Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1913-12-12


Washington, Dec. z.-President VIII
son appeared before the Joint session
Of the two houses Of congress today
and delivered his annual message as
follows:
In pursuance OF my constitutional
duty to give to the congress informa-
tion OF the state OF the Union" take
the liberty OF addressing you on sew
!, eral matters which ought, as II seems
70 me, particularly to engage the at
tention OF your honorable bodies, as
OF all who study the welfare Of the
nation
Departs From Custom.
shall ask your Indulgence IL 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
is long, very long, and would suffer
In the abbreviation to which | should
4
you the reports OF tie 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
tees and OF all members OF the con-
gress who may have the leisure to
study them. Their obvious Importance,
as constituting the very substance Of
the business OF the government. makes
comment and emphasis on my part un-
necessary.
The country, | 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
tions 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
front OF such negotiations. She Will,
I earnestly hope and confidently be-
lieve. give fresh proof of her sincere
adherence to the cause Of internas
tional friendship by ratifying 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
sent. in principle, Of no less than 81
nations. representing four-fifths OF
the population of the world, to the ne
gotiations 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 ehey 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
tue eotdpilbHment Oh new tTeaty ODll
cations and the Interpretation of those
already assumed.
Mexico Has No Government
There is but one cloud upon our no
rizon. That has shown itself to the
south OF us, and hangs over Mexico
There can be no certain prospect oi
peace in America until General Huerts
has surrendered his usurged authority
IN Mexico; until It is understood on
all hands, indeed. that such pretended
governments will not be countenancec
or dealt with by the government Of
the United States. We are tbs
friends of constitutional government
in America .Me.ara. more than lit