The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-07
1 following is the message Of
President Wilson delivered at
~ a joint session Of the senate and

Is Tue uICSSd6C OI
Fl President Wilson delivered At
joint session Of the senate and
house at the beginning Of the
aSixty-fourth congress-
Gentlemen of the Congress-Since l
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
~ pOrtentous proportions, has extend
- it's threatening and sinister scope
until 1t has swept within its fame
some portion Of every quarter of the
globe. not excepting our own hemi-
sphere, has altered the whole face of
international affairs, and now presents
a prospect Of reorganization and re-
construction such as statesmen and
peoples have never been called upon
to attempt before.
Studiousiy Neutral.
We have stood apart. stndiously neu-
trail. 1t was our manifest duty to do
80. Not only did we have no part or
interest In che policies which seem to
have brought the conflict on; IT was
necessary, il universal catastrophe
was to be avoided, that limit should
be set to the sweep of destructive war
and that some part Of the great fam
lily Of nations should keep the process
es of peace alive, II only to prevent
collective economic ruin and the break
down throughout the world Of the in
dustries by which it's populations are
fed and sustained. 1t was manifestly
the duty Of the self governed nations
of this hemisphere to redress, If posi-
BILE, the balance Of economic loss and
confusion In the other, If they could
do nothing more. In the day of read
justment and recuperation we earnest
~ hope and believe that they can be
Of infinite service.
In this neutrality, to which they
were hidden not only by their sep
arate life and their habitual detach-
ment from the politics Of Europe, but
also by a clear perception of interna-
tional duty, the states Of America have
become conscious Of a new and more
vital community of interest and moral
partnership in affairs, more clearly
conscious Of the many common sympa-
thies and interests and duties which
Did them stand together.
There was a time in the early days
Of our own great nation and of the re-
publics fighting their way to independ-
ence In Central and South America
when the government of the United
States looked upon itself as in some
sort the guardian Of the republics to
the south of her as against any en-
re off, rtS o.
troll from the other side of the water;
felt It its duty to play the part even
without invitation from them. and
think that We can claim that the task
was undertaken with true and disin-
terested enthusiasm for the freedom
Of the Americas and the unmolested
self government Of her independent
peoples. But it was always difficult to
maintain such a role without offense
to the pride of the peoples whose free
dom Of action we sought. to- protect
and without provoking serious mis-
conceptions of our motives. and every
thoughtful man of affairs must well
come the altered circumstances Of the
new day In whose light we now stand.
when there is no claim Of guardian
ship or thought of wards, but instead
full and honorable association as of
partners between ourselves and our
neighbors III the interest of all Amer
lea, north and south. Our concern for
the Independence and prosperity of the
states OF Central and South America
is not altered. We retain una bated the
spirit that has inspired us throughout
I'm hnI fn nf
which was so frankly put into words
by President Monroe. We still mean
always to make Il common cause Of
national independence and Of political
liberty in America. But that purpose
Is now better understood so far as it
concerns ourselves. 1t is known not to
L." IL selfish purpose. 1t is known to
have in it no thought of taking advan-
tage Of any government in this hemi-
sphere or playing its political fortunes
for our own benefit. All the govern
nents of America stand. so far as we
are concerped, upon footing of genu-
inc equality and unquestioned indie
pendenCe.
Put to tho Test In Mexico.
We have been put to the test in the
,ase of Mexico. and we have stood the
test Whether we have benefited Mex
leo by the course we have pursued re-
mains to he seen. Her fortunes are in
her own hands. But we have at least
proved that we will not take advan-
tage of her in her distress and under
take to impose upon her an order and
government of our own choosing. Lib
erty is often a fierce and intractable
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 Of principle and ira
lition 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 among us accept
ed as the creed of free men. That doc
trine is, THAT government is or ought
to be instituted for the common bene-
fit. protection and security Of the peo-
pie, nation or community" that "of
all the various modes and forms of
government. that is the best which Is