The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-12-05

SS,sesaHeaoshT?
| main. however. vast areas of public land
| which can he made available for homestead
settlement. hut only by reservoirs and main
line canals impracticable for private enter
prise These irrigation works should be
| built by the national Governmo at for actual
| settlers, and the cost OF construction should
| so far as possible he repaid by the land re
claimed.
In Hawaii our aim must he to develop the
| territory on the traditional American lines.
We do not wish region of large estates
| TILED 10y cheap labor; we wish healthy
American community OF men who them
selves Till the farms they own. All our
| legislation for the islands should be shaped
with this end in view; the well-being of the
| test of the healthy development Of the
| islands. The land policy should nearly
| as possible lie modelled on our homestead
system.
more necessary to report as 10 Porto Rico
than as To any state or territory within our
continental limits. The island Is thriving
as never before and IL Is being administered
enjoying liberty and order under the protec-
tion Of the United States, and upon this fact
We congratulate them and ourselves. Their
material welfare must be as carefully and
jealously considered the welfare of any
other portion of our country. We have
given them the great gift Of free access for
their products to the markets Of the United
States. l ask the attention Of the Congress
TO the need Of legislation concerning the pub
lie lands Of Porto Rico.
Cuba an l the Philippines.
In Cuba such progress has been made to-
ward putting the Independent government Of
the island upon firm footing that before
the present session Of Congress closes this
will he an accomplished fact. Cuba will
then start as her own mistress; and to the
beautiful Queen Of the Antilles. she un-
o. - 4.
tend our heartiest greetings and good wishes.
Elsewhere l have discussed the question of
reciprocity. In the case Of Cuba. how
ever. there are weighty reasons of moral
ity and of national interest why the policy
should be held to have q peculiar applica-
tlon. and most earnestly ask your attention
TO the wisdom. indeed, to the vital need. Of
providing for substantial reduction In the
United States. Cuba has In her constitu-
tion affirmed what we desired. that she
should stand In international matters In clos
er and more friendly relations with us than
with any other power: and we are bound
by every consideration OF honor and
expediency to pass commercial measures in
the Interest Of her material wellbeing.
In the Philippines problem Is larger.
They are very rich tropical Islands, inhabt-
ed by many varying tribes. representing
widely different stages Of progress toward
these people upward along the stony and
difficult path that leads TO self lfgovernment.
We hope to make our administration OF the
islands honorable to our nation by making
Ii Of the highest benefit 10 the FilipinOs
themselves: and an earnest OF what we
intend to do. we point to what we have done.
Already a greater measure of material pros
perity and of governmental honesty and efii-
cheney has been attained In the Philippines
than ever before In their history.
The only fear is lest In our overanyiety
we give them a degre OF independence for
which they are unit, thereby Inviting re-
T.
any reasonable hope that in a given district
the people can govern themselves. self-gov
ernment has been given In that district.
There Is not n locality fitted for self govern
ment which has not received IL. But IL may
well be that In certain cases 1t will have To
he withdrawn because the inhabitants show
themselves unfit TO exercise Ii; such. in
stances have already occurred
Still Troubles Aheai.
There are still troubles ahead In the
Islands. The insurrection has become an
affair of local banditti and marauders. who
deserve no higher regard than the brigands
of portions of the Old World. Encourage
ment. direct or indirect. to these insurrectos.
stands the same footing encourage
ment to hostile Indians In the days when We
still had Indian wars Exactly as our aim
is to give TO the Indian who remains peace
full the fullest and amplest consideration.
but to have II understood that we will show
no weakness II he goes on the warpath, so
We must make 1t evident. unless We are
false TO our own traditions ana 10 the Ge-
mands of civilization and humanity. that
while we will do everything in our power for
the Filipino who is peaceful. we will take
the sternest measures with the Filipino who
follows the path of the insurrecto and the
ladrone
/ call your attention most earnestly to the
crying need of a cable TO Hawaii and the
Philippines. to be continued from the Phil
ippines to points i'll Asia. We should not de-
fer a day longer than necessary the con
struction OF such n cable. IL Is demanded
not merely for commercial. but for political
and military considerations.
The Ist thmian Canal.
No single great material work which re-
mains to be undertaken on this continent Is
of such consequence to the American people
as the building OF canal across the lsthmus
connecting North and South America Its
Importance to the nation Is by no means lin
tied merely to Its material effects upon our
business prosperity; and yet with View To
these effects alone. Ii would he 10 the last
degree important for US Immediately To be-
gin IL. While Its beneficial effects would per-
haps be most marked upon the Pacific Coast
and the Gulf and South Atlantic States. Ii
would also greatly benefit other sections. Ii
is emphatically a work which IL Is for the
interest of the entire country TO begin and
complete as soon as possible: Ii is one Of
those works which only great nation can
undertake with prospects OF success. and
which when done are not only permanent as
sets In the nations material interests, but
standing monuments to lis constructive abil-
ity.
l am glad to he able to announce To you
that our negotiations on this subject with
Great Britain. conducted ON both sides In a
spirit Of friendliness and mutual good will
and respect. have resulted in my being able
TO lay before the Senate Il treaty which II
ratified will enable us to begin preparations
for an lsthmian canal at any time. and
which guarantees TO this nation every right
that II has ever asked in connection with the
canal. 1t specifically provides that the
United States alone shall do the work OF
building and assume the responsibility of
the canal. and shall regulate
Its neutral use by all nations ON terms Of
equality without the guaranty or intcrfer-
ence OF any outside nation from any quarter.
Work on the Navy Must Contiuu-.
The work of upbuilding the Navy must |
be steadily continued. No one point of our
policy foreign or domestic, l. more impor- |
tant than this TO the honor and mater al
welfare. and above all to the peace. Of our
nation in the future. Whether we desire IL |
or not we must henceforth recognize that |
we have international duties no less than |
rights. Even II our flag were |
hauled down In the Philippines and Porto |
Rico even IL We decided not TO build the |
Isthmian Canal, we Should need Il thorough |
ly trained Navy Of adequate size. or else be |
prepared definitely and for all time To aban !
don the idea that our nation Is among those |
whose sons 20 down TO the sea In ships. Tn |
less our commerce Is always To he carried |
in foreign bottoms, we must have war craft /
to protect Ii.
Inismuch. however. as the American peo- |
ple have no thought of abandoning the path |
upon which they have entered. and especial !
ly In view OF the fact that the building OF |
the lsthmian Canal IS fast becoming one OF I
the matters which the whole people are |
united In demanding. II is imperative that |
our Navy should he put and kept in the /
highest state OF efficiency. and should he /
made to answer TO our growing needs So |
far from being In any way a prOvOcation TO |
war. AN adequate and highly trained navy is |
the best guaranty against war, the cheapest |
and most effective peace insurance. The cost !
of building and maintaining such n navy |