Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-12-07

justsclosed.
Protection of the Forest.
Public opinion throughout the United
States has moved steadily toward just APP
probation of the value of forests, whether
planted or of natural growth. Inc great
part played by them in the creation ana
maintenance of the national wealth Is no"
more fully realized than ever before.
Wise forest protection does not mean the
withdrawal of forest resources, whether or
wood, water or grass, but on the contrary
gives the assurance of larger and more GER
tain supplies. The fundamental idea of
forestry is the perpetuatiOn OF forests by
use. Forest protection Is not an end OF
itself; it is means to Increase ana sustain
the resources of our country ana the inuuS-
tries which depend upon them. The preser-
Walton of our forests is an imperative busl-
ness necessity. At present the protection
of the forest reserves rests with the Cen
eral Land Office, the mapping out and de-
scription of their timber with the United
States Geological Survey, and the prepara-
ton of plans for their conservative use with
the Bureau of Forestry. which Is also
charged with the general advancement of
practical forestry in the United Suites.
These various functions should be united in
the Bureau OF Forestry, TO when they
properly belong.
Reclamation of Arid Lands.
The reclamation of he unsettled arid pub
lie lands presents different problem. Here
it Is not enough to regulate the flow OF
streams The object of the Government is
to dispose Of the land to settlers who will
build homes upon it. To, accomplish this
object water must be brought within their
reach.
The pioneer settlers on the arid public
domain chose their homes along streams
from which they could themselves divert the
water to reclaim their holdings. Such OPP
portunities are practically gone. There re,
main, however, vast areas of public ian9
which can be made available for homestead
settlement, but only by reservoirs and MAIN
line canals impracticable for private enter
These irrigation works
built by the national Government for actuai
settlers, and the cost of construction shoulu
so far as possible be repaid by the lana re-
claimed.
In Hawaii our aim must be to develop the
territory on the traditional American INES.
We do not wish a region of large estates
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
average home-maker must afford the true
test of the healthy development OF the
islands. The land policy should as nearly
as possible be modelled ON our homestead
system
1t is a pleasure to say that it is hardly
more necessary to report as to Porto Rico
chan as to any state or territory within our
continental limits The island is thriving
as never before, and it is being administered
efficiently and honestly. Its people are now
enjoying liberty and order under the prOtec-
tiOn of the United States, and upon this fact
material welfare must be as carefully ana
jealousy considered as 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. / ask the attention of the Congress
to the need of legislation concerning the pub
lie lands of Porto Rico.
Cuba AMI 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 be an accomplished fact. Cuba will
then start as her own mistress; and to the
beautiful Queen Of the Antilles, as she I'M
folds this new page of her destiny, we ex-
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 peculiar applica-
ton, and most earnestly ask your attention
to the wisdom, indeed, to the vital need, Of
providing for substantial reduction in the
tariff duties on Cuban imports into the
United States. Cuba has in her constitu-
ton affirmed what we desired, that she
should stand in international matters in clos
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 well-being
In the Philippines problem Is larger.
They are very rich tropical islands, inhabit-
ed by many varying tribes, representing
widely different stages of progress toward
civilization. Our earnest effort is to help
these people upward along the stony and
difficult path that leads to government.
We hope to make our administration of the
islands honorable to our nation by making
it of the highest benefit to the Filipinos
themselves; and as an earnest of what we
intend to do, we point to what we have done.
Already greater measure of material pros
perity and Of governmental honesty and eff
cheney has been attained in the Philippines
than ever before in their history
The only fear is lest in our oyeranxiety
we give them a degre of independence for
which they are unfit, thereby inviting re-
action and disaster. AS fast as there is
any reasonable hope that in given district
the people can govern themselves, self-gov-
ernment has been given In that district.
There is not locality fitted for self-govern-
ment which has not received it. But it may
we'll be that in certain cases it will have to
be Withdrawn because the inhabitants show
themselves unfit to exercise it; such in
stances have already occurred
Still Troubles Ahead.
There are still troubles ahead in the
Islands. The instruction 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 on the same footing as 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 it understood that we will show
no weakness If he goes on the warpath so
we must make it evident, unless we are
false to our own traditions and to the de-
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 cable to Hawaii and the
philippines, to be continued from the Phil
1pplnes to points in Asia. We should not de.
Ter day longer than necessary the con-
struction Of such cable. It is demanded
not merely for commercial, but for political
and military considerations
The 1sthmiau Canal
No single great material work which re-
mains to be undertaken on this continent is
of such consequence to the American peopIe
as the building Of a canal across the Isthmus
connecting North and South America. IFS
Importance to the nation is by no means linn
Tied merely to its material effects upon orr
business prosperity; and yet with view to
these etfects alone, it would be to the last
degree important for US immediately TO he
gin 1t: While It's beneficial effects would ner-
maps be most marked upon the Pacific Coast
and the Gulf and South Atlantic States. it
would also greatly benefit other sections It
Is emphatically a work which it is for the
interest Of the entire country to begin and
complete as soon as possible; it is one Of