Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-02
ureg 5arsan,un anua, gMsdap lerrher 1902

tuntty to act The congress adjourned
without taking any action. leaving the
matter in exactly the same condition in
which it stood when the congress con-
vened.
Meanwhile it appears that the CONNER
cial Pacific Gable company had promptly
proceeded with preparations for laying Its
cable. 1t also made application to the
president for access to and use of sound
ings taken by the United States steamship
Nero for the purpose OF dlscoveelna
practicable route for transpac1iic cable,
the company urging that with access to
these soundings it could complete its cable
much sooner than If it were required to
Pending consideration of this subject IT
appeared important and desirable to at
tach certain conditions TO the permission
to examine and use the soundings II 1t
should be granted
In consequence of this solicitation OF the
cable company certain conditions were
formulated upon which the president was
willing to allow access to these. sound,
ings and to consent to the landing and
laying Of the cable subject to any altera-
tons or additions thereto imposed by the
congress. This was deemed proper espe-
cially as it was clear that cable con-
nection Of some kind with China, Tor
eign country was a part of the company
plan. This course was, moreover, In ac-
cordance with line of presidents, includ-
ing President Grants action in the case
OF the first French cable, explained to the
congress in shis annual message of De-
cember, 1875, and the instance occurring
In 1879 of the second French cable from
Brest to ST. Pierre, with a branch to
Cape Cod.
These conditions prescribed. among 9TH
er things q maximum rate Tor CONNER
should construct line from the Philip
pine Islands to China. there being at pres
emit as is well known, a British line from
Manila to Hongkong.
81 h. 10
ny kept these conditions long under con-
sideration. continuing in the meantime to
prepare for laying the cable They have,
however at length acceded to them, ana
an all American line between our Pacific
coast and the Chinese empire by way OF
Honolulu and the Philippine Islands is
thus provided for and is expected within
few months to be ready for business.
Among tho conditions is one reserving
the power of the congress to modify or re-
peal any or III of them a copy of the
Our Foreign Possessions.
or Porto REQ 1t is only necessary TO say
that the prosperity of the island and the
wisdom with which it has been governed
have been such as to make 1t serve as an
example of all that is best in insular adj
ministration.
On July last, on the one hundred and
twenty anniversary of the declara-
ton of our independence. peace and am
nesty were promulgated in the Philippine
Islands. Some trouble has since from
time to time threatened with the Moham-
medan Moros. but with the late fnsurrec-
ceased. Civil government has now been
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 or
the Islands, but the people. taken as a
whole. now enjoy a measure or self gov
eminent greater than that granted to any
other orientals by any foreign power and
greater than that enjoyed by any other
orientals under their own governments
save the Japanese alone. We have not
gone too far In granting these rights of
liberty and self government, but we, have
certainly gone to the limit that in the in
terests of the Philippine people themselves
it 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 It
self In more signal manner than the poll li
umph of our arms, above all the triumph
of our laws and principles, has come soon
er than we had any right to expect Too
much praise cannot be given to the army
for what 1t has done In the Philippines.
both in warfare and from an administra
tive standpoint. in preparing the way for
longs to the civil authorities for the way
in which they have planted the seeds of
self government in the ground thus made
ready for them The courage. the I'M
cheney and the general kind heartedness
and humanity Of our troops have been
strikingly manifested. There now remain
only some Is 900 troops in the islands. All
told. over 100, 600 have been sent there. OF
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 which
they continually received from their foes
occasional instances of cruel retaliation
fnrt I'M hoo, MAJ RI n
prevent such crueitieS, and finally these
efforts have been completely successful.
Every effort has also been made to Dc
tect and punish the wrongdoers. After
making all allowance for these misdeeds
1t remains true that few indeed have been
the instances in which war has been
waged by civilized power against semi
civilized or barbarous forces where there
has been so little wrongdotng by the vic
tors as In the Philippine Islands, On the
other hand the amount of difiicult impor-
tant and benefiCent work which has been
done Is we'll nigh incalculable.
Taking the work of the army and the
civil authorities together. 1t may be ques-
toned whether anywhere else in modern
pie of real constructive statesmanshtp
than our people have given in the Philip
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-
senta tives to work with hearty good will
for the welfare or the ISLANDS.
The army has been reduced to the mini
mum allowed by law. 1t is very small for
the size Of TIE nation and most certainly
should be kept at the highest point OF efii-
chance under ordinary conditions to ex-
ercise commands commensurate with their
ra nix under circumstances which would ut
them to do their duty in time of actual
in bodies of some little size has been be-
gun and should be steadily continued.
Without such maneuvers 1t is folly to ex-
pect that in the event OF hostillties WITT
any serious foe even a small army corps
could be handled to advantage. Both ou
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 IL the mass. The marksman-
ship of the men must receive special at
tention. In the circumstances of modern
warfare the man must act far more. on
his own individual responsibility than
ever before. and the high individual eff
cheney of the unit is of the utmost i'm
regiment 1t IS now not the regiment. not
even the troop or company; 1t is the fndl-
vidual soldier. Every effort must be made
to develop. every workmanilke ana SOL
derly qua,itv IN both the ofncer and the
enlisted
Army Reorganization.
I urgt "a to the
need Of pass..,s !. t.A providing for a gen.
eral staff and Tor the reofGaniZation 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-
ization of the militia system and for Sc
curing the highest efficiency in the nation
house should receive prompt attention
and action. 1t IS of great Importance that
the relation a the national guard to the