The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-12-05

is an event of good omen from which
gree. consequences for the welfare of all
mankind may flow. 1t is far better. where
possible, TO invoke Sucn a permanent ur
bunal than to create special arbitrator
Tor a gwen purpose.
1t is a matter of sincere congratulation
to our country that the United States and
Mexico should have been the first to use
the good offices of Ihe Hague court, This
a done last summer with most salts
factory results in the case of a claim at
issue between us and our sister republic.
1t Is earnestly to be hoped that this first
case VIII serve as a precedent for others.
in which not only the United States but
foreign nations may take advantage of
the machinery already in existence at The
Hague.
1 to the favorable considera-
ton of the congress the Hawaiian fire
claims, which Were the subject of careful
investigation during the last session
Panama Canal and Pacific Gable.
The congress has wisely provided that
we shall build at once an isthmian canal,
if possible at Panama. The attorney gen.
eral reports that we can undoubtedly ac-
quire good title from the French Panama
Canal company. Negotiations are now
pending with Colombia to secure her as.
sent to our building the canal. This canal
will be one of the greatest engineering
feats of the twentieth century; a greater
engineering feat than has yet been ac-
complished during the history Of man
a continuing policy without regard to
change of administration; and it should
be begun under circumstances which will
make it a matter of pride for all admin
istrations to continue the policy.
The canal will be of great benefit to
America and of importance to all the
industrially and also as improving our
military position. 1t will be of advantage
to the countries OF tropical America; Ii
is earnestly to be hoped that all of these
countries will do as some of them have
already done with signal success, and Will
invite to their shores and I'M
-; 800 Ays, hN rnnnU-
nizing that stability and order are the
prerequisites of successful development.
No independent nation in America need
have the slightest fear of aggression
from the United States. 1t behooves each
one to maintain order within its own bor-
ders and to discharge it's just obligations
can rest assured that. be they strong or
weak, they have nothing to dread from
outside interference. More and more the
increasing interdependence and complex
ty of international political and economic
relations render it incumbent on all civ
ilized and orderly powers to insist on the
proper policing of the world.
During the fall of 1901 a communication
was addressed to the secretary of state,
asking whether permission would be
granted by the president to a corporation
to lay a cable from a point on the Call
fornia coast to the Philippine islands by
way of Hawaii. A statement of conditions
or terms upon which such corporation
would undertake to lay ana operate a ca
b. " c l4ntec~ed
Inasmuch as the congress was SnOrtly
to convene, and Pacltic-cable legislation
had been the subject of consideration by
the congress for several years, IL seemed
to me wise to defer action upon the appn-
cation until the congress haa nrsi d IA ops
portunity TO act. The congress adjourned
without taking any action, leavihs the
matter in exactly the same condition III
which it stood when the congress con
Vened.
Meanwhile il anoeArs that the Commer
cial Pacific Cab. company had promptly
proceeded NTH preparations Tor laying It's
cable. 1t also made application to the
preSident for access to and use of sound
ings taken by the United States steamer
Nero. for the purpose OF discovering d
practicable route for d tranSpaclic cable,
the company Urging that with access TO
these soundings it could complete its cable
much sooner than ii 1T were required 10
take soundingS upon it's own account.
Pending consideration of this subject, 1t
appeared important and desirable to at
tach certain conditions to the permission
to examine and use the SoundlnsS, IL IL
should be granted.
In consequence of :hi, solicitation of the
cable company. certain conditions Wer~
formulated. upon which the president was
willing to allow access to these soundings
and to consent to the landing and laying
of the cable, subject to any allegations
or additions thereto imposed by the cen
gress. This was deemed proper. espe-
cially as it was clear that a cable connec-
ton of some kind with China. a foreign
country. was "A part of the company's
plan. This course was. moreover. IN ac-
cordance with a line of prccedents. in
Guiding President Grants action in the
case of the first French cable. explained
to the congress in his annual message
of December, 1915. and the instance oc-
curing in 1879 OF the second French ca
BILE from Brest to st. Pierre. With a
branch at Cape Cod. :
Thesa conditions prescribed. among 9TH
er things. a maximum rate for commercial
construct a line from the Philippine ISL
ands to China. there being at present, as
is well KNOWN a British line 1'om Manila
sto Hongkong.
/ TIL representative of the cabs com
pany kept these conditions long under
consideration. continuing. in the mean
time, to prepare for laying the cable.
1hey have. however, at length acceded to
them. and an all-American line between
our Pacific coast and the Chinese empire.
by way of Honolulu and the Philippine isl
ands. is thus provided for. and is expect
ed within a few months to be ready tol
business.
Among the condition. 10 one reservins
the power of the congress to modify Of
repeal. any or all of them.s A copy Of the
conditions is herewith transmitted
OF Porto Rico it is only necessary tt
say that the prosperity of the island ant
the wisdom with WATCH it has beer
governed have been such as to make i
serve as an amp of ell that is best il
insular administration.
Peace and sAuIIpinrsS In sNiiipVineS
On July 4 last. on the one hundred ant
twenty-sixth anniversary of the declara
ton of lndependence, peace and amneSt.
We're promulgated in the Philippine isl
ands. Some trouble has since from tim
to time threatened with the Moham
medan Moros. but with the late insured
tionary Filipinos the war has entirel,
ceased.
Civi! government has now been intro
ducea. Not .,Jig does each Filipino Ell
JOY such rights ~ Ifs, ijoerty and tn
pursuit ~ ha ppiasss as - has never be
fore KNOWN alrin1 he recorded histor
Of the Is,auds. but The people taken as
whole how enjoy Il measure of self gov
ern1ncnt greater ile i that to any othe
Orientais by d., foreign power an
greater sAan that enjoyed by any othe
Oriental. under tdeif own governments
save The Japanese alone. We have nc
gore ,tuu far in granting these rights G
liber.? aid self government; but we hav
certainly gone to the limit that in tn
interest Of the Philippine people them
selves il Mas wise or just to go. To hun
ry matters, to go faster than We ar
now going. would entail calamity on til
pecple of the islands No policy ever Ell
tered into by the American people ha
vindicated its.lf in ,ncre signal name
thar the policy Of holding the Philil
pines The triumph Of our arms, aboV
all the triumph of our laws and prime
pies, mas come sooner than we had an
right to eXpect. To much praise cannt
be given 70 tht army for what 1T ha
done In the Philippines both in warfal