The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-17

aranted by the President TO corporation
to Law cable from point on the Califor-
mia coast to the Philippine Islands by way
OF Hawaii.
Inasmuch as the Congress was shortly
to convene and Pacific cable legislation
had been the subject of consideration by
the Congress for several years. it seemed
to me wise to defer action upon the appii.
cation until the Congress had first an op..
portunity to act. The Congress adjourned
withou. taking any action, leaving the
matter IN exactly the same condition in
which it stood when the Congress con-
vened.
The President then relates how. pending
Congressional action. the Commercial! Pa.
cific Cable Company proceeded with prep
aratisns for laying its cable. As the COM
pany needed the soundings taken by the
y. 8. 8. Nero conditions incident to their
use were imposed, which prescribed
among other things q maximum rate for
commercial messages. and that the COM
pany should construct line from the
Philippine Islands to China, there being at
present. as Is we'll known, a British line
from Manila to HongkonR. An all.Ameri-
can line between our Pacific coast and the
Chinese empire, by way OF Honolulu and
the Philippine Islands. is thus provided
for. and Is expected within few months
to be ready for business.
OF Porto Rico it Is only necessary tn say
that the prosperity Of the island and the
wisdom with which it has heen governed
have been such as TO make it serve az an
example Of all that is best in insular ad.
ministration.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
On july 4 last. on the l26th anniversary
of the declaration of our independence
peace and amnesty were promulgated IN
the Philippine Islands. Some trouble has
since from time to time threatened with
the Mohammedan Moros, but with the
entirely .sss .lva' ceased. Civil government has
now been introduced. Not only does each
Filipino enjoy such rights to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness as he has
never before known during the recorded
history of the islands. but the people taken
as a whole now enjoy o measure OF self.
government greater than that granted to
any other Orientals by any foreign power,
and greater than that enjoyed by any
other Orientals under their own govern
aents, save the Japanese alone.
The President maintains that no policy
ever entered into by the American people
has so vindicated itself. The triumph OF
our arms, laws and principles has come
He praises the Army and the civil author.
tiles for doing better work in the Philip.
pine Islands than has been accomplished
elsewhere in modern times. Large num-
bers of Filipinos are to be commended for
cheerfully accepting the new conditions.
Only 1900 troops remain in the islands.
THE ARMY AND NAVY.
The Army has been reduced to the min.
imum allowed By law. 1t is very small tor
the size OF the nation, and most certainly
cheney. A system OF maneuverng our
Army in bodies OF some little size has been
begun and should be steadily continued.
The President urges that craftsmanship
should receive special attention, that the
general staff bin should be passed, and
that an efficient militia system should be
adopted. ,.,
manoeuvers on q large scale are being
held under the immediate command OF the
Admiral OF the Navy. Constantly increas'
ing attention is being paid to the gun.
merry Of the Navy but i is ystiS ye. far from from
bss Tss tbs asked for by the
tary Of the Navy in the appropriation for
improving the craftsmanship be granted.
In battle the only shots that count are
the shots that hit. =,
There should be no halt in the work OF
building up the Navy. providing every year
additional fighting craft. A good navy Is not
a provocative of war. It is the surest guar
anty of peace. Each individual unit Of our
Navy should be the most efficient OF Its
kind az regards both material and person:
mel that is to be found in the world;
call your special attention to the need OF
providing for the manning OF the ships.
Serious trouble threatens US IT we can not
do better than we are now doing as re.
cards securing the services OF q sufficient
number of the highest type Of sailor men,
of sea mechanics.
We need 1000 additional officers in order
to properly man the ships now provided
for and under construction. The classes
at the naval school at Annapolis should be
greatly enlarged. At the same time that
we thus add the officers where we need
them we should facilitate the retirement
OF those at the head OF the liss whose use
fulness has become impaired. Promotion
must be fostered if the service Is to be
kept efficient.
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
The striking increase in the revenues OF
the Postcfice Department shows clearly
the prosperity of our people and the in.
creasinR activity OF the business OF the
country. The increase for last year was
$40 8,Ss3.S7. Rural free delivery is now a
fixed policy. 1t is justified by results. 1t
is q potential educational force, enhances
the value of farm property and makes
farm life pleasantcr and less isolated; Inc
message urges liberal appropriations for Its
extension.
The President then urges the necessity
for nationally aided irrigation, the need OF
scientific forest protection and the desira'
bility of protecting the wild creatures on
forest reserves. So far as they arc avail.
able for agriculture, and to whatever ex'
tent they may be reclaimed under the ma
tiopal irrigation law, the remaining public
lands should be held rigidly for the home
builder, the settler who lives on his land,
and for no one else. In view OF the capital
Importance OF these matters commend
them to the earnest consideration OF the
Ccngress, and If the Congress finds d'fti:
thorough knowledge OF the subject, rec.
ommerd that provision be made for com.
mission Of experts specially to investigate
and report.
After calling the attention OF Congress
to the need Of wise legislation for Alaska
the President treats Of the Indians. and
saws that our aim should be their ultimate
absorption into the body of our people.
The first step toward this is to teach
them to earn their living.
The President then describes the re-
markable agricultural progress which has
been made in all sections OK the country
under the scientific aid that the Depart.
ment of Agriculture has extended to the
farming population, thereby showing them
how most efficiently to help Themselves;
u that rnn fay0rahlv
consider the plans for the improvement OF
the Smithsonian Institution and for pre-
serving the records Of races Of men and an.
imals Of this continent that will soon be-
come extinct.
The President sy0rests the enactment OF