The Carlisle independent., 1915-12-09

Washington, Dec. 7.-President Will son today delivered the following mes sage to congress:
 Gentlemen Of the Congress: Since I isst 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 it's portentous proportions. has extend ed it's threatening and sinister scope until( it has swept within it's flame send portion of every quarter of the glC4e. not excepting our own heni- sphere, has altered the whole face of int3rnational affairs, and now presents Gprospect Of reorganization and re- construction such as statesmen and peoples have never been called upon to attempt before.
 We have stood apart, studiously neu- tral. It was our manifest duty to do so. Not only did we have no part or interest in the policies which seem to have brought the conflict on; it was necessary, if universal catastrophe was to be avoided. that limit should be set to the sweep of destructive war and that some part of the great family Of nations should keep the processes of peace alive, if only to prevent col. lective economic ruin and the break down throughout the world of the in- dustries by which it's populations are fed and sustained. It was manifestly the duty of the self-governed nations of this hemisphere to redress, if pos sible, the balance of economic loss and confusion in the other. if they could do nothing more. In the day Of readjustment and recuperation we earnestly hope and believe that they can be of infinite service.
 American Nations Partners. r. In this neutrality, to which they were bidden not only by their separate life and their habitual detachment from the politics of Europe but also by a clear perception of international duty, the states of America have be- coT conscious of new and more immunity interest and moral
 ship in affairs, more clearly us of the many common sym &t and interests and duties which R m stand together.
 s e was time in the early days @ own great nation and of the re- s4 $ fighting their way to inde- M ,nee in Central and South Amer X then the government of the Unit 5S ,ates looked upon itself as in some sort the guardian of the republics to the south of her as against any en- croachments or efforts at political con trol from the other side of the water; felt it it's duty to play the part even without invitation from them; and think that we can claim that the task was undertaken with a true and dis interested enthusiasm for the freedom of the Americas and the unmolested self-government Of her independent Peoples. But it was always difficult to maintain such role without offense to the pride of the peoples whose free dom of action we sought 10 protect, and without provoking serious miscon- captions of our motives, and every thoughtful man of affairs must wei 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. a full and honorable association as Of partners between ourselves and our neighbors, in the interest of all Amer ica, north and south Our concern for the independence and prosperity of the states Of Central and South America is not altered We retain unabated the spirit that has inspired us through out the whole life of our government and which was so frankly put into words by President Monroe. We still mean always to make common cause Of national independence and of po- litical liberty in America.
 Attitude Toward Mexico.
 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 un- dertake to impose upon her an order and government of our own choosing
 We will aid and befriend Mexico, but we will not coerce her; and OUT course with regard to her ought to be sufi- cient proof to all America that we seek no political suzerainty or selfish control.
 The moral is, that the states of America are not hostile rivals but CO., operating friends, and that their grow ing sense of community of interest, alike in matters political and in mat ters economic, is likely to give them a new significance as factors in inter national affairs and in the political history of the world.
 Drawing the Americas Together.
 There is, I venture to point out, an especial significance just now attach ing to this whole matter of drawing the Americas together in bonds of hon orable partnership and mutual advan-