The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-12-07
WILSON IN
HIS LAST
MESSAGE:
President Urges Congress
to Make U. S. Champion
Of Right and Justice
ny GEORGE II. HOLMES

WASIIINGTON. Dec. calling at
tontion to the fact that the United
states IS the sample democracy OIL
the world, and as such IS constantly
under world scrutiny. President Wood
row Wilson in his last congressional
message today urged upon congress
the duty of making this nation the
champion Of right and justice in the
world affairs.
Only by recufying wrongs within
our borders and championing the right
wherever il is in danger, the presl-
dent pointed out, can the L. 5. fulrll
it's destiny and keep faith with the
fathers Of the republic
The presidents message made nc
mention of the league of nations nor
any international aspect in particular
II was a short message and more than
half OF it was devoted 60 domestic al
fairs.
At the last moment President Wilson
yielded to the wishes OF his physician
and did not attempt TO go TO the capitol
and deliver the message in person be-
fore joint session Of the two houses.
Instead. a few minutes before noon
the message was transmitted to eacn
house separately and there was read
TO the members.
President Wilson began his message
with quotation from Lincoln:
Let US have faith that right max IS
might and in that faith let us dare %
do our duty as we understand it,"
The simple faith expressed in Lin
coins words formed the gist OF tho
entire document. There was no refer
ence TO the tumultuous closing days
=
coming republican administration on
March g.
This one phrase. the president said
marks out Americas duty in both for
t-eign and dometsic aTairs. BY this
faith alone. the president said. "can
the world be lifted out of it's present
state of confusion and despair"
The president himself summed ur
his message IN its final paragraph:
Il have not so much laid before you
series Of recommendations" he said
"as ! have sought to utter a confes-
sion Of faith, of the faith in which L
was bred and which II IS my solemn
purpose to stand by until my last
lighting day. 1 believe this to be the
faith of America, the faith of the fu-
ture. and Of all the victory which
await final action in DAYS TO come.
whether in America or elsewhere"
The first half of the presidential
message was devoted to expressions of
his faith and the urging upon congress
its duty to make america indeed the
triumphal force for right and justice
Then. turning TO domestic affairs
the president recommended to congress
the following:
The passage or a budget bill to
stabilize tho governments finances.
S,ricter economy in governmental
expenditures IN order that the burden
OF taxation be ! ghtened and the ma
tional debt decreased
Revision and simplincation of the
taxation system which he declared.
has become IAN immediate necessity.
The granting of loan to tho
struggling government or Armenia
Granting to the Philippines their in
dependence. after they have succeed
cd in maintaining a stable govern
ment."
The message in part was:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS
When I addressed myself TO per-
forming the duty laid upon the presi-
dent by the constitution to present =
YOU an annual report of the state or
the Union, ! found my thought DOM
lated by an immortal sentence OF
Abraham Lincoln's:
Let US have faith that right makes
might. and in that faith let Us dare
to do our duty as We understand it,
"a sentehcc immortal because II
cn1bodies in a form OF utter simplicity
and purity the essential faith OF the
ration. tho faith in which 1t was con
ccived. and the faith in which il has
grown TO glory and power. With that
faith and the birth of nation found
cd upon it came the hope into tho
Continued on page eighty