Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-09

with the great oriental empire on a
more satisfactory footing than they
have ever heretofore enjoyed. 1t pro-
vides not only for the ordinary rights
and privileges of diplomatic and con-
sular officers, but also for an important
extension of our commerce by increas-
ed facility of access to Chinese ports
and for the relief Of trade by the re-
moval Of some of the obstacles which
have embarrassed 1t in the past.
trust that the congress will con-
tinue to favor in all proper ways the
Louisiana Purchase exposition. This
exposition commentaries the Louisi-
ana purchase. which was the first great
step in the expansion which made US
continental nation. The expedition Of
Lewis and Clark across the continent
followed thereon and marked the be-
ginning Of the process Of exploration
and colonization which thrust our ma
tonal boundaries to the Pacific.
The acquisition of the Oregon coun-
try, including the present states Of
Oregon and Washington, was a fact Of
immense Importance in our history,
first giving us our place on the Pacific
seaboard and making ready the way
for our ascendency in the commerce
Of the greatest Of the oceans. The CEN
tennial of our establishment upon the
western coast by the expedition of
Lewis and Clark is to be celebrated at
Portland, Ore, by IN exposition in the
summer Of 1905, and this event should
receive recognition and support from
the national government.
Development of Alaska.
call your special attention to the
territory Of Alaska. The country Is
developing rapidly, and 1t has an as
sured future. The mineral wealth Is
great and has as yet hardly been tap
ped. The fisheries, II wisely handled
and kept under national control, will
be business us permanent as any 9TH
err and Of the utmost Importance to the
people. The forests, If properly guard
ed, will form another great source Of
wealth. Portions Of Alaska are fitted
for farming and stock raising, although
the methods must be adapted to the
peculiar conditions of the country.
Proper land laws should be enacted
and the survey Of the public lands i'm
medlately begun. Coal land laws
should be provided whereby the coal
land entryman may make his location
and secure patent under methods kim
dred to those now prescribed for home
stead and mineral entrymen. Salmon
hatcheries, exclusively under govern
ment control, should be established.
The cable should be extended from
Sitka westward. Wagon roads and
trails should be built and the building
Of railroads promoted In all legitimate
ways. Lighthouses should be built
along the coast. Attention should be
paid to the needs of the Alaska In
dams. Provision should be made for
an officer, with deputies, to study their
needs, relieve their immediate wants
and help them adapt themselves to the
new conditions.
recommend that an appropriation
be made for building lighthouses in
Hawaii and taking possession of those
already built. The territory should be
reimbursed for whatever amounts it
has already expended for lighthouses.
The governor should be empowered to
suspend or remove any official appoint
ed by him, without submitting the
matter to the legislature.
p
The Philippines and Porto Rico.
OF our insular possessions, the Philip
pines and Porto Rico, it is gratifying
to say that their steady progress has
been such as to make it unnecessary
to spend much time in discussing them.
Yet the congress should ever. keep in
miEd that a peculiar -PsilE4tt0h rests
4 DIS to further in every way the
welfare Of these communities. The
Philippines should be knit closer to us
by tariff arrangements. 1t would, Of
course, be impossible suddenly to raise
the people of the, islands to the high
pitch of industrial prosperity and Of
governmental efficiency to which they
will in the end by degrees attain, and
the caution and moderation shown in.
developing them have been among the
main reasons why this development
has hitherto gone on SO smoothly.
Scrupulous care has been taken in the
choice of governmental agents and the
entire elimination Of partisan politics
from the public service. The condition
of the islanders is in material things
Tar better than ever before, while their
governmental, intellectual and moral
advance has kept pace with their ma
terial advance. No one people ever
benefited another people more than we
have benefited the Filipinos by taking
possession of the islands.
Preservation OF Forests.
The work Of reclamation Of the arid
lands of the west is progressing steadily
and satisfactorily under the terms Of
the law setting aside the proceeds
from the disposal of public lands.
The study Of the opportunities Of
reclamation of the vast extent Of arid
land shows that whether this reclama-
ton is done by individuals, corpora
tons or the state, the sources of water
supply must be effectively protected
and the reservoirs guarded by the pres
ervation of the forests Mt the head
waters Of the streams The necessity
for perpetuating our forest resources,
whether in public or private hands, is
recognized now MS never before. 1t is
recommended that all matters pertain
ing to forest reserves, except those in
volving or pertaining to land titles, be
consolidated in the bureau of forestry
of the department Of agriculture.
| The cotton growing states have re.
Gently been invaded by weevil that
has done much damage and threatens
the entire cotton industry. suggest
to the congress the prompt enactment