Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-09-04
WILSON'S MESSAGE
ON THE MEXICAN
SITUATION.


Wilson in person addressed congress
today on the Mexican situation as
follows:
Gentlemen Of the congress:
at is clearly my duty to lay be
fore you, very fully and without res
ervation. the facts concerning our
present relations with the republic OF
Mexico. The deplorable posture Of
affairs in Mexico, / need not describe,
but l deem it my duty to speak very
frankly of what this government has
done and shall seek 10 do in fulfill
ment of its obligation to Mexico her
self, as a friend and neighbor, and
to American citizens whose lives and
vital interests are daily affected by
the distressing conditions which now
obtain beyond our southern border.
''Those conditions touch us very
nearly. Not merely because they lie
at our very doors. That, Of course,
makes us more wildly and more con-
stantly conscious of them, and every
instinct of neighborly interest and
sympathy is aroused and quickened
by them; but there is only one ele-
ment in the determination of our duty.
We are glad to call ourselves the
friends of Mexico, and we shall, i
hope have many an occasion in hap
-, ,,f
trouble and confusion, to show that
our friendship is genuine and disin-
terested capable of sacrifice and ev-
cry generous manifestation.
1.-The peace, prosperity and content
ment of Mexico means more, much
more, to us than merely an enlarged
field for our commerce and enter
prise. They mean an enlargement
of the field of selfgovernment and
the realization of the hopes and rights
of a nation with whose best aspira-
tions, so long suppressed and disap-
pointed, we deeply sympathiSe. We
shall yet prove to the Mexican people
that we know how to serve them with
out first thinking how we shall serve
ourselves.
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 intercourse
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 If she be ready
and free to receive them and to en-
joy them honorably
"America-in Observation-Disclosures
north and south and upon both con-
of Mexico and that development can
be sound and lasting only if it be the
product of a genuine freedom, just
and ordered government founded
upon law. Only so can it be peaceful
or fruitful of the benefits Of peace.
Mexico has a great and enviable fu-
ture before her, if only she choose
GALQ bilO pctIAlS Va lOlACOt OO1lob4-
tutional government.
1.-The present circumstances Of the
| deeply regret to say, do /
not seem to promise even the foun-
dations of such peace. We have
waited many months, months full OF j
peril and anxiety, for the condition !
there to improve and they have not ,
Thnu orr |
rather. The territory in some sort 7
by the provisional author |
tiles at Mexico has grown smaller, t
not larger; the prospect Of the pac- r
ification of the country, even by | {
arms, has seemed to grow more and 6
more remote; and it's pacification by I
the authorities at the capital is evil +
IDENTIFY impossible by any other means
than force. c
Difficulties more and more eDtan- +
gle those who claim to constitute the a
legitimate government Of the republic n
They have not made good their claim 7
n fact Their successes in the field n
rave proved only temporary War n
md disorder, devastation and confu- q
,tOH bCCA1 w LII CutCI ~ bCSO"S LlNS
settled fortune of the distracted T
Il
"As friends we could wait no II
onger for solution which every p
week seemed further away 1t was ot
'ur duty at least to volunteer our ri
,ood offices-to offer to assist, if we
night, in effecting some arrangement II
which would bring relief and peace Il,
nd set up universally acknowledge do
d political authority there. iii
Accordingly took the liberty of w
ending the Hon. John Lind, formerly fr
overnor OF Minnesota as my per 70
onal spokesman and representative Sc
D the City of Mexico, with the follow WI
Is instructions: sc
-