Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-02

sideratiOn, continuing IN sne msantiLhe ~
prepare for laying the cable. They have;
however al length acceded to them, and
an all American line between 4llr facilS
coast and the Chinese empire by way OF
Honolulu and the Philipplne isianas ~
n few months TO be ready fer business.
Among the conditions Is one reserVlns
the power OF the congress TO modify or re-
peal any or all OF them a copy OF .he
conditions is herewith transmitted.
OF Porto Rico II Is only necessary 70 say
that the prosperity of the Island ana txe
wisdom with which IL has been governed
have been such as TO make II serve as an
example of all that Is best In insuiar ao-
on July last on the one hundred and
twenty-sixth anniversary OF the deciara-
ton Of our independence, peace ana am
nesty were promulgated in the Pnlilpplhe
Islands. Some trouble has since from
time to time threatened with the Moham-
medan Moros, but with the late insurrec-
tionary FilIpinos the war has entirely
ceased. Civil government has now Deen
introduced. Not only does each Filipino
enjoy such rights to life liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness as he has never be-
fore known during the recorded history OF
the islands. but the people, taken as a
whole. now enjoy me, 'Dfe OF ser X gov w.
other orientals by any j1eign power and
greater than that enjoyed by any other
orientals under their own governments
save the japanese alone we nave NOT
gone too far I'm granting these rights OF
liberty and self government. but we have
certainly gone 10 the limit that in the IN
terests of the Philippine people themselves
II was wise or just TO go. To hurry mat
tiers, to go faster than we are now going.
would entail calamity on the people OF
the Islands. No policy ever entered into
by the American people has indicated II
self In more signal manner than lne pon-
cy of holding the Philippines: The tri-
umph OF our arms, above all the triumph
OF our laws and principles. has come soon
er than we had any right TO expect. 100
much praise cannot be given to the army
for what II has done In the Philippines,
tive standpoint, In preparing the way TOT
civil government, and similar credit pc
longs 10 the civil authorities for the way
in which they have planted the seeds or
self government in the ground thus made
ready for them. The courage. the I'M
hinching endurance, the high soldlerly EN-
cheney and the general kind hearted,n ness
strikingly manifested. There now remain
only some 1900 troops In the islands. All
told. over 10000 have been sent there. VI
course there have been individual! In
stances OF wrongdoing among them They
warred under fearful difficulties OF ell
mate and surroundings, and under the
strain of the terrible provocationS winch
they continually received from tneir Ioes
occasional instances of cruel retaliation
occurred. Every effort has been made TO
prevent such cruelties. and finally these
efforts have been completely successful.
Every effort has also been made 10 de-
tect and punish the wrongdoers. After
making all allowance for these mlsdeeds
1t remains true that few indeed nave been
the instances In which war has been
waged by civilized power against semi
civilized or barbarous forces where there
has been so little wrongdoing by the vic
tors as in the Philippine Islands. On the
other hand, the amount Of difficult impor-
tant and beneficent work which mas been
done Is well nigh incalculabie.
Taking the work Of the army and the
civil authorities together. II may be que5-
toned whether anywhere else In modern
times the world has seen better exam
pie OF real constructive stateSmansnip
than our people have given IN me fhilip-
pine Islands. High praise should also be
given those Filipinos - in the aggregate
very numerous-who have accepted the
new conditions and Joined with our repre-
sentatives To work with hearty good VIII
for the welfare OF the Islands.
The army has been reduced to the mini
mum allowed by law. IL is very small Tor
the size OF the nation and most certainly
should be kept at the highest point or EN-.
cheney. The senior officers are given scant
chance under ordinary conditions to ex-
ercise commands commensurate with their
rank under circumstances which would ny
them TO do their duty In time OF actual
war A system OF maneuvering our army
I'm bodies OF some little size has been be-
gun and should be steadily continued.
Without such mancuvcrs IL Is folly 10 ex-
pect that In the event Of hostillties with
any serious foe even a small army corps
Gould be handled to advantage. Both our
officers and enlisted men are such that
we can take hearty pride In them. No
better material can be found. But the'
must be thoroughly trained. both as indi-
viduals and I'm the mass. The marksman-
ship OF the men must receive special at
tcntion. In the circumstances OF modern
warfare the man must act far more on
ever before. and the high Individual eff
cheney OF the unit Is OF the utmost I'M
portance Formerly this unit was the
regiment. IL Is now not the regiment, not
wen the troop or company; II Is the indi-
tidual soldier. Every effort must be made
10 develop every workmanlike and sol
flerly quality in both the officer and the
enlisted man.
| urgently call your attention to the
ieed OF passing a bill providing Tor gem
sral stan and for the reorganization OF
the supply departments on the lines OF the
bill proposed by the secretary OF war last
year When the young officers enter the
army from West Point. they probably
stand above their compeers In any other
military service. Every effort should be
made by training by reward OF merit by
scrutiny into their careers and capacity,
to keep them Of the same high relative
excellence throughout their careers
The measure providing for the reorgan-
.zation Of the militia system and for Sc
curing the highest efficiency In the nation
nj guard. which has already passed the
house. should receive prompt attention
and action. 1t Is OF great Importance that
the relation OF the national guard to the
militia and volunteer forces OF tho United
States should be defined and that In place
of our present obsolete laws practical
and efficient system should be adopted.
Provision should be made 10 enable the
secretary of war to keep cavalry and ar
tillery horses worn out in long perform
ance of duty. Such horses fetch but
trihe when sold, and rather than turn
them on. to the misery awaiting them
when thus disposed OF II would be better
to employ them at light work around the
posts and when necessary to put them
painlessly to death.
For the first time In our history naval
maneuvers on large scale are being he.u
under the immediate command OF the ad-
miral of the navy. Constantly iAcreasint
attention is being paid to the gunnery
the navy, but 1t Is yet far from what l.
should be- | earnestly urge that the In
crease asked for by the secretary OF u
navy in the appropriation for improvi1
the craftsmanship be granted. In batt.s
the only shots that count are the slOc
that hit 1t is necessary to provide amp.'
funds for practice with the great guns 50
time of peace. These funds must prov.
not only for the purchase o. projecules
but for allowances for prizes TO cncouI
age the gun crews, and especially the gun
pointers. and for perfecting an Intelligent
system under which alone it is possible t.
get good practice.
There should be no halt in the work of
Building up the navy. providing every
ar additional fighting craft. We are O
very rich country. vast in extent OF terri
tory and great In population, n country.
moreover, which has an army diminutive
indeed when compared with that of any
other first class power. We have dellbcr-
ately made our own certain foreign poll
cles which demand the possession of a
first class navy. The isthman canal will
greatly increase the efficiency Of our navy
II the navy Is OF sufficient size, but II we
have an inadequate navy then the build
ing OF the canal would be merely giving a
hostage to any power OF superior strength.
The Monroe doctSine should be treated as
the cardinal feature OF American foreign
policy. but II would be worse than idle
to assert II unless we intended 10 back II
up, and II can be backed up only by n
thoroughly good navy. A good navy is
not provocative Of war. II Is the suresi
OF peace
Each individual unit Of our navy should