East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-12-07
Wilson's Message to Congress


The following is the text Of Presl-
dent Wilson's message on prepared
ness as delivered today at Washing
ton:
Gentlemen of the Congress: Since
last had the privilege of addressing
you on the state Of the union the war
of naions on the other side Of the sea.
which had then only begun to dis
close It's portentous proportions. mas
extended its threatening and sinister
scope until It has swept within lts
flame some portion or every quarter
OF the globe, not excepting our own
hemisphere, has altered the whole
face of International affairs, and now
presents prospect OF reorganization
and reconstruction such as statesmen
and peoples hae never been called
upon to attempt before
We have stood apart. studiousiy
neutral It was our manifest duty Ia
do so. Not only did we have no
part or interest in the policies which
seem to have brought the conflict ON;
Il was necessary. II a universal ca
tastrophe was to be avoided, that a
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, II
only to prevent collective economic
Tuln and tha hraaL L1au, tLr,u,ta,tt
the world Of the industries by which
its populations are fed and sustained
II was manlfestly the duty OF the self
governed nations Of this hemisphere
to redress, If possible, the balance OF
economic loss and confusion in the
other, II they could do nothing more
In the day of readjustment and recu-
peration we earnestly hope and be-
lieve that they can be OF infinite ser
vice.
In this neutrality to which they
were hidden not only by their separ-
ate life and their habitual detach-
ment from the politics Of Europe but
also by clear perception OF interna.
Ilonal duty. the states Of America
have become conscious OF new and
more vital community Of interest
lnd moral partnership in affairs, /
more clearly conscious OF the many
common sympathies and interests and
duties which bid them stand toReth
or.
There was a time IN the early days
)f our own great nation and Of the
republics fighting their way to inde-
)endence in Central and South AM .
'riea when the government of the
United States looked upon itself as
n some sort the guardian Of the re-
)ublics to the south of her as against /
any encroachments or efforts at pJ- I
itical control from the other side OF
he water; felt II its duty to play the
part even without invitation from
hem; and / think that we can claim
hat the task was undertaken with "A
rue and dislnterested enthusiasm for
he freedom of the Americas and the
self-government of her
Independent peoples But II was al
Ways difficult TO maintain such role
Without offense to the pride OF the
Peoples whose freedom OF action we
ought to protect, and without pro-
'oking serious misconceptions of our
motives, and every thoughtful man
# affairs must welcome the altered
circumstances of the new day IN
whose light We now stand, when
here is no claim Of guardianship or
hought OF wards but, instead. a full
md honorable association as Of part
lers between ourselves and our
leighbors, in the interest OF all Am
rica, north and south. our concern
or the independence and prosperity
4 tho states Of Central and South
America Is not altered. We retain
lnabated the spirit that has inspired
Is throughout the whole life Of our
government and which was so frank
y put into words by President Mon
oe We still mean always to make
common cause of national inde-
'endence and of political liberty in
america But that purpose is now
'etter understood so far as it con-
erns ourselves II is known not to
e a selfish purpose. 1t is known to
ave in 1t no thought of taking ad-