Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-12-08

II
Gentlemen of the Congress-:
in pursuance OF my constitutional
duty to give to the Congress infor-
nation Of the state OF the Union"
take the liberty of addressing 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 vel
!, fare and progress Of the nation.
j 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 mat.
ters which have engaged the atten.
ton and called for the action Of the
several departments OF the govern
inent or which look to them for early
Treatment In the future, because the
list Is long, very long, and would SUI.
fer In the abbfeviation TO which I
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 detail. and beg that they may
receive the thoughtful attention OF
your committees and of all members
of the Congress who may have the
leisure to study them. Their obvious
| importance, as constituting the very
substance of the business OF the gov.
eminent, makes comment and empha-
sis on my part unnecessary.
The country, am thankful to say,
Is at peace with all the world. and
many happy manifestations multiply
about as Of growing cordiality and
sense Of community OF interest
among the nations, foreshadowing an
age of settled peace and good viii.
More and more readily each decade
do the nations manifest their willing.
ness TO bind themselves by solemn
treaty 70 the processes OF peace, the
cession So Far the United States
has stood at the front of such nego-
tiations. She viii, earnestly hope
and confidently believe, give fresh
proof Of her sincere adherence to the
cause Of international friendship by
ratifying the several treaties of arbi.
tration awaiting renewal by the SEN
ate. In addition to these, It has been
the privilege OF the department Of
state to gain the assent, in principle.
of no less than 81 nations, represent
ing four-hfths or the population Of
the world. to the negotiation Of treat.
les by which It shall be agreed that
whenever differences Of interest or
Of policy arise which can not be re-
solved by the ordinary processes OF
diplomacy they shall be publicly an
alyzed, discussed, and reported upon
BY d tribunal chosen BY the parties
before either nation determines its
course Of action
0nIy one STANDARD
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 oblieafionk To the peace Of
the world. a test 50 compounded
ought easily to be made 10 govern
both the establishment Of new treaty
obligations and the Interpretation OF
those already assumed.
There is but one cloud upon our
horizon. That has shown itself to the
south Of MS, and hangs over Mexico.
There can be no certain prospect or
~
has surrendered his usurped author
ity In Mexico; until It Is understood
on all hands. indeed, that such pre-
tended governments VIII not be coun-
tenahced or dealt with by the gov
eminent Of the United States We are
the friends Of constitutional govern
ment ii America; we are more than
its friends, we are its champions; be.
cause in no other way can our neigh.
bors, to whom we would wish in ev-
cry way TO make proof Of our friend
ship, work out their own development
In peace and liberty. Mexico has no
government The attempt to main
tain 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 authority. It originated in
the usurpation OF Victoriano Huerta,
who, after q brief attempt to play the
part of constitutional president, has
at last cast aside even the pretense
of legal right and declared himself
dictator. AS q consequence, condi-
tion Of affairs now exists in Mexico
which has made Il doubtful whether
even the most elementary and fun
damental rights either of her own
people or Of the citizens OF other
countries resident within her territory
can long be successfully safeguarded,
and which threatens. IL long conti-
nued, to imperil the interests of peace,
order, and tolerable life in the lands
Immediately to the south of us. Even
1t 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 no /
thing but q precarious and hateful
power, which could have lasted but q
little while. and whose eventual down. !
fall would have left the country in /
more deplorable condition than ever.
But he has not succeeded. He has
forfeited the respect and the moral =
support even of those who were at
one time willing to see him succeed.
Little by little he has been complete
ly isolated BY a little every day
q L. = = =