The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-02

Washington. D. c., Dec. 2.-Presi-
dent Wilson delivered the following
message to congress at noon today:
Gentlemen of the congress: In pur-
suance Of my constitutional duty to
give to the congress information OF
the state Of the union. take the lib
erty of addressing you on several
matters which ought, as it seems to-
me, particularly to engage the atten-
ton Of. your honorable bodies, as of
all who study the welfare and prog,
ress of the nation.
I shall ask your Indulgence II l VEN
ture to depart in some degree from
the usual custom of setting before
you in formal review the many mat
ters which have engaged the atten-
tion and called for the action of the
several departments Of the govern
ment or which look to them for early
treatment in the future, because the
list Is long. very long. and would suf-,
fer in the abbreviation to which /
should have to subject it. shall sub
NIT to you the reports of the heads OF
the several departments. in which
these subjects are set forth in careful
detail, and beg that they may receive
the thoughtful attention of your com -
mittees and of all members Of the
congress who may have the leisure to-
study them. Their obvious import i
|ance. as constituting the very sub =,
stance Of the business Of the govern =
ment makes comment and emphasis
on my part unnecessary.
The country, I 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 sinceres
adherence to the cause OF internation-,
al friendship by ratifying the several
treaties of arbitration awaiting re-.
newal by the senate. In addition to,
these, 1t has been the privilege of the
department OF state to gain the assent,
antions, representing four-fifths of the
population of the world. to the nego7
tiation of treaties by which 1t shall ba
agreed that whenever differences of
interest or Of policy arise which can
not be resolved by the ordinary pro-
cesses of diplomacy they shall be pub
licly analysed, discussed, and reported
upon by tribunal chosen by the par
ties 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
ought easily to be made to govern
both the establishment of new treaty
obligations and the Interpretation of
those already assumed.
Mexican Situation.
There lis 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 1t is understood on all
hands. indeed. that such pretended
governments will not be countenanced
or dealth with by the government OF
| the United States. We are the friends
OF constitutional government in Amer
lea; we are more than it's friends, 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 at
tempt 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 segab-