The state herald., 1902-09-26
PRESIDENTS POLICY
AS TO PHILIPPINES AND CUBA
Large Measure Of Self Government for
the Filipinos.-Reclprocity with
cuba.-Address to Spanish War
Veterans In Detroit

Veterans IN GckTott.
Detroit, Sept. 23.-Presidcnt Roose-
velt's two-day visit to Detroit came TO
an end yesterday at the conclusion of
n banquet rendered him in Light Guard
armOry by the Spanish war veterans,
the opening of whose third annual re-
union he attended this morning. 1t
was brilliant event. Nearly 500 men
sat at the tables on the floor of the big
armory, and the galleries were crowd
ed to their utmost capacity by bril-
liantly gowned women and their es
corts. The armory was decorated in
green and white maple branches, and
electric lights were everywhere.
When the President arose to begin
his address, which was the first of the
evening, he received an ovation. The
men on the floor stood up and cheered
again and again, while the clapping Of
hands from the gallery was like the
crackle of musketry. The President,
after speaking of Mlchigan's important
part In the Spanish-American war,
said.
THE war itself was an easy one.
The tasks left behind us. though glor-
ious, have been hard. You. the men of
the Spanish war, you and your com
rades In arms who fought in Cuba and
Porto Rico and In the Philippines, won
renown for the country, added to its
moral grandeur and TO Its material
prosperity, but you also left duties TO
be done by those who came after you.
"ln Porto Rico the duty has been
merely administrative and 1t has been
so well done that very little need be
said about it. In the Philippines the
problem was one Of extreme difficulty.
But after three years of bitter fighting
peace has been won by the yalor of our
soldiers and civil government has been
introduced, so that the islanders have
now greater opportunities for life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness than
ever they have enjoyed before during
their recorded history.
Last week | ordered n taking of the
census of the islands and two years
hence, according to the law of Con
gress, the first steps will be taken In
the direction of giving the Philippine
people n legislative assembly. No other
Oriental country in the possession of
an allen powcr-lndeed, no Oriental
country at all, save only Japan--has
been given any such measure OF self
government and personal freedom ms
we have already given to the Filiplnos.
''One of the most important recent
measures has been the providing of a
cable for the Philippines, this being
necessary both from u commercial aud
from military standpoint.
"With Cuba the matter Is different.
We pledged ourselves solcmnly at the
outbreak of the war with Spain to give
TO Cuba independence. The world at
large sneercd at the pledge and even
some Of our own people scoffed at the
thought that we intended TO keep II.
But we have kept II In good faith
and with keen regard for the welfare
OF the Cubans. We did not turn Cuba
loose to sink into welier OF anarchy.
We first administered the affairs Of the
island until order had been brought
out of chaos, until the cities has been
cleaned, the courts purified. an educa-
tional system started and just and ef.
ilcicnt government introduced. Then
we turned the new republic over TO
the hands of those whom It's people had
elected as Its servants and badc II god
speed In its journey OF independence.
But neither our duty to, nor our
interest In the island have come TO an
end with the establishment OF It's indie
pendence. Cuba's immediate proNim.
ity TO the United States rendered Its
well being of such Interest TO us that
we were forced TO interfere In Its In.
tcrest by force of arms. For the same
reason Its future cannot but be mat.
ter of grave concern Ia us.
I'VE do not desire Cuba TO stand 10
ward any other nation In the same re
lntions OF intimate friendship and al
lance that we desire to see II adop,
toward MS. II must therefore be In n
certain sense n part OF our interna.
tional political system. and II accepted
this position when II accepted the Plati
amendment. But II is out OF the ques
tion for us TO expect that II Will assume
such position toward us In regard 10
international politics without at the
same time sharing somewhat In the
benefits OF our economic system.
at was for this reason that President
Mckinley urged. aud that | have since
urged and shall continue TO urge the
need of establishing closer relations
with Cuba 10y reciprocity. We urge re-
clprocity because II Is for our Interests
10 control the Cuban markets, because
we are bound TO place Cnbans on n pc.
cullar standing economically when
they consent Ia our Interests, ms well
Ms their own, TO assume peculiar
status internationally. and because II
is fitting for n great and generous Re
public TO stretch out n helping hand 10.
ward her focbler sister Just starting 10
tread the path Of Independence. The
ease stands by Itself. and there can be
no other like II.
81 do not believe n particle Of harm
will cone 10 amy American Interest
from the adoption OF n ronsoinble
measure Of reciprocity with Cuba. |
am certain that the adoption OF such
measure viii be In the Interests OF our
people ms whole. Above all, while
fully acknowledging the hlgh-mlndrd
n,rs and moral sincerity of those OF my
associates with whom ON this point
differ. yet feel most strongly that by
every consideration Of n generous nnd
farslghtcd public policy we are bound
10 prove TO Cuba our friendship with
her In her struggle for the material
well being which must undcrlic healthy
national development"
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