Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-12-05
THE COLONIES,
What the Aim of the Government
Should BE In Their Control

THE COLONIES.
What the Aim of the Government
should BE In Their Control.
In Hawaii our aim must be to develop
the territory, on the traditional American
lines. We do not wish a region OF large
estates titled by cheap labor We wish a
healthy American community of men
who themselves 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 homemaker must
a1Iord the true test of the healthy devel-
opment 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
In our continental limits. The island is
thriving as never before, and it is being
administered efficiently and honestly. Its
under the protection of the United States,
and upon this fact we congratulate them
and ourselves. Their material welfare
cred as the welfare Of any other portion
of our country. We have given them the
great at gift of free access for their products
the attention of the congress to the need
OF legislation concerning the public lands
OF Porto Rico.
Reciprocity with Cuba.
In Cuba such progress has been made
toward putting the independent govern
nenr of the island upon a firm footing
that before the present session of the
congress closes this will be an accom- lished
fact.. Cuba will then start as her own
mistress, and to the beautiful Queen of
the Antilles as she unfolds this new page
OF her destiny We extend our heartiest
greetings and good wishes. Elsewhere I
nave discussed the question of reciproci-
are weighty reasons Of morality and OF
national interest why the policy should be
held to have a peculiar application, and
most earnestly ask your attention to the
wisdom, indeed to the vital need of pro-
Vldlng for substantial reduction in the
tarin 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
closer and more friendly rela tions with US
than with any other power, and we are
and expediency to pass commercial meas
ures in the interest of her material well
being.
The Philippines.
In the Philippines our problem is larger.
They are very rich tropical islands, inha b.
widely different stages of progress to-
ward civilization. Our earnest effort is to
help these people upward along the stony
and difficult path that leads to self gov
eminent We hope to make our admin
istration of the islands honorable to our
nation by making it of the highest benefit
to the Filipinos themselves, and an
earnest Of what we intend to do we point
to what we have done. Already greater
measure OF material prosperity and of
governmental honesty and efficiency has
been attained in the Philippines than ever
before in their history
1t is no light task for nation to
achieve the temperamental qualities with
out which the institutions of free govern
ment are but empty mockery. Our peo-
pie are now successfully governing them
selves, because for more than thousand
years they have been slowly fitting them
selves, sometimes consciously, sometimes
unconsciously,, toward this end. What
has taken US thirty generations to achieve
we cannot expect to see another race &C
complish out of hand, especially when
large portions of that race start very far
reached even thirty generations ago. In
dealing with the Philippine people we
must show both patience and strength,
:orbearance and steadfast resolution: Our
aim is high. We do not desire to do for
the islanders merely what has elsewhere
oeen done for tropic peoples by even the
best foreign! governments we hope to do
for any people of the tropics-to make
them fit for self government after the
fashion of the really free nations.
Must Hold the Islands.
History may safely be challenged to
show a single instance IN which master
tul race such as ours, having peen forced
by the exigencies Of war to take posses
son of an alien land, has behaved to its
inhabitants with the disinterested zeal for
their progress that our people have shown
in the Philippines. To leave the islands at
this time would mean that they would
fan into weller of murderouS anarchy.
Such a desertion of duty on our part
would be crime against humanity. The
character of Gov. Taft and of his
sociates and subordinates. is proof, if
effort to give the islanders a constantly
increasing measure of self government
exactly as fast as they show themselves
fit to exercise it: Since the civil govern
ment was established not an appointment
has been made in the islands with any
reference to consid lions of POLITICAL in
f1uence or to aught else save the fitness
In our anxiety for the welfare and
progress Of the Philippines it may be that
here and there we have gone too rapidly
is on this side. that our error. if any.
has been committed. No competent OBJ
server sincerely DESTROYS Of finding out
he weare of te I
assert that we have not gone far enough.
We have gone to the very verge of safety
in Fastening the process, To have taken
would have been folly and weakness and
might well have been crime. We are ex-
tremely anxious that the natives shall
We are anxious first for their sakes and
next because it relieves US of great bur-
zen. There need not be the slightest fear
Of our not continuing to give them all the
liberty for which they are fit.
The Need Of Caution.
The only fear is lest in our overanxiety
we give them a degree of independence
for which they are unfit, thereby inviting
reaction and disaster. As fast as there is
any reasonable hope that in a given dis
trict the people can govern themselves
self government has been given in that
district. There is not locality fitted for
self government which has not received
it. But it may well be that in certain
cases it will have to be Withdrawn be-
cause the inhabitants show themselves
unfit to exercise it. Such Instances have
already occurred. In other words, there
is not the slightest chance OF our failing
to show a sufficiently huma nitarian spirit.
The danger comes in the opposite direc-
ton.
There are still troubles ahead in the is
lands The instruction has become an
affair of local banditti and maraudsrs.
who deserve no higher regard than tho
briEands of portions Of the old world.
Embarrassment, direct or Indirect to
these insurrectos stands on the same foot
ing as encouragement to hostile Indians
in the days when we still had Indian
wars. Exactly as our aim Is to give to
the Indian who remains peaceful 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