The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-21
New Responsibilities


The Spanish war brought us new re-
sponsibilities. The Republican party mas
assumed these responsibilities and Is en-
deavoring to discharge the duties they
entail but, | regret to say, without as
sistance from the Democrats.
The Democrats, In their PLATFORM TWO
years ago, accused us of not doing our
duty towards cuba. They said we We're
not keeping faith with the Cubans. They
will not allow YOU to read from lha.
platform now No Democratic platform
ever did service for two years They
never had u paramount question that
lived more than four years. forelSn
diplomats in Washington raised their eye
brows or shrugged their shoulders III n
way that said as much as Maybe you
will when they would hear that we IN
tended to retire from cuba. when we mad
rehahilitated the island. You could hard
~ blame them. Their countries probh-
bly might hesitate to do 1t. Since | came
into my present position, | have had the
honor of sending the order to Il war
vessel to take the American flag from
cuba. That vessel. bearing away Amer'-
can sovereignty, sailed out of the harbor
of Havana and with her big guns salut"d
the flag of cuba Ihrc flying from the
staff of Moro castle. You may search
the history OF the world. and you VIII
not find the mate for that ACTON.
(Cheersl
The administration thinks "" owe still
another duty to cuba We left the iS'and
under the terms of the Plati amendment
which required that the cubnns insert III
their constitution provisions restricting
their debt, preventing them from barter
ing away the independence we secured
for them and giving us Il naval station
We promised in return that we WoNlu
give them concessions for marketing their
products: that is, President Mckinley
agreed to use his best endearOrS with
congress to secure reciprocity. and on the
strength of lllis the Cubans accepted the
Platt amendment. President Roosevelt
said on assuming the executive chair that
he would strive to carry out the plans
and live up to the policies of his predeces-
sor. He has striven tn secure reciprocity
for the Cuban I thinl; the Republican
party is with him in this 1t does not
seem quite honorable to deny the Gu
bans this request under the circlim-
stances.
We have not accomplished as much in
the Philippines as we have in Cuba but
We have done wonders there considering
the circumstances. We have given them
the beginning of Se1-gOvernment. AS Il
first step towards this the president di-
rectcd that Il census be taken when 'gcn-
cral and complete peace was secured. |
heSitated to believe that such Il census
would be taken. But my fears were not
well grounded. Peace has been restored
in all the Christianizcd portions of the
country. There are now 10000 soldiers
there. all told. There are some belliger-
ents still on d few of the islands. hut
the commissioners TESTIFY peace generally
prevails We leave the question of the
final Independence Of tho F'ilpinOs tn n
future generation that alone can deal
with it. We are giving them partial indie
pendcNco and we arc educating them for
complete independence. Whether the
constitution does or does not follow tn"
flag. the public school does. We have
given them the American public school
The guarantee of the pcrpctuity of all the
blessings that the flag carries with it,.
1t was the distinction aud boast of Great
Britain that the sun never set on hrr
possessions. We can now say the same.
Rut We prefer To say that the sun shines
always on an American school house.