The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-10


OF running the ships as well the fact
that the competing carriers are subsidt5-
cd. and urges action which will remedy
the inequalities.
The president commends the act fixing
the gold standard, and recommends fur
Their legislation tending TO strengthen the
credit Of the country, to safeguard
against financial crises and to make the
currency responsive to the demands or
trade. As 10 the revenues which are now
in excess Of demands upon them, there
is a recommendation that the Secretary
Of the Treasury's suggestion should be
followed. Economy is advised strongly
Amendment to the Interstate Com
merce law. so that rates should be IN
der governmental supervision, Is urged.
The Agricultural Department Is com
mended and especial attention IS called
70 forestry work, with recommendation
for bureau OF forestry and law CIV
ing the president the power of transfer
ring lands for that work from the public
domain. 1t is suggested too that there
be natural preserves for the wild forest
creatures. After commenting upon the
use of the forest preserves az a safe
guard for the water supply. the presa-
dent advocates a system of reservoirs for
the conservation of the waters, saying
this would lead to home-making in the
arid and semi-arid States. 1t is recon-
mended that there be cooperation with
the SIdteS III tAs matter Oh Hf'SaIiO-4
laws.
As to Porto Rico. the president says
the island is more prosperous than ever
and recommends action as to the land
system.
In relation TO Cuba, the president says
the island is making its own way and
viii soon start on its career as its own
mistress. He then says:
Elsewhere l have discussed the ques-
ton of reciprocity. In the case of Cuba,
however, there are weighty reasons of
morality and of national interest why
the policy should be held to have a pc
cuiar application. and l most earnestly
ask your attention to the wisdom, indeed
to the vital need of. providing for a sub
stantial reduction in the tariff duties on
Cuban imports into the United States.
Cuba has in her constitution affirmed
what We desired that she should stand,
in international matters, in closer and
more friendly relations with us than
with any other power: and we are bound
10y every consideration of honor and eX-
pediency to pass commercial measures
in the interest of her material well-be-
ing.
In the Philippines our problem is larg-
ct. They are very rich tropical Islands.
inhabited by many varying tribes, repre-
senting widely different stages of prog
ress toward civilization. Our earnest eff
fort is TO help these people upward along
the stony and difficult path that leads
to self-government. We hope to make
our administration of the islands honor
able to our nation by making it Of the
highest benefit TO the Filipinos them
selves; and as an earnest of what we In
tend to do, We point to what we have
done Already n greater measure Of ma
teTial prosperity and OF governmental
honesty and efficiency has been attained
in the Philippines than ever before in
their history.
In our anxiety for the welfare and
progress of the Philippines it may be
that here and there we have gone TOD
rapidly in giving them local self-govern-
ment. 1t is on this side that our error,
if any, has been committed. No compe-
tent observer. sincerely DESTROYS of find
ing out the facts and influenced only by
a desire for the welfare of the natives.
can assert that we have not gone far
enough. We have gone to the very verge
of safety in Fastening the process. To
have taken n single step farther or tast-
er in advance would have been folly and
weakness, and might well have been a
crime. We are extremely anxious that
the natives shall show the power of gov
erning themselves. We are anxious first
for their sakes and next because 1t re-
lieves us of a great burden. There need
not be the slightest fear of our not con-
tinuing to give them all the liberty for
which they are fit.
The president then goes on to say that
the troubles which are existing IN the
Philippines are due to insurrectos and
not to any organized army, and says the
United States viii take the harste5t
measures with the men who follow the
paths of the freebooters. 1t is recon-
mended that there be provision made for
the families of the Macabebes who fell
lighting for the United States.
The passage of laws which will permit
country by the granting or franchises
and general system of legislation
which will make it possible to develop
the country upon American lines as to
every detail of business, is urged
as being in the interest of the Philippines
as wen as the nation, and as showing the
desire to aid in the development of the
country.
1 call your attention most earnestly to
the crying need Of a cable to Hawaii and
the Philippines, to be continued from the
Philippines TO points in Asia. We should
not defer a day longer than necessary
the construction OF such a cable. 1t is
demanded, not merely for commercial.
but for political and military considera-
tons
Either Congress should Immediately
provide for the construction of govern.
ment cable or else an arrangement
should be made by which like advan-
tages to those accruing from a govern
ment cable may be secured by the gSY-
eminent by contract with private cable
company
No single great material work which
remains TO be undertaken on this con-
tinent is of such consequence to the
American people the building of a
canal across the isthmus connecting North
and South America. Its importance to
the nation is by no means limited merely
to its material effects upon our BUSINESS
prosperity; and yet with view to Gfese
facts alone, il would he to the last de-
gree important for Us Immediately TO be
gin It, While its beneficial effects would
perhaps be most marked upon the Ia
cific coasf and the Gulf and South Allan