Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-12-05

| the territory on the traditional American
| lines. We do not wish a region of large es
| tates titled by cheap labor; we wish q
healthy American community OF men who
| themselves till the farms they own. Al
our legislation for the islands should be
shaped with this end in view; the well
| being of the average home maker must af
ford the true test of the healthy develop
ment of the islands. The land poicy
should rs nearly as possible be modelled OIL
! our homestead system.
! 1t is Il pleasure to say that it is hardly
more necessary to report as to Porto Rice
! than as to any state or territory within Oul
| continental limits. The island is thriving
as never before, and it is being admins
tered efficiently and honestly. It's people
are now enjoying liberty and order under
| the protection of the United States, and
upon this fact we congratulate them ana
ourselves. Their material welfare must be
as carefully and jealousy considered as the
welfare of any other portion of our cOun
try. We have given them the great gift OF
free access for their products to the mar
kets of the United States. The attention
| of congress is asked to the need OF legisia
ton concerning the public lands OF Porto
Rico.
CUBA.
In Cuba such progress has been made
toward putting the Independent govern.
ment Of the island upon firm footing that
before the present session of congress
closes this will be an accomplished fact.
I
and to the beautiful queen of the Antilles,
as she unfOldS this new page of her destiny,
we extend our heartiest greetings. In the
case of Cuba there are weighty reasons Of
morality and of national interest why the
policy of reciprocity should be held to have
a peculiar application, and the president
most earnestly asks your attention to the
wisdom, indeed to the vital need, of pro-
Viding for a substantial reduction In the
tariff duties on Cuban imports into the
United States.
THE PHILIPPINES.
The Philippines are rich tropical islands,
Inhabited by many varying tribes, repre-
senting widely different stages of progress
toward civilization. Our earnest effort Is
to help these people upward along the
stony and dithcult path that leads to self
government We hope to make our admin
istration Of the Islands honorable to our
nation by making it of the highest benefit
to the EilipinOs themselves. 1t is no light
task for nation to achieve the tempera-
mental qualities without which the insti-
tutiOns of free government are but an
empty mockery. Our people are now sue
cessfully governing themselves, because for
more than thousand years they have
been slowly fitting themselves, sometimes
consciously, sometimes uncOnSciOuSy, to-
ward this end. What has taken us thirty
generations to achieve, we cannot expect to
see another race accomplish out of hand,
when large portions of that race
start very far behind the point which our
had reached even thirty genera
lions ago In dealing win the Philippine
people we must show both patience and
strength forbearance ana steadfast resolu-
ton. Our aim is high. We do not desire
to do for the islanders merely what has
elsewhere been done for tropic peoples by
even the best foreign governments. We
nope to do for them what has never before !
Deen done for any people of the tropics-to |
make them lit for selfgOvernment after the |
fashion of the really free nations.
History may safely be challenged to show /
single instance in which a masterful race |
uch as ours, having been forced by the eX- !
gencies of war to take possession of an /
lien land, has behaved to it's inhabitants
With the disinterested zeal for their prog
ess that our people have shown in the
Philippines. To leave the islands at this |
ime would mean that Lney would fail into
welter of murderous anarchy. Such de-
ertion of duty on our part would be Il
rhine against humanity. The character Of
iov. Taft and of mis- associates and subOr
mates is a proof, if such be needed, Of the
ncerity of our effort to give the islanders
constantly increasing measure Of self
Oyernment, exactly as fast as they snow
lemselves fit to exercise it. Since the
vii government was established not an APP 5
ointment has been made in the Islands
it'll any reference to considerations OF pO- l
teal influence, or to aught else save the G
-ness of the man and the needs of the | [
,rvice. The only fear is lest in our over Q
lxiety we give them degree of independ- T
ice LOT FfIich lLtH art hhHI, Thereby III
ting reaction and disaster. as fast as e
ere is any reasonable hope that in d
ven district the people can govern them r
Ives, self-government has been given in {
at district. There are still troubles 0
ead in the islands. The instruction has L
come an affair of local bandItri and ma {.
uders who deserve no highe- regard than | q
e brigands of portions of the old world
lcoura cement, direct or indirect, to these D
stands on the same footing as g
coura cement to hostile Indians in the II
VS. when we still 'had Indian wars. Tx e
thy as our aim is to give to the Indian m
10 remains peaceful the fullest and Of
lplest consideration, but to have 1t IN A
rstood that we will show no weakness if q
goes on the warpath, so we must make bl
evident unless we are false to our own pt
editions and to the demands of civiliza- tn
N and humanity, that while we Will do &C
erything in our power for the Filipino pt
10 Is peaceful, we will take the sternest by