Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-03

the tariff duties on Cuban imports into
the United States.
In dealing with the Philippine peo-
pie we must show both patience and
strength, forbearance and steadfas: res
olution. Our aim is high. We do not
desire to do for the islanders merely
what has elsewhere been done for trop-
&c peoples By even the best foreign
governments. We hope to do Tor them
what has never before been done for
any people of the tropics-to make
them fit for self government after the
fashion of the really free nations.
The only fear is lest in our overanx-
iety we give them a degree of indie
pendence for which they are unnt,
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 a locality fitted for self govern
ment which has not received it. But it
may well be that in certain cases 1t
will have to be withdrawn because the
inhabitants show themselves unit to
exercise it; such instances have already
occurred. In other words, there is not
the slightest chance of our failing to
show a sufficiently humanitarian spirit.
The danger comes in the opposite direc-
ton.
Troubles Ahead Yet.
There are still troubles ahead in the
islands. The insurrection has become
an affair of local banditti and maraud-
ers, 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
the 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 tor limited terms Of
years. can be granted to companies do
ing business in them and every encour-
agement 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
commercial development which will
surely follow will afford TO the people
of the islands the hest proofs of the
sincerity of our desire to aid them.
The Cable and the Canal.
call your attention most earnestly
81. Of 10 10 In x-oi
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 government ca
BILE or else an arrangement should be
made by which like advantages to
those accruing from 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-
tinent is of such consequence to the
American people as the building of n
canal across the isthmus connecting
North and South America. Its impor-
lance to the nation is by no means linn
tied merely to it's material effects upon
our business prosperity, and yet with q
view to these effects alone 1t would be
to the last degree important for us i'm
mediately to begin ii. While its bene-
fetal effects would perhaps be most
marked upon the Pacific coast and the
gulf and South Atlantic states, it would
also greatly benefit other sections. 1t
is emphatically work which it is for
the interest of the entire country to be-
gin and complete as soon as possible.
am glad to be able to announce to
you that our negotiations on this SUBJ
ject with Great Britain. conducted on
both sides in n spirit of friendliness and
mutual good will, have resulted in
my being able to lay before the SEN
ate a treaty which, If ratified, will en-
able us to begin preparations for an
isthmian canal at any time and which
guarantees to this nation every right
that it has ever asked i'm connection
with the canal. 1t specifically pro-
vides that the United States alone shall
do the work of building and assume
the responsibility OF safeguarding the
canal and shall regulate its neutral use
by all nations on terms of equality
without the guarantee or interference
of any outside nation from any quarter.
The Monroe Doctrine.
The Monroe doctrine should be the
cardinal feature of the foreign policy
of all the nations of the two Americas,
as it is of the United States. The Mon
roe doctrine is a declaration that there
must be no territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
by any non-American power at the ex-
pense of any American power on Amer
lean soil. 1t is in nowise intended as
hostile to any nation In the old world.
Still less is it intended to give cover to
any aggression by one new world power
at the expense of any other. 1t is SIM
ply a step, and long step. toward as
u