Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-12-06
PEACE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Rights of Liberty aud Government
Reach Limit of Advisabi1ity.

Rights of Liberty aud Government
Reach Limit of ACCESSIBILITY.
On July last, on the 10th anniversary
of the Declaration of Independence; peace
Philippine Islands. Some trouble has since
from time to time threatened with the
Mohammedan Moros, but with the late. IN
surrectionary Filpinos the war has entirely
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 before
known during the recorded history of the
islands, but the people taken as Whole
now enjoy a measure of self-goyernment
greater than that granted to any other
than that enjoyed by any other Orlentais
under their own governments, save the
Japanese alone. We have not gone TOO Iar
in granting these rights of liberty and self
government; but we have certainly gone 10
the limit that in the interests of the Phlllp.
pine people themselves it was wise or just
to 60 TO hurry matters TO 20 nastef 1na ON
the~people of the islands. No policy ever
entered into by the American people has
indicated itself in more signal manner
than the policy of holding the Philippines.
The triumph of our arms, above all the
triumph of our laws and the principles, mas
come sooner than we had any right to ex-
pect. Too much praise cannot be given TO
the army for what 1T has done in the Phll1p-
pines both in warfare and from an al
minstrative standpoint in preparing the
"
belongs 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 unf1inch-
ing endurance, the high soldierly efficiency,
and the general kind-heartedness and hui
manity of our troops have been strlklng1y
$4,000 troops in the islands. All told, over
100000 have been sent there.
Constructive Statesmanship.
Taking the work Of the army and the
civil authorities together, it may be cues
toned whether anywhere else in modern
times the world has a better example
of real constructive craftsmanship than our
people have given in the Philippine Islands.
High praise should also be given those
Filipinos, in the aggregate very numerous,
who have accepted the new conditions and
Joined with our representatives to work
with hearty good will for the welfare of
the islands.
The army has been reduced to the mini
mum allowed by law. 1t is very small for
the size of the nation. and most certainly
should be kept at the highest point of eff
fciency. The senior officers are given scant
chance under ordinary conditions to exer-,
else commands commensurate with their
rank, under circumstances which would fit
them to do their duty In time Of actual
war system of maneuvering our army
in bodies of some little size has been be-
gun and should be steadily continued.
The measures providing for the reor-
ganization of the militia system and for
securing the highest efficiency in the ma
tional guard, which has already passed the
House, should receive prompt attention and
action.
Naval Maneuvers and Their Object.
For the first time in our history naval
maneuVers on large scale are being held
under the immediate command of the adj
miral of the navy. Constantly increasing
attention is being paid to the gunnery Of
the navy, but it is yet far from what it
should be. l earnestly urge that TIVE in
crease asked for by the Secretary of the
Navy in the appropriation for improving
the craftsmanship be granted.
There should be no halt in the work of
building up the navy, providing every year
additional fighting craft We are very
rich country, vast in extent of territory
and great in population; country, more
over, which has an army diminutive indeed
when compared with that Of any other first
class power We have deliberately made our
own certain foreign policies which demand
the possession Of a first-class navy. The
lsthmian Canal will greatly increase the eff
hc1ency of our navy If the navy is of suf-
hc1ent size; but if we have an inadequate
navy, then the building Of the canal would
be merely giving a hostage to any power
or superior strength. The Monroe Doctrine
should be treated as the cardinal feature
or American foreign policy; but it would be
worse than idle to assert it unless we in
tended to back 1t up, and it can be backed
up only by thoroughly good navy.
POSTAL REVENUES INCREASE