The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-12-02

w Ash / \tfION. Dec. =. -- PreSl-
dent Wilson read his first annual mes
sage to Congress- today at Il Joint SEES
sion Of both branches 1T ! clock in
tile House chamber The message,
among the briefest Of documents OF its
kind from any President and some B
GOO words long, required less than, 80
minutes for reading though it treat
ed upon variety of subjects. Fol
lowing is fine message in full:
Gentlemen Of the Congress
In pursuance Of my constitutional duty
to give to the Congress information OF
the state of the Union ! take the lib
crty OF addressing you on several matters
which ought. as it seems to me, palticu-
larry to engage the attention of your hon
orahle bodies, as of all who study the
welfare and progress OF the Nation.
| shall ask your indulgence ii | venture
to depart in some degree from the usual
custom of setting before you in formal re-
view the many matters which have en-
gagged the attention and called for the ac
ton OF the several departments Of the
government or which look to them tor
| early treatment in the future, because the
!
| in the Authorization to which | should
have to subject it. | shall submit to you
the reports Of the heads OF the several
| departments, in which these subjects are
set forth in careful detail, and beg that
| they may receive the thoughtful attention
| Of Your committees and Of all Members of
! the Congress who may have the leisure to
study them. Their obvious Importance.
! rs constituting the very substance OF the
business of the government. makes com
ment and emphasis on my part unneces-
sary
The country / am thankful to say. is
at peace with all the world, and many
happy manifestations multiply about MS
Of growing cordiaIity and sense Of COM
munity of interest among the nations,
/ ioreshadoWing an age of settled peace and
good Will More and more readily each
4 decade do the nations manifest their will
ineness to bind themselves by solemn
treaty to the processes of peace, the proc
ess OF franlnesS and fam concession. 30
far the United States has stood at the
front OF such negotiations. She viii, |
Il earnestly hope and confidently believe.
give fresh proof OF her sincere adherence
to the cause of international friendship
by ratifyng the several treaties oi arbi-
tiation awaiting renewal by the Senate.
In addition to these. il has been the priv
Iege OF the department of state to gam
the assent in principle. OF no less than
81 nations. representing four-hfths oi the
population uf the world, to the uegotIa-
ton Of treaties by which it shall hc
agreed That whenever differences 81 inter
est or OF policy arise which can not he
resolved 10y the ordinary processes Of d.
plomaey they shall be publicly analysed,
r discussed. and reported upon ny trihu
nal chosen by the parties before either
! nation determines It's course of action.
There is only one possible standard "
which to determine controversies he
! tween the United States and other na
tions. and that - compounded o. Ties,
two elements: Our own honor and on,
obligations to the peace OF the world. :
test 50 compounded ought easily to Et
made to govern both the establishment
Of new treaty obligations and the inter
probation OF those already assumed
There is but one cloud upon our hori
! ION That has shown itself to the souti
I of us. and hangs over Mexico. There cal
4 be no certain prospect OF peace in Amer
4 ca until Gen. Huerta has surrendered hi,
d nsurped authority in Mexico; until it j
4 understood on all hands, indeed, that sucl
pretended governments will not be coun
q tenanced or dealt with by the government
d of the United States We are the friend
Of constitutional government in America
4 we are more than It's friends, we are il
4 champions; because in no other way car
s. our ntghbors. to whom would wisl
q in every way to make proof of our friend
ship, work out their own development il
d peace and liberty. Mexico has no GOV
II Tho aftnD,n+ ON
\ al the City of Mexico has broken down,
4 and mere military deSpotism has bee
set up which has hardly more than tn
semblancc of national authority. II orig
n mated IN the usurpation OF Victorian
Z IIuerta, who. after brief attempt t
3 play the part of constitutional president
has at last east aside even the pfetenS
Of legal right and declared himself dictS
4 tor. As a consequence, a condition OF a
4 fairs now exists in Mexico which Ia
N made it doubtful whether even the mos
4 elementary and fundamental rights eth,
a of her own people or of the citizens
q other countries resident within her tern
4 tory can long be successfully safeguarde,
q and which threatens. If long continued,
n impelil the interests OF peace, order, an
q toIcrabe life III the lands Immediately
4 the south of rs. Even if the usurper ha
y succeeded IN his purposes, IN despite
ID the constitution of the Republic and II
: rights of its people, he would have set I
VI nothing but precautions and hateful po'
Z err which could have lasted but lit
4 while. and whose eventual downfa
\ would have left the country in a mo
Il deplorable condition than ever But
n has not succeeded He has forfeited Il
4 respect and the moral support even
4 those who were at one time willing
L see him succeed Little by little he Ii
I been completely isolated BY a lit
4 every day his power and prestige a
crumblng and the collapse is not f
\ away We shall not. / believe he oltg