The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-03
Fall Of Huerta Predicted by
President IN Address Read
IN Person to the Houses Of
Congress.

Gentlemen Of the Congress: In pursu-
ance OF my constitutional duty to give
TO the Congress information Of the state
OF the Union" I take the liberty Of ad-
dressing You on several matters which
ought. as it seems to me, particularly to
engage the attention OF your honorable
bodies, as Of all who study the welfare
and progress of the nation
1 shall ask your indulgence IL ven
lure &c 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
lof the action Of the several departments
OF the government or which look to them
Tor early treatment in the future, be-
cause the list is long, very long, and
would suffer in the abbreviation to which
l should have to subject IL. I 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 committees
and Of all members Of the Congress who
ma have the leisure TO study them.
Their obvious importance, as constitu-
ting the very substance of the business
OF the government, makes comment and
emphasis on my part unnecessary.
Peace with the World.
The country, 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 ma
tons, foreshadowfng an age of settled
peace and good will. More and more
readily each decade do the nations man.
nest their willingness to bind themselves
by solemn treaty to the processes Of
Teace, the processes of frankness ana
fair concession. So far the United States
has stood at the front of such negotia-
tons She will. I earnestly hope and
confidently believe, give fresh proof OF
her sincere adherence to the cause Of
international friendship by ratifying the
several treaties of arbitration awaiting
renewal by the Senate. In addition 10
these, it mas been the privilege of the
Department OF State TO gain the assent,
In principle, of no less than thirty-ons
nations, representing four-fifths of the
population of the world, to the negotia-
ton of treaties by which it shall be
agreed that whenever differences OF in
terest or of policy arise which cannot
be resolved by the ordinary processes Of
diplomacy they shall be publicly ana
lyZed, discussed, and reported upon by a
tribunal chosen by the parties before
either nation determines its course Of
action.
There is only one possible standard by
which TO determine controversies be-
tween the United States and other ma
tons, and that is compounded of these
two elements: Our own honor and or
obligations to the peace of the world. \
test so compounded ought easily to be
made to govern both the establishment
OF new treaty obligations and the inter
probation of those already assumed.
Cloud Over Mexico.
There is but one cloud upon our hori-
Eon. That has shown itself to the south
of us, and hangs over Mexico. There can
be no certain prospect of peace in Amer |
lea until Gen. Huerta has surrendered |
his usurped authority in Mexico; until II !
is understood on all hands, indeed. that |
such pretended governments will not De
countenanced or dealt with b. the gov
eminent 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 neigh !
bors, 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 despotism has been set up which |
las hardly more than the semblance of |
Cational authority. 1T originated in the |
usurpation of Victoriano HUerta, who, !
after brief attempt TO play the part Of |
constitutional President, has at last cast |
aside ven the pretense of legal right and |
declared himself dictator
As a consequence, condition Of affairs |
TOW exists in Mexico which has made # |
doubtful whether even the most elemeE- |
taTy and fundamental rights either of |
Ter own people or of the citizens of othec |
countries resident within her territory
can long be successfully safeguarded, |
and which threatens, if long continued,
to imperil the interests of peace. order,
and tolerabIe life in the lands immedi-
ately to the south of us.
4 PrecRrious Power.
Even if the usurper had succeeded in
his purposes, in despite of the constitu-
ton of the republic and the rights of its
people. he would have set up nothing
but a Drecarious and hateful power,
which could have lasted but a little
while, and whose eventual downfall
would have left the country in a more