Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-04-16

the Philippines, it became necessary
to nominate Vice Governor to take
his place-one of the most importan,
places in our government at this
time. nominated as Vice Cover.
nor an ex-Confederate, Gen. Luke
Wright, of Tennessee. 1t is, there.
fore, an ex-Confederate who nov
stands as the exponent of this gov
ernment and this people in that
] great group of islands in the East
ern seas over which the American
| flag floats. Gen. Wright has taken a
leading part in the work of steadily
bringing order and peace ont of the
chaos in which we found the islands.
He is now taking leading part, not
merely in upholdipg the honor of
the flag, by making it respected, as
the symbol of our power, but still
more in upholding its honor by un-
wearied labor for the establishment
of orderly liberty, of law.creating,
law-abiding civil government under
its folds.
"The progress which has been made
under Gen. Wright and those like
him has been indeed marvellous. In
fact, letter of the Generals the
other day seemed to show that he
considered there was far more war
fare about the Philippines in this
country than there was warfare in
the Philippines themselves. 1t is
an added proof of the completeness
of the reunion of our country that
one of the fol iamost men who have
been instrumental in driving forward
the great work for civilization and
humanity in the Philippines has
been man who in the civil war
fought with distinction in a uniform
of Confederate gray.
eff ever the need comes in the
future, the past has made abund-
antly evident the fact that from this
time on Northerner and Southerner
will in war know only the generous
desire to strive how each can do the
more effective service for the flag of
our common country. The same
thing is true in the endless work of
peace, the never-ending work of
building and keeping the marvellous
fabric of our industrial prosperity.
The up-building of any part of our
country is benefit to the whole, and
every such effort as this to stimulate
the resource and industry of a par
ticular section is entitled to the
heartiest support from every quarter
of the Union. Thoroughly good
national work can be done only if
each of us works hard for himself
and at the same time keeps constantly
in mind that he must work in con-
junction with others.
"You have made particular effort
in your exhibition to get into touch
with the West Indies. This is wise.
The events of the last four years
have shown us that the West Indies
and the isthmus in the future occupy
far larger place in our national
policy than in the past. This is
proved by the negotiations for the
purchase of the Danish islands, the
acquisition of Porto Rico, the prepa-
ration for building an isthmian canal,
and finally the changed relations
which these years have produced
between us and Cuba. AS a nation
we have an especial right to take
honest pride in what we have done
for Cuba. Our critics abroad and
at home have insisted that we never
intended to leave the island. But
on the Goth of next month Cuba
becomes a free republic, and we turn
over to the islanders the control of
their own government. 1t would be
very difficult to find parallel in the
conduct of any other great State
that has occupied such a position as
ours. We have kept our word and
done our duty just as an honest
individual in private life keeps his
word and does his duty.
"Be it remembered, however, that
after over three years. occupation OF
the island, we turn it over to the
Cubans in better condition than il
ever has been in the centuries OF
Spanish rule. This has direct
bearing upon our own welfare
Cuba is SO near to Us that we can
never be Indifferent to misgovern.
ment and disaster within it's limits
The mere fact that our administra-
tion in the islands has minimized the
danger from the dreadful scourge oi
yellow fever alike to Cuba and to
ourselves, is sufficient to emphasize
the community of interest between
US. But there are other interests
| which bind ua tooether Guba,e