The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Gentlemen of the CongresS-Since
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
it's portentous proportions, has extend
ed it's 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
prospect of reorganization and re-
construction such as statesmen and
peoples have never been called upon
to attempt before.
We have stood apart, studiously neu-
trail. 1t 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 fam
lily of nations should keep the process
es Of peace alive, if only to prevent
collective economic ruin and the break
down throughout the world Of the in
dustries by which its populations are
fed and sustained. 1t was manifestly
the duty of the self governed nations
of this hemisphere to redress, If possi-
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
iy hope and believe that they can be
of infinite service
In this neutrality. to which they
were bidden not only by their sep
arate life and their habitual detach-
ment from the politics Of Europe. but
also by clear perception Of interna-
tional duty. the states of America have
become conscious a. new and more
vital community Of interest and moral
in affairs. more clearly
conscious Of the many common sympa-
thies and interests and duties which
bid them stand together
There was time in the early days
VI Jul OWu SIcil udJUu uHQ Oh lie 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-
or efforts at political con-
troll from the other side of the water;
felt it It's duty 10 play the part even
without invitation from them, and /
-hink that we can claim that the task
was undertaken with a true and disin-
crested enthusiasm for the freedom
self government Of her independent
peoples. But 1t was always difficult to
such a role without Offense
O the pride Of the peoples whose free
lom of action we sought to protect
md without provoking serious mis-
Of our motives. and every
houghtful man OF affairs must well
ONE the altered circumstances OF the
ew day in whose light we now stand
vhen there is no claim of guardian !
hip or thought of wards. but instead ,
full and honorable association as Of
artners between ourselves and our ;
ejghbors in the Alterest of all Amer ,
a. north and south 0nr concern for !
he Independence and prosperity Of the I
Iates of Central and South America
not altered N'e refaiD unabated the t
pirit thar has inspired Us throughout
10 whole life Of our government and {
'hich WAS 80 frankly lnii inre words I
J FrcsEeny Monroe. We stiA mean