Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-12-06
INSULAR MATTERS.

INSULAR MATTERS.
What Must Be Done to Develop
Hawaii.
In Hawaii our aim must be to develop
the territory on the traditional Ameri-
can 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 thty
own. All our legislation for the islands
should be shaped with this end in view:
the well-being of the average home-mak-
er must afford the true test of the healthy
development of the islands. The land
policy should as nearly as possible oe
modeied on our homestead system.
Porto Rico.
1t is a pleasure to say that it is hardly
more necessary to report as to Porto
Rico than as to any state or territory
within our continental limits. The ISL
and is thriving as never before, and 1t is
being administered efficiently and honest
ly. Its people are now enjoying liberty
and order under the protection of the
United States, and upon this fact we con-
gratulate them and ourselves.
Cuba.
In Cuba such progress has been made
toward putting the independent govern
ment of the island upon a firm footing
that before the present session of the Con-
gress closes this will be an accomplished
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 hearttest
greetings and good wishes. Elsewhere
have discussed the question of reciprocity.
In the case of Cuba, however. there are
weighty reasons of morality and Of Ma
tional 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-
viding for substantial reduction in the
tariff duties on Cuban imports into the
United States.
The Philippines.
In the Philippines our problem is larg-
| er. They are very rich tropical Islands
Inhabited by many varying tribes, repre-
senting widely different stages of pro-
gress toward civilization. Our earnest
effort is to help these people upward
along the stony and difficult path that
leads to sef-government. We hope te
make our administratio of the islands
honorable to our Nation by making it oi
the highest benefit to the Filipinos them
selves: and as an earnest of what we in
| tend to do, we point to what we hayt
done. Already a greater measure Of ma
| terial prosperity and of governmental
honesty and efficiency has been attained
in the Philippines than ever before IL
their history.
Troubles Still Ahead.
There are still troubles ahead in tn,
islands The insurrection has become al
affair Of local banditti and marauders
who deserve no higher regard than th
brigands of portions of the Old World
Encouragement, direct or indirect, t
these insurrectos stands on tn
same footing as encouragement t
hostile Indians IN. the days whe
we still had Indian wars. Elk
actly as our aim is to give to the Indial
who remains peaceful the fullest an
amplest consideration, but to have it un
; derstood that we show no weakness if h
goes on the warpath, so we must max
it evident. unless we are false to our ow
traditions and to the demands of civiiiza
. tion and humanity, that while we will d
everything in our power for the Filipin
who is peaceful, we will take the sternes
measures with the Filipino who follow
the path of the insurrecto and the ladrone
Additional Legislation Needed.
. The time has come when there shoul
/, be additional legislation for the PhiliI
/ pines. Nothing better can be done for tn
! islands than to introduce Industrial enter
prises. Nothing would benefit them s
, much as throwing them open to industris
. development. The connection Sbetwee
: idleness and mischief is proverbial, an
) the opportunity to do remunerative wor
is one of the surest preventives of wal
, OF course, no business man will go int
! the Philippines unless it is to his interes
to do so; and it Is immensely to the II
terest of the islands that he should go II
1t is, therefore, necessary that the Cor
: gress should pass laws by which the re
sources of the islands can be developed
, so that franchises Qor limited terms {
r years. can be granted to companies doin
} business in them, and every encourage
r ment be given to the incoming Of bushes
men of every kind.
Pacific Cable.
I call your attention most earnestly
the crying need of a cable to Hawaii an
the Philippines, to be continued from tt
!, :, Philippines to points in Asia. We shoul
+ not defer a day longer than necessary tn
> construction of such cable. 1t is d.
4 manded not merely for commercial, bl
4 for political and military considerations
Either the Congress should immediatel
E provide for the construction of a Cover
. meut cable, or else an arrangement shou
v be made by which like advantages
: those accruing from; Government cab
: may be secured to the Government
T contract with a private cable company.