The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-03

tho ships of our commercial rivals. Gu
government should take such action a
will remedy these inequalities. Tn
American merchant marine should b.
restored to the ocean.
lnaular Problems.
Insular questions are next treated
In Hawaii our aim must be to develor
the territory on the traditional Amer
ican lines. Porto Rico is declared to be
thriving as never before. The atten'
tion Of congress is called to the need OF
legislation concerning the islands pub.
lie lands. In Cuba 1t Is stated that
much Drogress-has beeNmade toward
putting the Independent government of
the island upon firm footing. and it is
declared that independence will be an
accomplished fact. The president
adds:
Elsewhere have discussed the ques-
ton of reciprocity. In the case of Gu
ba, however, there are weighty reasons
Of morality and of national interest
why the policy should be held to have
peculiar application. and I most ear.
nestly ask your attention to the wis.
dom, indeed to the vital need. of pro-
vlding for substantial reduction In
the tariff duties on Cuban imports into
tho United States.
In dealing with the Philippine peo.
pie We must show both patience and
strength forbearance and steadfast res
olution. Our aim is high. We do not
desire TO do for the islanders merely
what has elsewhere been done for trop-
ic peoples by even the best foreign
governments. We hope to do for them
what has never before been done for
any people Of the tropics-to make
them lit for self government after the
fashion of the really free nations.
The only fear is lest In our%overanx-
iety we give them Il degree of inde.
pcndcnce for which they are unfit,
thereby inviting reaction and disaster.
As fast as there Is any reasonable hope
that In a given district the people can
govern themselves self government
has been given in that district. There
Is not locality fitted for self govern.
mcnt which has not received it. But 1t
may well be that In certain cases 1t
will have to be withdrawn because the
inhabitants show themselves unfit to
exercise it; sucs instances have already
occurred. In other words, there Is not
the slightest chance Of our failing to
show sufficiently humanitarian spirit.
The danger comes in the opposite direc-
tiOn.
Troubles Ahead Yet.
There are still troubles ahead in the
islands. The insurrection has become
an affair of local banditti and maraud.
crs, who deserve no higher regard
than the brigands Of portions of the
old world. Encouragement, direct or
indirect, to these insurrectos stands on
the same footing as encouragement to
hostile Indians in the days when we
still had Indian wars.
The president declares that the time
has come for additional legislation for
tile Philippines. He says
1t is necessary that the congress
should pass laws by which the re.
sources Of the islands can be developed,
so that franchises Qor limited terms of
years. can be granted to companies do.
ing business in them and every encour.
asement be given to the incoming Of
business men of every kind. 1t is ur.
gently necessary to enact suitable laws
dealing with general transportation,
mining, banking. currency, homesteads
and the use and ownership of the lands
and timber. These laws will give free
play to industrial enterprise, and the
development which will
surely follow will afford to the people
of the islands the best proofs Of the
sincerity of our desire to aid them.
The Cable and the Canal.
I call your attention most earnestly
TO the crying need Of cable to Hawaii
and the Philippines, to be continued
from the Philippines to points in Asia.
We should not defer day longer than |
necessary the construction of such a
cable. 1t Is demanded not merely for
commercial but for political and mill |
tary considerations. Either the con
gress should Immediately provide for |
The construction Of a government ca
Bile or else an arrangement should be |
made by which like advantages to
those accruing from a government ca
Bile may be secured to the government |
by contract with a private cable com.
pany.
No single great material work which
remains to be undertaken on this con.
Iincnt is of such consequence to tho
people as the building of
canal across the isthmus connecting
North and South America. Its impor.
ance to the nation Is by no means lin.
ted merely to Its material effects upon
)ur business prosperity, and yet with a
;icw to these effects alone it would be
o the last degree important for us i'm
ncdiately to begin it. While its bene.
icial effects would perhaps be most
marked upon the Pacific coast and the
;ulf and South Atlantic states. it would
llso greatly benefit other sections. 1t
s emphatically work which it is for
he interest of the entire country TO be.
lin and complete as soon as possible.
! am glad to be able to announce to
'ou that our negotiations on this sub.
ect with Great Britain, conducted on
9th sides in spirit Of fricndliness and
mutual good will, have resulted in
ny being able to lay before the sen.
te treaty which, If ratified. will en-.
bic psso begin preparations for an
canal at any time and which