The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-12-09
Annual Message Pleads for Con-
Certed and Efficient
Action.
FOR GREATER REGULAR ARMY
Citizen SoldIery Part OF His Plan
Problem of Commercial Mobilization
Stated-DisoyaIty Among Ger
tain Elements In Our Ma
tIonaI Life Serious
Menace to Peace.

Washington, Dec. 7.--President VIII
son today delivered the following mes
sage % congress:
Gentlemen Of the Congress: Since l
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
cd its threatening and sinister scope
until 1t 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 ncu-
trail. 1t was our manifest duty to do
80. 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 Il 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, if only to prevent col.
lectivc economic ruin and the break
down throughout the world OF the in
dustries by which its populations are
fed and sustained. 1t was manifestlv
the duty OF the self-governed nations
OF this hemisphere to redress, if pos.
CT 1,n h,,1,,
ahd confusion in the other if they
could do nothing more. In the day Of
readjustment and rccupcration we
earnestly hope and believe that they
can be Of infinite service.
American Nations Partners.
In this neutrality, to which they
were Didden not only by their separate
life and their habitual detachment
from the politics Of Europe but also by
q clear perception OF international
duty, the states Of America have be-
come conscious Of new and more
vital community interest and moral
partnership in affairs, more clearly
conscious OF the many common sym
pathies and interests and duties which
bid them stand together
There was time in the early days
"i our own great nation and OF the re-
publlcs lighting their way to indie
pendence in Central and South Amer
ica when the government of the Unit
ed States looked upon itself as in some
som the guardian Of the republics to
the south Of her as against any en-
cronchments or efforts at political con
troll from the other side OF the water:
felt 1T its duty to play the part oven
without invitation from them: and |
thlhK that we can claim that the task
was undertaken with true and dis
interested enthusiasm for the freedom
or the Americas and the unmolested
self-govcrnmcnt Of her ndeDendent
peoples. But it was always difficult to
MAINTAIN such role without offense
10 the pride OF the peoples whose free
dom OF action we sought to protect.
and without provoking serious miscon.
ceptions Of our motives, and eyery
thoughtful man OF affairs must well
come the altered circumstances Of the
new day in whose light we now stand.
whcn there is no claim OF guardian
mp or thought Of wards but instead,
lui ana honorable association as of
Hrthers between ourselves and our
neighbors, in the interest Of all Amer
ica north and south Our concern for
me independence and prosperity of the
states or Central and South America
is not altered. We retain unabated
thc spirit that has inspired us through
out 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
or national independence and Of po
1itical liberty in America.
Attitude Toward Mexico.
We have been put to the test IN
the case OF Mexico, and we have stood
the test. Whether we have benefited
Mexico by the course we have pursued
remains to be seen. Her fortunes are
in her own hands. But we have Al
least proved that we will not take ad
vantage OF her In her distress and un
dertake to impose upon her an order
and government of our own choosing
We will aid and befriend Mexico. bu
we will not coerce her; and our course
with regard to her ought to be sufil
cient proof to all America that w,
seek no political suzerainty or selfisl
control.
3 The moral is. that the states o
America are not hostile rivals but CO
operating friends, and that their grow
ing sense OF community of interest
alike in matters political and in mat
ters economic. is likely to give then
O new significance as factors In inter
national affairs and in the politica
history of the world.
Drawing the Americas Together
3 There is, I venture to point out. a,
especial significance just now attach