Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-05-16

We have simply performed our part IN Q
bit of International police duty.
Under the greatest proTucatioE, our
government refused to yield 10 the clamor
for more revenge and refused &c fake part
In or connive at any effort to partition
China.
in Cuba we have had to face a harder
because a less simple task. We were
pledged to bring peace, freedom and inde-
pendence to the islands, and we have been
resolutely bent upon keeping that pledge,
not merely in the letter but in the spirit.
To have driven out the Spaniards and then
Immediately withdrawn our own forces
would have meant the breaking of our
own pledge, for 1t would have thrown the
Islands into a chaos but enc degree better
than the tyranny which it succe eded.
Moreover, such a course would have meant
the absolute certainty Of our being speed
lily forced to interfere again. We would
commit a grave wrong to our own people
if we permitted the great island which
is our neighbor once more to become
plague spot of civilization; still graVer
wrong if we permitted the possibility of
its ever being used against us by some
strong alien power. Our business was to
help in the development of those qualities
in the Cubans which would render them
able TO solve the difficult problem of self
government; to further every movement
for decency in the island, and to give our
1t strove to walk alone.
Retirement of Cuba.
Compare what Cuba now is with what
II was three years ago; compare the peace
and order and justice of to-day with the
unspeakable misery, the bloody iumble Of
anarchy and tyranny of three years ago.
Think of the strides made in the school
system and the courts; think of what has
been done towards the cleansing of the
cities, towards stamping out disease. Re
member that the change is solely due to the
fact that we dared to go to war for right
eous cause. If ever in history an action has
justified itself, our action in interfering
in Cuba has thus furnished its own justi-
fication.
FINALLY, we come to the Philippines,
where the difficulties were greatest of all.
Perhaps few better tests of our worth as
nation have ever been offered than this
Philippine problem. The temptation was
great to shirk 1t altogether. The first thing
to be done was to restore order by putting
a stop to the insurrection. This has at last
been practically accomplished.
1.-THE record of the struggle in the Phil
ippines for the last two years and a half
is one which should make all Americans
proud because of the firmness and the
mercy, the justice and the fearlessness
with which their representatives In the
islands have acted under as trying conGi-
tions as have ever been faced in similar
case.
"In developing these islands it is well tc
keep steadily in mind that business is one
of the great levers of civilization. 1t is
immensely to the interest of I-.e people
of the islands that their resources should
be developed, and therefore 1t is to their
interests even more than to ours that our
citizens should develop their industries.
The further fact that it is our duty to see
that the development takes place under
conditions so carefully guarded that nc
wrong may come to the islanders, must not
blind us to the first great fact, which is the
need of the development.
Honesty Must lie Observed.
at is to the advantage, both of America
and of the islands. to have any merchant or
business man start and develop a legit-
innate business enterprise of any kind IN
the islands, but no public man should have
any share in such business, and public
opinion should not tolerate for moment
such action among our public men. As for
the offenses that are at times bound to oc-
cur in connection with the public service
in the Islands, we should, on the one hand,
see to it that the most prompt and severe
punishment is visited upon the offenders;
and, in the next place we should remember
that it is simply silly to treat such an
offense as in any way condemnation of
our policy.
I'VE talk much, and, on the whole, we
talk truly, of the future greatness of our
people. Let us see to 1t that our deeds
make good our words, that we take advan-
tage of our manifold opportunities, and do
without fiinching our manifold duties. We
are not to be excused if we fail to do all
that is required of a great nation, stand
ing as one of the great powers of the earth;
and least of all are we to be excused if we
fail to keep in mind the principles that
underlie all greatness-the principles of
justice and Of mercy-of courage and OF
honesty, that go to make up a national rec
ord OF clean living and true manlness."