The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-12-12

ny
Declares Himself for Philippine
endence-shouId Let Anti
Trust Law Stand.
Washington, Dec 2.-Presdent Will
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-
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.
Departs From Custom.
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
Is long, very long, and would suffer
In the abbreviation to which | should
have to subject 1t. 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
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 I'M
necessary.
The country, l am thankful to say,
is at peace with all the world, and
many happy manifestations multiply
about us Of growing cordially 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
front of such negotiations. She will,
earnestly hope and confidently be-
heve, give fresh proof of her sincere
adherence to the cause of interna-
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
gotlations 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 analysed, discussed, and re-
ported upon by tribunal chosen by
the parties before either nation deter
minss 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 obi
cations and the Interpretation of those
already assumed.
Mexico Has No Government.
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 usurged authority
in Mexico; until 1t 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 constitutional government
In America; we are more than its
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 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. 1t originated in the usurpation
OF Victoriano Huerta, who, after a
brief attempt to play the part OF con-
sututional president, has at last cast