The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-12-07
National Preparedness Main
Theme Of Head Of Nation.
SabIMtsIDsfinlts Plan toIln-
crease Present Standing
Force Of Regulars and F0Is
-Four Hundred Thousand
Citizen Soldiers Raised 10
InGfamsnts II One Hundred
andIThirty-thrss Thousand.
/ FOLLOWING Is the message Of
President Wilson delivered at a
Joint session Of the senate and

TlOLL0W1NG Is the message OF
H. President Wilson delivered at
Joint session Of the senate and
house at the beginning of the
sixty-fourth congress:
Gentlemen Of the Congress Since 1
last had the privilege of addressing
you on the state Of the Union the war
oflnations on the, other side Of the SEQ,
which had then only begun to disclose
ttsi portentous proportions. has extend.
ed its threatening and sinister scope
until &c has swept within its fame
some portion Of every quarter Of tie
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
% attempt before.
We have stood apart, studiously neu.
trail. 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, Il "a universal catastrophe
was to be avoided. that a limit should
be set to the sweep of destructive war
and that some part Of the great fam.
ly OF nations should keep the process
es OF peace alive, II 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. twas manifestly
the duty Of the self governed nations
ofIthis hemisphere to redress, IL posi-.
bic, the balance OF economic loss and
confusion In the other, tf they could
do nothing more. In the day OF rend.
5ustment and recuperatloni we earnest
" hope and believe that they can be
ofEinfnite service.
In this neutrality, to (Which they
were hidden not only by their sep.
arate life and their habitual detach.
menti from the politics OF Europe. but
also By a clear perception OF interna-
tonaI duty, the states of America have
become conscious of a new aud more
yitnl Community Of interest and moral
partnership In affairs, more clearly
conscious of the many common sympa.
thies and interests aud duties which
bid them stand together. 81
There was a time In the early days
oflour own great nation and Of the 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-.
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 a true and dlsln.
terested enthusiasm for The freedom
Of the Americas and the unmolestad
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 to protect
and without provoking serious mis-.
conceptions of our motives. and every
thoughtful man OF affairs must vel.
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
q full and honorable association as Of
partners between ourselves and our
neighbors in the interest of all Amer.
lea, north and south. Our concern for
The Independence and prosperity OF the
states of Central and South America
Is not altered. We retain unabnted the
spirit that has inspired us throughout
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 political
liberty In America. But that purpose
d now better understood SO far as It
concerns ourselves. tits known not to
10 selfish purpose. tits known to
have In It no thought OF taking adyan.
tage Of any governmental this hemi.
sphere or playing its political fortunes
for our own benefit. All the govern.
mepts ot America stand. so far as we
are concerned, upon footing Of scnu.
inc equality and unquestoned indie.
pendence. !.
We have been put to the. test In the
case OF Mexico, and We have stood the
test Whether we have bene sted Mex.
leo by the course We have pursued re:
mains TO be seen. Herffortunes are 10
her own hands. But we hare at least
proved that we will not take advan.
tage Of sherin her. distress and under.
take to impose upon her an order and
government OF our own choosing. lab
erty Is often a fierce and intractab.e
thing. 70 which no bounds can be set
md IN which no hounds Of a few.
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