The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-12-10
Full Text Of the Presidents
: Last Message to Congress


hrming the duty laid upon the presi.
dent b. the constitution to present to
Qa an annual report on the state Of
80 union, I found my thought domin.
aied hy an immortal sentence of Abra-
ham Lincoln:
LET us have faith that right makes
might and in that faith let US dare %
do our duty as we understand IT,
A sentence immortal because it EN-.
bodies In a form of utter simplicity
and purity the essential faith of the
nation, the faith in which IL was con.
seived and the faith in which il has
gFown 10 glory and power. With that
faith and the birth Of nation founded
upon 10 came the hope into the world
that a new order would prevail
throughout the affairs of mankind. an
order In which reason and right would
take precedence OF covetousness and
force, and ! believe that express the
wish and purpose of every thoughtful
American when I say that this sen.
tence marks for us in the plainest
manner the part we should play alike
IN the arrangement of our domestic az
fairs and In our exercise of influence
upon the affairs OF the world. BY this
faith, and by this faith alone, can the
world be lifted out of it's present con-
fusion and despair. IL was this faith
which prevailed over the wicked force
of Germany. You will remember that
the beginning CT the end of the war
came when the German people found
themselves face TO face with the con-
science OF the world and realized that
right was everywhere arrayed against
the wrong that their government was
attempting to perpetrate. think,
therefore. that IL is true 10 say that
this was the faith which won the war.
fainly this Is the faith with which
our gallant men went into the field
and out upon the seas TO make sure
of victory.
Rights Of individuals
This Is the mission upon which de-
mocracy came into the world. Democ-
racy is an assertion of the right of the
individual TO live and to be treated
Justly as against any attempt on the
part OF any combination cf individuals
10 make laws which will overburden
him or which will destroy his equality
among his fellows in the matter Of
right or privilege. and think We all
realize that the day has come when
democracy Is being put upon its final
test. The old world is just now suffer
ing from a wanton rejection of the
principle of democracy and substitu-
tion OF the principle of autocracy as
asserted in the name but without the
authority and sanction of the multi
tnde. This Is the time OF all others
when democracy should prove its
purity and its spiritual power to pre-
vail. il is surely the manifest destiny
ef the United States to lead IN the
attempt 10 make this spirit prevail.
There are two ways in which the
United States can assist to accomplish
this great object: First. by Offering
the example within her own borders
Of the will and power of democracy TO
make and enforce laws which are un-
questionably just and which are equal
IN their administration, laws which
secure it's full right to labor and yet
az the same time safeguard the integ-
rity OF property. and particularly OF
that property which is.devoted TO the
sfaANel0pment of industry and the III
crease or the necessary wealth OF the
world Second. by standing for right
and Justice as towards individual ma
tions. The law OF democracy is Tor
the protection of the weak, and the
influence of every democracy III the
world should be for the protection Oh
the weak nation, the nation which is
htfhhhhhk AtNdtuS ttS A'oA
wards its proper recognition and privi-
lege In the family of nations. The
United states cannot refuse this roie
of champion without putting the stig-
ma of rejection upon the great and de-
voted men who brought its govern
ment into existence and established
Il In the face OF almost universal op-
position and intrigue. even in the face
Of wanton force, as, for exampie'
against the orders in council OF Great
britain and the arbitrary Napoleonic
DEGREES which involved us in what we
know a. the war Of 1872. urge you
to consider that the display Of an I'M
mediate dtenaafftos, IN, fha mart of con-