Evening journal., 1901-12-03
THE EVENING JOURNAL. TUESDAY. DECEMBER 3, 1901

/ Where their purpose IS 10 regulate The
flow Of streams. the water should be
turned freely into the channels IN the
dry season to take the same course
under the same laws as the natural
Cow.
The reclamation OF the unsettled arid
| public lands presents a different prob
lem. Here 1t Is not enough to regulate
the flow Of streams. The object of the
government is TO dispose of the land
TO settlers who win build homes upon
It. To accomplish this object water
must be brought within their reach.
The pioneer settlers on the arid pub
lie domain chose their homes along
streams from which they could them
selves divert the water to reclaim their
holdings. Such opportunities are prac-
tically gone There remain. however,
vast areas Of public land which can be
made available for homestead settle
ment. but only by reservoirs and main
! line canals impracticabe for private
enterprise These irrigation works
should be built by the national govern
ment. The lands reclaimed by them
should be reserved by the government
for actual settlers. and the cost Of con-
structlon should, so far as possible be
repaid by the land reclaimed. The dis
trlbutlon Of the water the division Of
the streams among irrigators. should
be left to the settlers themselves IN
conformity with state laws and with
out interference with those laws or
with vested rights.
The declaration is made that in the
arid states the only right to water
which should be recognized Is that Of
use. The president says that the doc
trine OF private ownership Of water
apart from land cannot prevail without
causing wrong
InauIar Problems.
Insular questions are next treated.
In Hawaii our aim must be to develop
the territory on the traditional Amer
lean lines. Porto Rico Is declared to be
thriving as never before The atten-
tion Of congress is called to the need of
legislation concerning the islands pub
llc lands. In Cuba It Is stated that
much progress has been made toward
putting the Independent government of
the island upon firm footing, and 1t is
declared that independence will be an
accomplished fact The president
adds:
Elsewhere I have discussed the ques-
ton of reciprocity. In the case Of Gu
ba, however, there are welghty reasons
Of morality and of national interest
why the policy should be held to have
peculiar application. and I most ear
nestly ask your attention TO the wis
dom, indeed to the vital need. of pro
viding for q substantial reduction II
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 steadfast res
, olution. Our aim is high. We do mo-
I desire to do for the islanders merely
what has elsewhere been done for trop
lc peoples by even the best foreigl
, governments. We hope to do for then
what has never before been done 70
/, any people Of the tropics-to maxi
, them fit for self government after tn
, fashion Of the really free nations.
The only fear is lest I'm our overanx
lety we give them a degree Of inde
, pendcnce for which they are unh;
/, thereby inviting reaction and disaster
, AS fast as there is any reasonable hop
that in given district the people cal
govern themselves self governmen
7 has been given In that district. Ther
: Is not a locality fitted for self govern
ment which has not received II. But
I may we'll be that in certain cases
) will have to be withdrawn because tn
! inhabitants show themselves unfit t
exercise II; such instances have alread
a occurred. In other words, there is nc
! the slightest chance Of our falling t
q show n sufficiently humanitarian splri
> The danger comes In the opposite dire'
n tion.
Troubles Ahead Yet.
. There are stlll troubles ahead In th
q islands. The insurrectlon has becom
. an affair Of local banditti and marau'
ers, who deserve no higher regar
than the brlgands Of portions of I'll
old world Encouragement, direct {
= indirect, to these insurrectos stands @
ls the same footing as encouragement
"a hostile Indians in the days when "
still had Indian wars.
K The president declares that the tin
'r has come for additional legislation Il
y the Philippines. He says:
'u 1t IS necessary that the congre'
G. should pass laws by which the r
rs sources Of the islands can be develope
le so that franchises 0or limited terms
DC years. can be granted to companies d
Ut ing business in them and every encou
agcment be given TO the incoming
o. business men of every kind. It is Il
&c gently necessary TO enact suitable Law
al dealing with general transportatio
IT. mining. banking. currency. homestea
IL and the use and ownership Of the Ian
su and timber. These laws will give fl
10 play TO industrial enterprise. and q
OF commercial development which W
ny surely follow will afford TO the peoT
fA of the islands the best proofs OF {
es sincerity Of our desire TO aid them.
rN. r.r.r. .ua tf,n Couur