Arizona republican., 1902-01-01
CIVILIZATION AND EXPANSION.

The bureau OF statistics OF the treas
ury department might not be expected
to be a source of literature that could
be called highly interesting, however
valuable it's compilations might be to
the analyst of figures relating to COM
merce and finance. But the last month
ly summary published by this bureau
includes an exhaustive treatment of
the subject of Colonial Administra-.
ton" that will attract the attention AT
once of all those who have to deal di-
rectly with the new responsibilities OF
the United States in our insular pos
sessions. This is an ambitious attempt
to review the history of all the colo
MES of the great powers, which have
undertaken that form of political en-
terprises. during the entire period OF
the nineteenth century The reason for
such a collation. of facts is to be found,
of course, in their value for guidance
in our own national expansion. 1t Is a
notable example of looking into the
past for lessons as to the future, and
therein lies it's interest to the general
reader as we'll as to the special stu
dent.
Such n subject must comprehend a
great number of topics. Out of these,
one that may appeal most strongly TO
those interested in the humanitarian
aspect of the development of what u
nice distinction would term territorial
possessions rather than colonies. Is the
development of the material, mental
and moral condition of the natives. 1t
is in the solution of that problem where
lies the more sentimental part of our
national responsibility toward our
n rel, Inc Ia ~, ha Do aa oil
toward Porto Rico and. during present
Intervention as we'll as probably in the
future, toward Cuba. What steps have
we taken and what further steps must
be taken toward the introduction and
extension of modern civilization and
enlightenment to the peoples of these
islands?
Experience of other nations indicates
some obvious replies. Public works
present the first method of improve-
ment. They afford labor and discipline
for the unemployed. They inculcate in
dustry and discipline among the idle,
whether half savage or merely lazy and
ignorant. At the same time, they are
direct elements in developing material
resources. There must be roads The
Spaniards built one fine highway in
Porto Rico. We are making others,
employing native labor and opening the
agricultural interior to coast harbors.
That is an obvious work to be carried
forward in the Philippines. Ready
communication will mean the trans
mission of intelligence, the increase OF
agricultural industry and the decrease
of .'ladrones." Almost the same COM
ment applies to the building Of rail-
ways. Accompanying these, and for
similar purposes. must be river and
h. ~I@xx- to-. 49,
facilities for commerce will bring with
them the telegraph and the telephone
and a postal service.
These physical improvements will, II
we do our duty. bring to the natives
other agents of civilization. There
must be, for the transaction of bust
ness, currency of stable value and in
Interchangeable in the markets of the
world. as we'll as in the islands. This
must lead to the creation of a banking
system and the fixing of silver COIN
age bearing a definite relation to the
gold standard. There must be steam
ship lines to connect territorial pos
sessions beyond the sea with the CONT
nent, to carry the interchange OF prod
ucts that shall be mutually profitable
That we are promised shall be an early
sequence in the Pacific of the enact
ment of the Frye shipping bill. More
over, the laws that limit to American
ships coast-wise commerce will not be
applied to the carrying trade with the
Philippines. as 1t does not apply to the
Hawaiian islands.
Accompanying all these agencies of
industry will be the following of civili-
Zation through schools, colleges, news
papers. libraries and churches. AS to
this, the United States is in need of no
lessons, from the experience of other
governments with their colonies.
Everybody has read of what we are
doing for public education in Porto
Rico. and of how almost the entire
population, young and old, has well
coined the American school teacher
Everybody is familiar with the SPLEEN
did organization of public schools that
Will be one of the legacies of our mill
tary administration of Cuba to the
Independent government of that island.
And surely everybody has read of the
cargoes of teachers that our govern
ment has been sending across the Pa
cific, who will acquaint the tribes of
Luzon, Mindanao, Samar and the other
islands of hemp and spice with the