The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-12-22
PRESIDENT RoosEvELTs MESSAGE.
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fearless, and adheres strictly to his
views expressed in many speeches and
public documents that such crimes
should never be extenuated or pallated.
Other Offences" he says. violate one
law. while corruption strikes at the
foundation of all law" An official, who
accepts n bride, no matter how dex-
terously covered up, he declares to be
worse than the thief, for the thief
robs the individual, while the corrupt
official plumbers an entire city or state.
He is as wicked as the murderer, for
the murderer may only take one life
against the law. while the corrupt Off.
cial and the man who corrupts the off,
cial alike aim at the assassination OF
the commonwealth itself. Government
of the people, by the people, for the
people, will perish from the earth II
bribery is tolerated"
These are bold and pregnant words
that will command the assent of Amer
lean citizens, without distinction OF
party. The amicabie settlement of the
boundary controversy in Alaska, In
which Lord Alverstone bore so honor
able a part, Is hailed by President
Roosevelt, especially in connection with
the submission of claims against Vene-
zuela to the. Permanent Court of Arbi-
tration at the Hague, as indicating the
fact that the great powers, though
maintaining large and expensive mill
tary and naval establishments, are be-
coming more and more inclined to the
peaceful solution of the many serious
questions that grow out of the in
tricaces of modern civilization. He
also firmly supports fhe extension of
trade and commerce by all lawful and
honorable methods, and decidedly rec
ommends practical legislation for the
benefit of American shipping and the
resumption of our position in the car
rying business of the world. He favors
internal improvements, limited to ma
tiona wants, and in that behalf the
reclamation of the deserts and arid
wastes of the West. The extension of
the general staff system, adopted in
the army, to the American navy, and
the complete adoption of merit as the
test for promotion. and the broaden
ing and deepening of the civil service
plan, are also incisively urged, and thus
the logical symmetry and harmonious
working of American institutions in all
official departments are kept steadily in
view.
Upon the situation in the Philippines,
President Roosevelt is sanguine. He
sees great progress, but also necessity
for revision of the tariff and other leg
islative improvements, with the object
of benefiting business and bringing the
native population into closer affiliation
with American conditions. In dealing
with the territories, he does not neglect
Hawaii, but recommends that the Gov
ernor, without legislative consent,
move officials appointed by himself.
that existing lighthouses should be
taken over by the Federal authorities
and the Territory reimbursed for its
expenditure in that direction, and that
new lighthouses should be constructed.
The President does not allude to
diplomatic questions pending in Asia
and elsewhere, nor to the vociferous de-
mands for statehood by mainland
men, who are eager for the direct con-
troll of Hawaii by Congress, are per-
haps surprised to find that our County
Government Act is not even mentioned
On the whole, though the message is
merely the performance of a public
duty, that duty has been admirably full
filled. 1t is refreshing and educational
to read paper that is without super
tiuities or irrelevances, that is simple,
honest and meaty in every subdivision,
and that has been written from an
American standpoint, with a patriotic
and undertaking adherence to law and
to honor, and without any infusion OF
personal or political motive. Such an
illustration of the strenuous life"
combines energy and conservatism and
I,AII , ~,
equipoise.
AcRIOkN C0MINH