Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1915-12-09
sage in person to congress.
Mrs. Gait was present.

pafedness were not generally ap
plauded. 80.
The audience heard the pan-Ameri-
can argument in silence at first but
when the president reaffirmed the
Monroe doctrine there was vigorous
hand clapping.
There was "a brief applause when
the president said, We'll aid, be the
friend of but coerce Mexico" Most
ly, however, the listners were en-
crossed, silent and taking in every
word.
The president started to read at
12:4O and finished at LAB. He read
slowly, emphasizing his words and
phrases carefully.
Gentlemen Oh the congress: Since |
last had the privilege OF addressing
you on the state of the Union the
war of nations on the other side of
the sea, which had then only begun to
disclose its portentous proportions,
mas extended its threatening and sin
| .ster scope until it has swept within
It flame some portion of every quar-
ter of the globe, not excepting our
own hemisphere has altered the whole
| ace of international affairs, and now
presents Il prospect of reorganization
and reconstruction such as states
men and people have never been call
I'd up TO attempt before.
We have stood apart, studiously
neutral. 1t was our manifest duty to
10 so. Not only did we have no part
u interest in the policies which seem
| % have brought the conflict on; it
vas necessary, if a universal catas-
.rophe was to be avoided that limit
should be set to the sweep of destruc-
| i've war and that some part OF the
great family of nations should keep
ne process of peace alive, if only to
prevent collective economic ruin and
The breakdown thruout the world OF
he industries by which its popula-
ions are fed and sustained. 1t was
nanifestly the duty Of the self-gov
,med nations of this hemisphere to
tedress, if possible, the balance of
economic loss and confusion in the
,ther, if they could do nothing more.
N the day of REIMBURSEMENT and re-
operation we earnestly hope and be-
.ieve that they can be of infinite
service.
In this neutrality, to which they
we're hidden not only by their separate
life and their habitual detachment
from the politics of Europe but also
oy clear PERCEPTION of international
luty, the states of America have be-
come conscious OF new and more
,ital community Of interest and NOR
Al partnership in affairs, more clear
y conscious of the many common
sympathies and interests and duties
which bid them stand together.
There was u time in the early days
IF our own great nation and of the
tepublicas fighting their way to indie
pendence in Central and South Ameri-
"a, when the government Of the Unit
I'd States looked upon itself as in
some sort the guardian Of the repub-
any enroachments or efforts at po-
itical control from the other side of
the water; felt it its duty to play the
part even without invitation from
then; and think that we can claim
that the task was undertaken with
true and disinterested enthusiasm for
the freedom of the Americas and the
| unmolested self government of her in
dependent people. But it was always
difficult to maintain such role with
out offense to the pride of the peo-
Piles whose freedom of action we
| sought to protect, and without provok
ing serious misconceptions of our mo-
| tives, and every thoughtful man of
| affairs must welcome the altered cir
cumstances OF the new day in whose
| questioned independence.
We have been put to the test in the
case Of Mexico, and we have stood the
test. Whether we have benefited
Mexico by the course we have pursued
remains to be seen. Her fortunes are
in her own hands. But we have at
least proved that we will not take ad-
vantage of her in her distress and I'M
dertake to impose upon her an order
and government of our own choosing.
Liberty is often a fierce and intract-
able thing, to which no bounds can be
set, and to which no bounds of few
mems choosing ought ever to be set.
Every American who has drunk at the
true fountains o. principle and tradi-
ton must subscribe without reserva-
ton to the high doctrine of the Vir-
ginia Bill of Rights, which in the
great days in which our government
was set up was everywhere amongst
us accepted as the creed for free men,
That doctrine is. THAT government is,
community hath an induditable, in
alienable and indefeasible right to re-
| form, alter or abolish it, in such man.