Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-12-05
Friday Morning. ..... December 8, 1918
PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSAGE.

last. President Wilson's message address
ed to the members is. in part. as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress In pursu-
ance of my constitutional duty to give to
the Congress information of the state of
the Union, take the liberty of address,
ing you on several matters which ought, as
1t seems to me, particularly to engage the
attention of your honorable bodies, as of
all who study the welfare and progress of
the nation.
The country, am thankful to say, is at
peace with all the world. and many happy
manifestations multiply about us of
growing cordiality and sense of community
OF interest among the nations, foreshadow-
ing an age of settled peace and good will.
More and more readily each decade do the
nations manifest their willingness to bind
themselves by solemn treaty to the pro-
cesses of peace, the processes of frankness
and fair concession. So far the United
States has stood at the front of such neeo-
uations She will, / hope and conf
IDENTIFY believe. give fresh proof of her sim
cere adherence to the cause of international
friendship by ratifying the several treaties
OF arbitration awaiting renewal 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 nations, representing four-fifths of the
population of the world, to the negotiation
of treaties by which it shall be agreed that
whenever differences of interest or policy
arise which cannot be resolved by the ordi-
nary processes of diplomacy they shall be
publicly analysed. discussed and reported
upon by tribunal chosen by the parties
before either nation determines 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 obligations
assumed.
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 countenanced or
dealt with by the Government of the United
States. We are the friends of constitu-
tlonal government in America: we are
more than its friend. we are its 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 Government. The attempt
to maintain one at the City of Mexico has
broken down, and a mere military despot-
ism has been set up which has hardly
more than the semblance of national au-
thority. 1t originated in the usurpation Of
VictorianO Huerta. who, after a brief at
tempt to play the part of constitutional
President, has at last cast aside even the
pretence of legal right and declared him
self dictator. AS consequence. a condi-
ton of affairs now exists in Mexico which
has made it doubtful whether even the
most elementary and fundamental rights
either of her own people or Of the citizens
OF other countries resident within her terri
tory can long be successfully safeguarded,
and which threatens. if long continued, to
imperil the interests of peace, order and
tolerable life in the lands Immediately to
the south of us. Even if the usurper had
succeeded in his purpose, in despite of the
Constitution of the republic and the rights
of its people, he would have set up nothing
but precarious and hateful power, which
could have lasted but little while, and
whose eventual downfall would have left
the country in a more deplorable condition
than ever. But he has not succeeded. He
has forfeited the respect and the moral
support 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 collapse is not far away
We shall not, believe, be obliged to altel
our policy of watchful waiting And then
when the end comes. we shall hope to SEE
constitutional order restored in distressed
Mexico by the concert and energy of such
of her leaders as prefer the liberty of theil
people to their own ambitions.
| turn to matters of domestic concern
You already have under consideration q
bill for the reform of our system of bankins
and currency, for which the country wait:
with impotence. as for something funda
mental to its business life and necessary t
set credit free from arbitrary and artifcia
restraints. | need not say how earnestl,
hope for its early enactment into law.
take leave TO beg that the whole enere,
and attention of the Senate be concentrated
upon il until the matter is successfully dis
posed Of. And yet feel that the reoues
is not needed that the members of tha
great house need no urging in this servic,
TO the country.
present to you. in addition. the urgent
necessity that special provision be mad,
also for facilitating the credits needed b,
the farmers of the country. The pending
currency bill does the farmers a great ser
vice. 1t puts them upon an equal footinl
with other business men and masters o.
enterprise, as it should; and upon its pass
age they will find themselves quit Of man,
of the difficulties which now hamper then
the field of credit. The farmers, Of
course, ask and should be given no specia
privilege, such as extending to them the
eredit Of the Government itself
What they need and should obtain i.
legislation which will make their owl
abundant and substantial credit resource: