The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-09-04
TEXT OF PRESIDENT
WILSON'S MESSAGE
OUTLINES DETAILS OF NATIONS
EFFORT TO RESTORE PEACE
IN MEXICO.
WHOLE WORLD INTERESTED
Executive Asserts Proposals For
Friendly Mediation of U. S. Gov
eminent Are Open to Resump-
ton Any Time.

ton Any Time.
Washington, Aug. 2S.--Before a
Joint session of the house and senate
President Wilson read the following
message in regards to the Mexican
situation:
1T IS clearly my duty to lay before
you very fully and without reservation
the facts concerning our present rela-
tlons with the republic of Mexico.
The depiorable posture of affairs in
Mexico | need not describe, but / deem
IL my duty to speak very frankly of
what this government has done and
should seek to do in fulfillment of its
obligation to Mexico herself as a
friend and neighbor and to American
citizens whose lives and vital inter.
ests are daily affected by the distress
ing conditions which now obtain be-
yond our Southern border.
Those conditions touch us very
nearly. Not merely because they lie
at u very doors. That, of course,
makes us more vividly and more cor.
stantly conscious of them, and every
instinct of neighborly interest and
sympathy is aroused and quickened by
them; but that is only one element in
the determination of our duty. We
are glad to call ourselves the friends
of Mexico and we shall, | hope, have
many an occasion in happier time as
well as in these days of trouble and
confusion to show that our friendship
is genuine and disinterested, capable
of sacrifice and every generous mani
festation.
Sympathize With Mexico.
"The peace, prosperity and content
ment of Mexico mean more, much
more, to us than merely an enlarged
field for our commerce and enterprise.
They mean an enlargement of the
field of self-government and the real
ization of the hopes and rights of a.
nation with whose best aspirations so
long suppressed and disappointed we
deeply sympathize. : We shall yet
prove to the Mexican people that we
know how to serve them without first
thinking how we shall serve ourselves.
But we are not the only friends of
Mexico. The whole world desires her
peace and progress; and the whole
world is interested as never before.
Mexico lies at last where all the world
looks on. Central America Is about to
be touched by the great routes of the
worlds trade and intercourse running
free from ocean to ocean at the 18TH
nus. The future has much in store
for Mexico, as for all the states of
Central America, but the best gifts
can come to her only If she be ready
and free to receive them and to en-
Joy them honorably. America in par
ticular-American north and south
and upon both continents-waits upon
the development of Mexico; and that
development can be sound and lasting
only If it be the product of a genuine
freedom, a just and ordered govern
ment, founded upon law. Only so can
It be peaceful or fruitful of the bene-
fits of peace. Mexico has a great
and enviable future before her if only
she choose and attain the paths of
honest constitutional government
Regrets Present Conditions.
THE present circumstances Of the
republic, | deeply regret to say, do not
seem to promise even the foundations
of such a peace. We have waited
many months, months full of peril and
anxiety, for the conditions there to
improve and they have not improved.
They have grown worse rather. The
territory in some sort controlled by
the provisional authorities at Mexico
City has grown smaller, not larger.
The prospect of the pacifcation of the
country even by arms has seemed to
grow more and more remote and it's
p~acification by the authorities at the
capital is evidently impossible by any
other means than force. Difficulties
more and more entangle those who
claim to constitute the legitimate gov
eminent of the republican. They have
not made, good their claim in fact.
Their successes in the field have
proved only temporary. Wal and dis
order, devastation and confusion,
seem to threaten to become the set
tied fortune Of the distracted country.
AS friends we could wait no longer
for a solution which every week
seemed further away. 1t was our
duty at least to volunteer our good
offices, to assist If we might in effect
ing some arrangement which would
bring relief and peace and set up a
universally acknowledged political au-
thority there.
Accordingly, / took the liberty of
sending the Hon. john Lind, formerly
governor Of Minnesota, as my person
al spokesman and representative to
the City of Mexico with the following
instructions.
"'Press very earnestly upon the at
teE.ion of those who are now exercis-
ing authority or welding influence in
Mexico, following consideration and
advice:
Lind's Mission to Mexico.
""The government of the United
States does not feel at liberty any
longer to stand inactively by while it