Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-12-08
- OLLOWING IS the message OF
II President Wilson delivered at
~ joint session of the senate and
honsa at the heKtnninp rlf TIE.


President Wilson delivered at a
joint session of the senate and
house at the beginning of tie
Sixty-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
its portentous proportions, has extend
ed its threatening and sinister scope
until it has swept within its flame
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
q prospect Of reorganization and re
construction such as statesmen and
peoples have never been called upon
70 attempt before.
We have stood apart. studiously neu
trail 1t was our manifest duty to do
~. Not only did we have no part or
interest III the policies which seem to
ave brought the conflict on; it was
necessary. II Il universal catastrophe
ntS TO be nTotded. that limit should
l's' set to tie sweep Of destructive war
.tiitt that some part of the great fam
- Of nations should keep the process
- OF peace alive, If only to prevent
Elective economic ruin and the break
strru throughout the world of the in
s:nsgriA3 By which its populations are
ed and sustained. It was manifestly
~. duty OF the self governed nations
80: This hemisphere to redress, if posi-.
':e the balance Of economic loss and
'.<,lfuSicn III the other. if they could
II: .rtorhiIIg more. In the day Of read
ltts!c1ent aIla recuperation we earnest,
e hope and believe that they can be
vi infinite service.
IN this neutrality, to which they
were bidder not only by their sep
urate life and their habitual detach
Iaent from the politics of Europe, bur
also by clear perception Of interna
ttonai duty. the states of America have
become conscious of Il 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
bid them stand together.
There was a cine in the early DAYS
Of our own great nation and Of the re
publics lighting 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-
croachments or efforts at political con
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 q true and disin-
terested enthusiasm for the freedom
of the Americas and the unmolested
self government Of Der independent
peoples. But it was always difficult to
maintain such & role without ofrease
to the pride of the peoples whose free
dom of action we sDs1Ftt to protect
and without provoking aerious mis-
conceptions OF nCr i1otiTes, and every
thoughtful man OF affairs must vel
new day n whose light we now stand,
when there is no claim Of guardian
chip or thought o. wards. but instead
q full! an6 Honorable association as OF
partners between ourselves and our
nsaghbors III the interest Of all Amer
lea, north and south. Our concern for
the independence and prosperity of the
states of Central AMI South America
Is not altered. We retain s.aa bated the
spirit that .tas Inspired Us throughout
the whole life OF Or government and
which was SO frankly put into words
by President Monroe We still mean
always % make a common cause of
national ;ldercE dense and of political
Berry "a America. But that purpose
b aow better understood so far as It
c5nI,erns ourselves. It Is known not to
hi selfish purpose. It is known to
hsYa in It 10 Thought of taking advan-
taEe Of aDy government In this hemi-
sphere OF playing its political fortunes
for our own benefit. All the govern
ments OF america stand. so far as we
are concerned. upon a footing of genu-
inc equality and unq1estioned indie
prudence.
VS. have been put to the test In the
case Of Mexico, and we have srt>si the
fest Whether we have benefited Mex
Zee By the course re hare pursued re-
maii1c 10 tie seen. Her fortunes are In
be9 SND hands But we have at least
proved that we will NOT take advan-
tagc Of her IN her distress and under