Alma record., 1913-12-04


In pursuance of my constitutional
duty to give to the congress informa-
ton Of the state of the Union," take
the liberty of addressing you on sew
eral matters which ought, as 1t seems
to me, particularly to engage the at
tention Of your honorable bodies, as
of all who study the welfare OF the
nation.
l shall ask your indulgence II | ven
ture to depart In some degree from
the usual custom of setting before you
In formal review the many matters
which have engaged the attention and
called for the action of the several
departments of the government or
which look to them for early treat
ment in the future, because the list
u long, very long. and would suffer
In the abbreviation to which l 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 de-
tail, and beg that they may receive the
thoughtful attention of your commit
gress who may have the leisure to
study them. Their obvious importance,
rs constituting the very substance OF
the business of the government, makes
comment and emphasis on my part un-
necessary
Country Is at Peace.
The country, l 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
lions manifest, their willingness to
bind themselves by solemn treaty to
the processes of peace, the processes
of frankness and fair concession. So
far the United States has stood at the
earnestly hope and confidently be-
Meve, give fresh proof of her sincere
adherence to the cause of interna-
tional friendship by ratifyfng the sew
eral treaties of arbitration awaiting
renewal by the senate. In addition to
these, 1t has been the privilege of the
department of state to gain the as
nations, representing four-ffths Of
the population of the world, to the ne
COLLATION. Of treaties by which 1t shall
be agreed that Whenever differences
Of interest or of policy arise which
cannot be resolved by the ordinary
processes Of diplomacy they shall be
publicly analyzed, discussed, and re-
ported upon by tribunal chosen by
the parties before either nation deter
mines its course of action.
There is only one possible standard
by which to determine controversies
between the United States and other
nations, and that Is compounded of
these two elements: Our own honor
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 obli-
cations and the Interpretation of those
already assumed.
nuertd MUST Iet 80.
There is but one cloud upon our ho-
rizon. 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 oountenanced
or dealt with by the government of
the United States. We are the
friends of constitutional government
In America; we are more than it's
friends, we are it's champions; because
In no other way can our neighbors. to
whom we would wish In every way to
make proof of our friendship, work
out their own development In peace
and liberty. Mexico has no govern
ment The attempt to maintain one
at the City of Mexico has broken
down. and a mere military despotism
has been set up which has hardly more
than the semblance OF national author
ity. It originated In the usurpation
Of Victoriano Huerta. who, after
brief attempt to play the part of con-
stitutional president. has at last cast
aside even the pretense Of legal right
and declared himself dictator. As q
consequence. condition Of affairs
now exists in Mexico which has made
II doubtful whether even the most
and fundamental rights
either Of her own people o. Of the
citizens Of other countries resident
within her territory can long be sue
safeguarded, and which
II long continued. to i'm
peril the interests of peace. order and
tolerable life In the lands immedi-
ately to the south Of us. Even II the
usurper had succeeded In his purposes,
in despite Of the constitution of the
republic and the rights Of it, people.
he would have sst up nothing but .
precarfous and hateful power. which |
could have lasted but . little while, |
and whose eventful downfall would
have left the country In = morp de-