The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-05

| had we, and we treated our wild tribes in
man ner not to be proud Of. They mag
| have corruption and rapaclty in their
| government. but Havana and Ponce may
| get municipal standardization almost a.
! good as New York hns under Tamrnany
| rule; and Manila may have u city council
not much less virtuous than :nat Of Chi
| cago.
say these thing. not In a spirit OF lev
| ity. well understanding the difference; but
| say them seriously to remind you that,
| when we speak of the sovernment those
islands should have, we can not reasona ably
set UP standards which are not reached
even by the mos civilized r.oplc and
which in those regions could not be
| reached. even IL we ourselves conducted
their government with our best available
Craftsmanship. Our attention is IN these
days frequently called 10 the admirable
and in many respects successful aGinnls-
trative machinery introduced ry Great
Britain in India. But It must not lie for
gotten that this machinery wGs evolved
from century OF rap!ne. corruption dis
astrous plumbers, savage struggles and
murderous revolts. and that oven now
many wise men In England s nvely doubt
In their hearts whether it was best .or tire
country to undertake the conquest OF ,n-
dia at all, and Are troubled by gloomy
forebodings Of q calami.ous catastrophe
that may some day engulf thai splendid
fabric of Asiatic 1omlnion.
No, we can not expect that the Porto
Ricans, the Cubars, and the Philippines will
maintain orderly governments In Aglo-
Saxon fashion. But they may succeed in
establishing tolerable order of things
in their fashion, as Mexico after many de-
cades Of turbulent disorder, succeeded at
last, under Porfirio Diaz. in having a
strong and orderly government OF her
kind, not indeed such a government as
we would tolerate in this Union but a
government answering Mexican character
and interests, and respectable in it's rela-
tions with the outside world.
This will become all the more possible
II, without annexing and ruling those peo-
pie, we simply put them on their feet, and
then give them the benefit of that human
itarian spirit which, as we claim, led us
into the war for the liberation Of Cuba.
To this end we should keep our troops on
the islands until their people have con-
structed governments and organized forces
OF their own for the maintenance Of order.
Our military occupation should not be kept
UP as long as possible, but should be
Withdrawn as soon as possible.
The Philippines may, as Belgium and
Switzerland are in Europe, be covered by
a guarantee Of neutrality on the part of the
powers most interested in that regou-.an
agreement which the diplomacy of the
United States should not find 1t difficult
to obtain. This would secure them against
foreign aggression. As to the independent
republics of Porto Rico and Cuba, our gov
eminent might lend its good offices to
unite them with San Domingo and Haytl
in a confederacy Of the Antilles, to give
them more respectable international
standing. Stipulations should be agreed
upon with Them as to open ports and the
freedom of business enterprise within their
borders, affordiing all possible commercial
facilities Missionary effort in the largest
g NE 60
etfucation and of other civiiazing agencies
as we'll as abundant charity in case of
reed, viii on our part not be wanting, |
and all this VIII help to mitigate their dis |
orderly tendencies and to steady their gov |
Ihus we shall be their best friends with |
put being their foreign rlaers. We shall |
nave done our duty TO them, to ourselves, |
and TO the world. However Imperfect their
governments may still remain, they will |
at least be their own. and they Will not
with their disorders and co,ruptions con-
laminate our institutions, the integrity of |
which Is not only to ourselves. but ia
lber ty-oving mankind, the most Important
concern of all. We may then await the re-
suit with generous Datience-witb the same
patience with which for many years we
the revolutionary disorders of |
Mexico on our very borders. without any
thought of taking her government into our
OWN hands.
Ask yourselves whether a policy like this
Hfll not raise the American people to II
evel of moral greatness never before at
aimed! IT this democracy after all the in
.oXlcation OF triumph in war, conscientious
Y remembers its professions and Hedges,
md s0berly reflects OH its duties to itself
md others, and theu deliberately res!sts the
temptation of conquest 1t will achieve the
yrandest Triumph OF the democratic idea
hat History knows of. 1t will give the
Sc
prestige 1t never before possessed 1t will
'ender the cause OF civilization throughout
no world a service without parallel. 1t
will put Its detractors to share, and its
Ioice will be heard in the council o. ma
ions with more sincere respect and more
laving given proof of their strength and
Jiso of their honesty and wisdom, will stln
rfpitely mightier before the world th3n
my number of sublusated vassals could
make them. Are not here our best In
erests moral and material? Is not this
enuile glory? Is not this true patriotism {
] call upon all who SO believe never to
ose heart in the struggle for this great
cause whatever odds may seem TO be
tgainst us. Let there be no pusillanimous
'ieldng while the final decision is still +,
n the balance. Let US relax no effort in
his, the greatest crisis the republic has I
yer seen. Let us never cease to invoke
he good sense, the honesty and he patri- !
tic pride OF the people, Let us raise high
he flag of our country-tnot as an emblem
4 reckless adventure and greedy conquest
4 betrayed professions and broken pledges.
L criminal aggression and arbitrary rule
yer subject populations-b the old. the {
rue flag. the flag OF George Washington
nd Abraham Lincoln; the flag of the gov
rnment of, for and by he people; the
lag of National faith held sacred and OF
National honor unsullled; the flag Of hui
M rights and Of good example to all pa- I
ions; the flag of true civilization. peace, ,
nd good Will 10 all men. Under It IL. us
tand 10 the last, whatever betide,
And now, although much more might be \
aid on this momentous subject, must ,
lose. Before taking leave OF YOU, Mr.
PRESIDENT, teachers, students End frleajs /,
{ the University of Chicago. permit ms
o congratulate you on the growth and
ucceqs OF this great institution OF learning. :
accept my heartiest wishes that II ray 9
ontinue to prosper and flourish SOWING
he good seed. and that the American !
ouihs who drink at Its fountains may go !,
,rth into the world true deyotees NJ SCI I,
nee and truth firm Pillars o. iustire ami
it1ht, and dsuntless champions Of tire Z
zee institutions Of government which they /,
ave inherited from their fathers. and !