
little he has been completely isolated
By a little every day his power and
prestige are crumbling and the col
lapse is not far away. We shall not
I believe, be obliged to alter our poll
cy of watchful waiting. And then
when the end comes we shall hope tc
see constitutional order restored In