Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-08-28
PRESIDENT WILSON DELIVERS
MESSAGE ON MEXICAN STRIFE
Appears Before Congress at Joint Session Of House and
Senate and Tells What His Policy Will Be
Toward Huerta Administration.
GIVES COMPLETE RESUME OF THE
EFFORTS AIMED AT MEDIATION
Advises Absolute NonInterventon Far as Arms Are
Concerned and Would Let the Factions Decide
- Supremacy for Themselves.

! Washington, D. c., Aug. 27.-Presi
dent Wilson in person addressed con
gress today on the Mexican situation
as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
ut is clearly my duty to lay before
you very fully and without reservation
; the facts concerning our present rela
tions with the republic OF Mexico. Tht
|deplorable posture Of affairs II
Mexico, I need not describe, but deem
it my duty to speak very frankly o,
what this government has done ant
should seek to do in fulfllment of its
obligation to Mexico herself, as 8
friend and neighbor, and to American
citizens whose lives and vital inter
ests are daily affected by the distress
ing conditions which now obtain be
yond our southern border.
''Those conditions touch us very
nearly. Not merely because they lie
at our very DOORS That, Of course
makes US more vividly and more con
stantly conscious of them, and every
instinct Of neighborly interest and
sympathy Is aroused and quickened by
them; but that is only one element in
the determination of our duty. We
are glad to call ourselves the friends
Of Mexico, and we shall, hope, have
many an occasion, In happier times
as well as In these days OF trouble and
confusion, to show that our friendship
is genuine and disinterested, capable
OF sacrifice and every generous mani
.festations The peace, prosperity and
contentment OF Mexico mean more
much more. to us than merely an en-
3larged field for our commerce and en-,
terprise. They mean an enlargement
Of the field Of self-government and the
realization of the hopes and rights Of q
nation with whose best aspirations, 80
long suppressed and disappointed, we
deeply sympathize. We shall yet prove
to the Mexican people that we know
how to serve them without first think.
ing how we shall serve ourselves.
World is Watching.
"But we are not the only friends OF
Mexico. The whole world desires her
peace and progress; and the whole
world is interested as never before;
Mexico lies at last where all the
world looks on. Central America Is
about to be touched by the great
routes of the worlds trade and inter
course running free from ocean to
ocean at the isthmus. The future has
much In store for Mexico, as for all
the states of Central America; but the
best gifts can come to her only II she
be ready and free to receive them and
enjoy them honorably. America, In
particular-America north and south
and on both continents-waits on the
developments of Mexico; and that de-
velopment, can be sound and lasting
culy if it be the product of a genuine
freedom, just and ordered govern
ment, founded on law. Only SO can 1t
be peaceful or fruitful of the benefits
of peace. Mexico has great and
enviable future before her, If only she
chooses and attains the paths of hon
est constitutional government.
No Peace in Sight.
The present circumstances of the
republic, deeply regret to say, do not
seem to promise even the foundations
of such a peace. We have waited many
months, months full of peril and
anxiety, for the conditions there to i'm
prove, and they have not improved.