The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1915-12-10

fTeBlueuC WllSuu y duaie5S W eho 1oAA
session of Congress. which met Mon
day at noon in the eth conventions;
Gentlemen Of the Congress- Since ! las
had the privilege of addressing you on tn
state of the Union the war OF nations
the other side Of the sea. which had the
only begun to disclose Its portentous pro
portions, has extended Its threatening an
sinister scope until 1t has swept within IL
flame some portion Of every quarter OF Tn
globe not excepting our own hemisphere
has altered the whole face of internationa
affairs and now presents prospect OF re
organization and reconstruction such
statesmen and peoples have never pee
called upon to attempt before.
We have stood apart. studiously neutral
It was our manifest duty to do 30. ~ ~
only did we have no part or interest," IN N
policies which seem to nave proushs aaarsa .a
conflict on; 1t was necessary, II universe
catastrophe was to be avoided, that u I'M nm
should be set to the sweep of destructN
war that some part OF the great ieihity ~ y
nations should keep the processes OF peati
alive. IL only to prevent collective ecohoii,l
ruin and the breakdown throughout th'
world of the industries by which its popu
iations are fed and sustained. 1t was man
Ifestly the duty of the self-goVerned n,1l natioh
Of this hemisphere to redress II posssip,le p,n,
in the other IL they could do nothing more
IN the day Of readJustment and recuperatior
we earnestly hope and believe that they cal
be OF infinite service.
In this neutrality, to which they wer'
bidden not only by their separate life ant
their habltual detachment from the policiei
Of Europe, but also by clear perception OF
International duty, the states OF Americt
have become conscious OF new and more
vital community OF interest and moral part
nership in affairs, more clearly conscious
Of the many common sympathies and inter
ests and duties which bid them stand to-
gether.
Attitude Toward Neighbors Unselfish.
There was time In the early days OF our
own great Nation and Of the republics fight,
ing their way to Independence in Central
and South America when the Government ot
the United States looked upon itself as IN
some sort the guardian of the republics
10 the south Of her as against any encroach-
ments or efforts at political control Iroir
the other side of the water; felt 1t Its duty
10 play the part even without invitation from
.hem; and I think that we can claim that
The task was undertaken with true ana
1sinterested enthusiasm for the freedom
,f the Americas and the unmolested self
government of her independent peoples. But
1 was always difficult to maintain such a
.ole without offense to the pride of the peo-
oles whose freedom OF action we sought 10
protect. and without provoking serious mis-
conceptions OF our Wotlfcbt ahu S'~t ,
thoughtful man of affairs must welcome the
filtered circumstances Of the new day in
whose light we now stand, when there is no
,laim of guardianship or thought OF wards,
,ut Instead, full and honorable association
Is of partners between ourselves and our
,eighbors, in the interest Of all America,
north and south. Our concern for the In
dependence and prosperity of the states OF
Central and South America is not altered.
We have been put to the test in the case
atn
whether we have benefited Mexico by the
course we have pursued remains to be seen.
Her fortunes are in her own hands. But we
rave at least proved that we will not take
advantage of her In her distress and under
AXE to impose upon her an order and gov
,rnment of our own choosing. Liberty Is
,ften a fierce and intractable thing, to which
10 bounds can be set. and to which no
pounds of few mems choosing ought ever
o be set. Every American who has drunk
It the true fountains Of principle and ira
lition must subscribe without reservation
% the high doctrine OF the Virginia Bill OF
Rights which In the great days In which
,ur Government was Bet up was every
where amongst us accepted as the creed OF
rec men. That doctrine is, That govern
nent 10, or ought to be, instituted for the
common benefit. protection and security OF
he people, nation, or community; that
of all the various modes and forms OF
government that is the best which is capa-
JIG OIL pTOuuClHB tHt BiputtsL tObieu W mop
piness and safety, and is most effectually
secured against the danger of maladminis.
Lration; and that, when any government
shall be found inadequate or contrary tt
these purposes. majority Of the com.
munity hath an indubitable, inalienable ant
right to reform, alter OIL
abolish 1t. in such manner as shall be judget
most conducive to the public veal" W.
have unhesitatingly applied that heroi'
to the case of Mexico, and nov
thA raht nf In a
republic, which had SO much Of which t.
purge itself and 80 little sympathy from an!
outside quarter In the radical but necessar.
process.
-Americanism Is Defined.
The moral is, that the states Of Americt
are not hostile rivals but cooperating
friends, and that their growing sense O.
community OF interest, alike In matters po
litical and In matters economic, is likely Z
give them q new Significance as factors II
International affairs and in the politica
history of the world. 1t presents them a
In very deep and true sense unit Il
world affairs. spiritual partners. standln
together because thinking together, quic
with common sympathies and commo
ideals. Separated they are subject to all tn
CROSS currents of the confused policies of
world of hostile rivalries; united in spirit an
purpose they cannot be disappointed of thei
peaceful destiny.
This la Pan-Amerlcanism. 1t has none c
the spirit of empire in 1t. II Is the EN-
bodment, the effectual embodiment, OF IN
spirit of law and independence and libert
and mutual service.
In the City of washington. at the invitatio
and as the guesta of this Government. who's
deliberations are likely to be looked back
as marking a memorable turning point
the history of America. They were repr'
sentative spokesmen of the. several ind
pendent states OF this hemisphere and wei
assembled to discuss the financial and con
mercial relations of the republics OF u
| two continents which nature and politics
| fortune have SO intimately linked togethe
| I earnestly recommend to your perusal Il
reports of their proceedings and of the a
tions of their committees, You will &
from them, / think, a fresh conception
the east and intelligence and advantat
with which Americans of both oontlnen
may draw together in practical cooperate
| and of what the material foundations
| this hopeful partnership Of interest mu
| consist-of how We should build them nj
of how necessary 1t Is that we shou
hasten their building.
Great DemOcracies Not Belligerent,
No one who really comprehends the spii
pointed to speak can fall to perceive tn
their passion Is for peace, their genius be
displayed In the practice of tho arts
peace. Great democracies are not belllge
tTent. IHcy w nut Heek UT ueHlTc WI
Their thought is OF individual liberty al
OF the free labor that supports life and Il
uneensored thought that quickena 1t, Co
quest and dominion are not In our rocko
Ing, or agreeable TO our principles. B
Just because We demand unmolested
velopment and the undisturbed governme
of our own lives upon our own princlpl
OF right and liberty, we resent, from whs
ever quarter It may come, the aggressi
we ourselves will not practice, We ms
upon security in prosecuting our aelt-chos
lines of National development, We do me
than that. wo demand 1t also for othe
We do not eonfne our enthusiasm for
dividual liberty and free National develc
ment to the Incidents and movements of
fairs which AFFECT only ourselves,
Out OF such thoughts grow all our pc
! cies, We regard war merely as means
asserting the rights of people agaii
aggression. And we are as fiercely 1ealC
s~~.~NNeNS~~~~-N~~r~~ ~r~~~sNsN~Ns~~.~~s~N-N
Sugar Issue Is Serious.
San Juan--With the largest sue
crop in the islands history to be hi
tx,aatal and xy;tb Aha fr,t,,I,,n .nua