Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-11-22
proyocation affords no excuse for such

proyocation affords no excuse for such
cruelties, nor can we admit us justin.
cation that they We're retaiatory IN
kind. Every effort has been made to
detect ana punish the wrongdoers and
the wronglong itself has been COM
pletely stopped. But these misderds
were exceptional, and their occurrence
In no wise alters the fact that the
American army In the philippines
showed as II whole not only splendid
soldlery qualities hut II high order of
humanity in dealing with their foes.
4 hundred thousand Of our troops
went to the Philippines. Among them
were some who offended against tue
right. Well, are we altogether in
maculate ut home? think not. Task
for no special considera lion to be shown
our friends and kinsmen, our SONS and
brothers., who during three years so
well upheld the national honor In the
Philippines. ! ask merely that we do
the same equal justice to the soldier
who went abroad and faced death and
lived .harl as WE show to his fellow
who staAed at home and lived easily and
I IN comfort; and IL we show that equal
Justice we will don our hats to tie man
who has plt the whole country under
obligations 10y the victory Ee helped to
win In the Philippines.
HIt the soldiers work rs Il soldier
was ne, the larger part of what he did.
When once the outbreak was over in
hn nf
tabishing civil administration. Here,
too. the soldier did his part, Tor the
work of preparing for the civi! au-
thority was often done by the officers
and men of the regular army, and well
done, too. Then the real work of build
ing up a system Of self government for
the people who had become our wards
was begun, under auspices Of the Phil
ippile commission, Judge Taft being
made governor, and | having had the
honor myself to appoint General
Wright us vice governor. Dnrin. the
critical period when the insurrecti6n
was ending and the time was one of
transition between a state Of war ami
q state Of peace, at the time that
issued Il proclamation declaring that
the state of war was over and that
the civil government MAS now In com
pletc command. General Wright served
us governor OF the archipelago. The
progress of the islands both in material
well-being and as regards order aud
justice under the administration of
Governor Wright and his colleagues
has been astounding.
There is no question as to our not
having gone far enough and fast enough
in granting government to the Fill
pinOs; the only possible danger has been
lest we should 20 faster and farther
than was in the interest of the FilipinOs
themselves. Each Filipino ut the pres
ent da! is guaranteed his life, his lib
crty, and the chance to pursue happi-
ness as he wishes, so long as he does
not harm his fellows, In a way which
the islands have never known before
during all their recorded history. There
are hands OF ladrOnes. of brigands, still
in existence. Now and then they may
show sporadic increase. This will be
due occasionally to dlsaffectiOn with
some of the things that our govern
ment does which are best But the isl
ands have never been as orderly, as
peaceful, OF as prosperous as now: and
in no other Oriental country, whether
ruled by Asiatlcs or Europeans, is
thee anything approaching to the
amOnnt of individual liberty and of
self government which our rule has
brought to the FilipinoS. The nation
owes Il great debt TO the people through
whom this splendid work for cirilila.
ton has been achieved, and therefore
on behalf of the nation | have come
here tonight to thank in your presence
your fellow -tOwnslnnn. because he has
helped us materially TO add Il new page
to tie honor roll of American history.
General Wright. | greet you, | thank
you, and l wish YOU we'll.