Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-10-08


No people can be satisfied In these re
spects who are not prosperous and no
people can be prosperous, no matter bow
fertile their soil or hoy si Industrious dust and
markets in which to sell what they produce.
When Cuba was separated from Spain sha
lost ali her Spanish markets. She could
fnrn from them only TO US, but when she
did so she found here such tartn rates OF
duty on her principal products Of sugar
and tobacco, as well as OH other articles,
as TO make 1t impossible 10 pay them Intl
sell in our country except as loss. She
has, therefore, been without markets
There is great loss and business depression
in consequence. We cannot afford 70 al
low such q condition TO continue, and we
will not One of the first acts, in my opin.
ion, at the next session OF Congress Will
be to establish reciprocal arrangements be-
tween the United States and Cuba, either
by the ratification OF a commercial treaty
or by the enactment OF suitable legislation.
But there is still another consideration.
We now have the friendship OF the Cnbans-
We should strive 10 keep IT.: II Will %, os
to construct an isthmian canal. IN that
great enterprise we expect to invest some.
nIuch create than this amount before we
are done with 1t. It IS to be an American
canal, constructed with American money,
and under American COZ control troll, Il VIII a %
it against all the world. By the acquisl.
it on the PaciAc side. With Porto Rico
and the Danish islands, which we are
about TO annex, under our flag, and with
Cuba friendly, and with our military reser-
vations and naval stations on that Island.
provided for by the Platt amendment. we
will fully control the Caribbean sea ana
thus protect all Its approaches from the
There is great policy wrapped up In
our extension and expansion In the West
the protection and advancement of Amer
lean interests at home and abroad. 1t iS
characteristic Of the Republican party, the
first business of which has ever been, and
ever will be, to take care Of the pros
perity and the interests Of the American
people.
shown itself pre-eminently capable. Past
experience has demonstrated that our Dem
ocratic opponents are equally incapable.
Their notions abo1t free trade, states
rights, and constitutional limitations make
It impossible for them TO have tustacom-
prehension of our national power, C'por-
tunity and duty.
This has been evidenced not only by the
manner In which they have dealt with our
domestic concerns, but also, and more espe,
cially, by the course they have pursued
with respect TO the acquisition of ter
ritory and the questions growing out Of the
Spanish-Ame war.
Acquisition of Territory.
For more than fifty years the annexa.
greatest Statement. 1t was finally about to
be consummated by President Harrison.
His work was all undone by President
successful. and these islands ara at last,
IN spi Of Democratic opposition, terri
tory of the United States
We did not want them for the sake of
gain or territorial expansion, or because OF
any unworthy ambition, but because they
constitute a strategic outpost that gives
time Of war, and security at all times for
the Pacific approach of the Panama canal.
They belong naturally as well as politically
recos l'zed that fact and their acquisition
was not In accordance with our desire
alone, but also in accordance with their
Almost the first declaration of the last
Democratic national platform was a de
nunclation of the act that had then re-
civil government for Porto Rico. Among
other harsh things they said; speaking OF
this legislation, that ut dishonored the
American people and condemned Porto
Rico to poverty and distress. Only two
years have passed, but this short period
fnstice Of this criticism and TO fuliy win.
dictate the work. The fact Is that the leg
islatlon they vigorously condemned was
the most magnanimous and generous of It's
kind that our government ever enacted
Nowhere within our jurisdiction are the
burdens Of taxation so light Nowhere
else under our flag can you find, compared
with prior conditions, such prosperity OF
such happiness. Nowhere else Is there more
devoted loyalty to our sovereignty. No
done for the elevation oil humanity, and
nowhere else Is such work more appre-
ciated. What we have been doing and are
doing, and are proposing to do in Porto
Rico, cOmprehends not only good govern
ment, SO far as its form and its burdens
are concerned, but 1t comprehends also
pitfalls and saloons are but Illustrations
To-day, as a result OF the two short
years of such labor, where there were prac
tlcally none before we now have more than
90 600 Porto Rican children in attendance
upon the public schools--all studying with
greatest eagerness our language and our
institutions.
Progress in Porto Rico.
They are rapidly becoming qualified to
take charge of their own government In all
its departments, and the day is not far dis
tant when we can have the great pleasure
of entrusting Il entirely to them. No
where in our history can you find an in.
cident of this general nature that reflects
on our country greater honor. Every
Democrat should regret that he belongs to
party that has had no part In 1t.
The course of the Democratic party with
respect to the Philippines has been even
worse. There was room for honest differ
ence Of opinion as to the wisdom Of annex
Ing them, but after annexation was ac-
compllshed fact and we had, In connection
Herewith as conditions of the treaty of
peace with Spain, assumed obligations
that comp He'd US to establish government
and discharge other important duties that
required US to remain there and enforce
our authority there was but one course to
pursue and that was 70 stay there and
keep our promises.
1t was heavy task at best. Demo-
Gratis have vastly Increased its burdens.
Instead of treating 1t as a great American
work IN which were involved the honor
of our government and the good name OF
the American people, and standing Loyalty
by the administration, they made of it
political party question and discredited
and sought to disgrace all Our efforts and
all our representatives and agencies, both
civil and military.
Their leaders did not hesitate to en-.
courage our enemies by boldly declaring
their sympathy with them, and open = as
upholdng our cause. You will read their
speeches In vain for one word Of genuine
praise for { ur soldiers The splendid vic
tories won nave brought no cheer to their
with sullen gloom.
wrought. Dlstrust and hatred are yield
Ing to confidence and loyalty. No con.
greater triumph than Judge Taft returned
q few weeks ago from Manila. He was
overwhelmed with the greetings Of well
come that were showered upon him by the
that we are there not as oppressors but as
uberators not to deny liberty but to ex-
tend IT. not to enslave but TO emancipate!
As time passes they Will learn our purposes
better and appreciate them more.
Future of the Filipinos.
What we are to do with them ultimately
is a question that need not be answered
now. Nobody can answer It now, Only
time can tell what is to occur In that re-
spect; but / predict the time ls not far
distant when there will be in the Philip-
pines the same love for cur , nag and the
found today In Haw9ii and Porto Rico,
and that the practically unanimous sentl-