The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-23
COMPLEX PROBLEMS.

NOW, at the outset of the twentieth CEN
tury are facing difficult and complex
problems-problems social and economic,
which Will tax the best energies of all of
US to solve right, and which we can only
solve at all if approach them IN a spirit
not merely of common sense, but of gener-
Gus desire to act each for all and all for
each; and while there occasions when,
through legislation and administrative ac-
ton, the government which represents the
people, can do special service to one set of
our citizens. Yet, l think you will agree
with me that in the long run the best way
in which to serve any one of our citizens is
to serve all alike we'll loud applausel; to
try to act in a spirit of fairness and justice
TO all; TO give each man his rights; TO safe
guard each man in his rights and so far as
in me lies, while 1 hold my present posi-
ton, L will be true TO that conception of
my duty. IApplause1 And so L have fin
ished what L have to say that was sug-
gested by the very touching and pleasing in
cident of the afternoons ride.
Now, / want to speak to you tonight,
not on our international problems as a
nation, but some of the external prob
lens which we have had to face during
the last four years. The international
ing our household straight is our first duty,
but we have other duties Just exactly as
each man who is worth his salt must first
of all be a good husband and good father,
good breadwinner, good man of busi-
ness so to deal with his own home re-
latons, and yet must in addition to that
be good citizen for the State at large, so
nation must first take care to do well
its duties within it's own borders, but must
not make of that fact an excuse for fail
ing to do those of its duties the perform
ance OF which lie within It's borders"
DUTIES WELL PERFORMED.
President Roosevelt then continued as
follows:
forced the American Republic to take a
larger position in the world than ever be-
fore, and, therefore, more than ever before
TO concern herself with questions of policy
which affect her interests beyond her own
borders. AS a people we now have duties
and opportunities in the tropic seas and
lands south Of us, as well as in those Of the
tarthest East. And much depends upon the
way in which we meet these duties, the
way in which we take advantage of these
opportunities.
younger Adams, we as a people have al
ways looked with interest on the West
Indies and the isthmus connecting the two
Americas, feeling that anything happening
in those regions must be of concern TO our
welfare. There is now ampler reason then
ever before for this feeling. The outcome of
the Spanish war put us in possession of
Porto Rico and brought us into peculiar
touch with Cuba; while the successful ne
gotiation of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty at
last cleared the way for the construction
Porto Rico, it is a pleasure to say may
now serve as example of the best meth
ods of administering our insular posses
sions. So excellent have been the effects
of our administration and legislation con-
cerning this island that their very excel
1ence has resulted in their being almost for
gotten by those at home. There is hardly
a ripple of failure on the stream Of our
success; and so, as is apt to be our way,
we do not think of ii all. Yet it is well
worth while to think of it, and it is pleas
TO lear nv q X4yhi ioI, faa0
us what to follow instead of what TO avoid
First and foremost in Porto Rico, we have
consistently striven to get the very best
men to administer the affairs Of the island
1t is desirable throughout our public serv-
ice to secure high standard of efficiency
and integrity. But after ALL. here at home
we always have in our own hands the
remedy for any failure to provide such
qualities. In a far-on island things are diff
ferent. There wrong-dOing Is more easy
and those who suffer from it more helpless
way Of that public opinion to which public
men are sensitive. In consequence. the ad-
ministration of these islands is. beyond all
other kinds OF administration in our coun-
try, the one in which the highest standard
must be demanded.
REASON FOR PRIDE.
"In making appointments to the insular
service it's necessary to disregard any
question of mere party expediency and tc
| look at the matter solely from the stand
| point Of the honor of our own nation and
| of the welfare of the island itself This
| has been the standpoint adhered to in Sc
| lecting the men who represent our govern
| ment in Porto Rico-Governor, treasurer
1 attorney general, judges, superintendent.
| of education-every one. In consequence
/ all Americans should feel a real pride IL
/ the way in which their compatriots who ar,
responsible for the government Of the islanC
! have administered ii. Moreover in shap
] ing the government of the island we haV,
acted with good sense as well as with gooC
| faith. We have not been frightened VI
misled into giving the people of the islant
\ form of government unsuitable 10 them
and while providing that they should gov
| ern themselves so far as possible we hav,
not hesitated in their own interest to keel
the power of shaping their destiny
! In Cuba the problem was larger, NOR
complicated and more difficult. Here
| again, we kept our promise absolutely
! After having delivered the island from IL
! oppressors, we refused to turn il loose off
| hand with the certainty that it would sinl
/ into chaos and saVagery. For over thre
years we administered ii on a plane highe
| than 1t had ever reached during the fou
! centuries since the Spaniard first lande,
/ upon its shore. We brought moral ant
! physical cleanliness into the government
| We stamped out yellow fever-in itself al
| inestimable service, both TO the Cuban peo
/ pie and TO the people Of our own Southern
| States. We established a school system
| We made life and property secure, so tha
| industry could again begin to thrive. Then
/ when we had laid deep and broad the foun
/ datiOns uopn which civil liberty and ma
/ tional independence must rest we turne'
the island over to the hands OF those whom
the people had chosen as founders Of tn
new republic.
1T is a republic with which our owl
/ great republic must ever be closely knit b.
the ties of common interests and common
aspirations. Cuba must always be pecu
liarly related TO us In international politics
She must in interna tional affairs be TO
degree a part Of political system. i
return, she must have peculiar relation
with economically. She must be, in
/ sense. part OF our economic system. w
expect her TO accept a political attitude to
ward US which think wisest both for he
and us. In return, We must be prepared [
put her in an economic position regard
our tariff system which will give her som
/ measure Of the prosperity which eu
joy. We cannot, in my judgment, avoid TAX
ing this attitude IL we are to persever
in the course which have outlined 70
ourselves as a nation during the past fOu
years: and therefore, / believe that IL
only a matter of time-and. / trust. only
matter OF a very short time-before W
enter into reciprocal trade relations wit
Cuba.
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL.
THE isthmian canal represents what
probably TO be the greatest engineerin
feat-the greatest feat OF the kind-of IN
twentieth century. Before We start upo
the construction of the canal certain que.