The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-12-08
. OLLOWING Is the message Of
n President Wilson delivered at q
joint session Of the senate and
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President Wilson delivered at a
Joint session of the senate and
house at the beginning OF the
Sixty-fourth congress:
Gentlemen Of the Congress-Since !
last had the privilege Of addressing
you on the state Of the Union the war
Of nations en- the other side Of the sea.
which had then only begun to disclose
Z its portentous proportions. has extend.
ed its threatening and sinister scope
until It has swept within its dame
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.
The president tells how this country
practiced neutrality and declares that
he hopes that when the time comes
for readjustment and recuperatiOn this
country will be Of infinite service. Re-
ferring to Central and South American
problems. the president declares that
we should retain undated the spirit
which has inspired US throughout the
whole life Of our government and
which was SO frankly put into words
by President Monroe
We have been put to the test In the
case Of Mexico, and We have stood the
test. Whether we have benefited Msx-
leo by the course W have pursued -,
mains to be seen. Her fortunesiar In
her own hands. But we have at least
proved that we viii not take advan.
'tage Of her In her distress and under
take to imposs upon hst On order and
government q our own choosing. LIB
erty Is oftsa . fierce and intractable
thing, to which no bounds can be set
and to which no bounds of a few
mems choosing ought ever to be ret
Every Amssicnn who has drunk ut
the true fountains Of principle and ira
dition must subscribe without reserva.
ton to the high doctrine Of the Wiz.
Sinia bill Of rights, which In the great
days in which our government was ret
up was everywhere among US accept
ed as the creed Of free men. That doc.
trine is, THAT government 10 or ought
to be instituted for tho common bene-
fit, protection and security OF the peO-
pie, nation or community" that "of
all the various modes and forms Of
government. that is the best which IS
capable of producing the greatest de.
gree of happiness and safety and Is
most eftcctually secured against the
danger of administration. and that
when any government shall be found
inadequate or contrary to these pur-
poses majority Of the community
hath an indubitable. inalienable and
iniefeasible right to reform. alter or
abolish It III such manner as shall be
Judged most conducive to the public
veal" We have unhesitatingly up
piled that heroic principle to the case
of Mexico and now hopefully await
the rebirth Of the troubled republic.
which had so much of which to purge
itself and SO little sympathy from any
outside quarter in the radical but nec-
essary process. We will MD and be-
friend Mexico. but we will not coerce
her, and our course with regard to her
ought to be sufficient proof to all Amer
lea that we seek no political suzerainty
or selfish control.