The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-08

vantage Of any government in this heni- sphere or playing it's political fortunes for our own benefit. All the govern | ments of America stand, so far as we are concerned, upon a footing of genuine
 equality and unquestioned independence.
 MEXICO A TEST
 We have been put to the test in t',- ] case of Mexico, and we have stood the | test. Whether we have benefited Mex | ico by the course we have pursued re- | mains to be seen. Her fortunes are in | her own hands. But we have at least proved that we will not take advantage ] of her in her distress and undertake 4- l impose upon her an order and govern
 ment of our own choosing. Liberty is l often a fierce and intractable thing, to which no bounds can be set, and to which 1 no bounds of a few mems choosing ought l ever to be set. Every American who has drunk at the true fountains or principle and tradition must subscribe without | reservation to the high doctrine of the l Virginia bill of rights, which in the great | days in which our government was set | up was everywhere amongst us accepted as the creed of free men. That doctrine l is, That government is, or ought to be, | instituted for the common benefit, pro- ! lection, and security of the people, nation, 1 or community;" that "of all the various
 modes and forms of government, that is
 the best which is capable of producing | the greatest degree of happiness and | safety, and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministrations and that when any government shall be ! found inadequate or contrary to these l purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable. and n- | defeasible right to reform, alter, or abol- l ish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public veal" We l have unhesita tingly applied that heroic ! principle to the case of Mexico, and now 1 hopefully await the rebirth of the troubled republic, which had so much of which to purge itself and so little sympathy from any outside quarter in the radical but | necessary process We will aid and be- | friend Mexico, but we will not coerce her; 1 and our course with regard to her ought | to be sufficient proof to all America that 1 we seek no political suzerainty or selfish control.
 1 The moral is, that the states of Amer l ica are not hostile rivals but co-operat- l ing friends, and that their growing l sense of community of interest, alike in matters political and in matters eco- homie, is likely to give them a new sig ! nificance as factors in international af- l fairs and in the political history of the world It presents them as in a very | deep and true sense a unit in world af-
 
 gether because thinking together, quick with common sympa thies and common l ideals. Separated tHey are subject to all the cross currents of the confused politics of a world of hostile rivalries;
 united in spirit and purpose they cannot 1 be disappointed of their peaceful des- 1 tiny.
 | PAN-AMERICAN MEETING l This is Pan-Americanism. It has none of the spirit of empire in it. It is the | embodiment, the effectual embodiment, and liberty and mutual service.
 l A very notable body of men recently ! met in the city of Washington, at the ! invitation and as the guests of this gov l ernment, whose deliberations are likely | to be looked back to as marking a mem- I orable turning point in the history of 1 America. They were representative l spokesmen of the several independent states of this hemisphere and were as- sembed to discuss the financial and commercial relations of the republics of the two continents which nature and po- litical fortune have so intimately linked together. I earnestly recommend to your perusal the reports of their pro- ceedings and of the actions of their com mittees. You will get from them, I think, a fresh conception of the ease and intelligence and advantage with which Americans of both continents may | draw together in practicaI cooperation and of what the material foundations of l this hopeful partnership of interest must