The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-04-11
TRAVEL OF
OUR PRESIDENT.
Progress of Mr.. Roosevelts Tour of the West
He Delivers an Important Address
the Philippines at
Fargo, N %.

man. The most interesting ceremony
of the day occurred at Medora, where
the president at one time owned a
ranch, and which was his post office adj
dress 16 years ago when he was sheriff
of Billings county. Medora is small
place, but the ranchmen from the sur
rounding country had come into town
and they gave the president a truly
western reception.
Address Mt Fargo.
The president was frequently inter-
rupted by hearty applause during the
delivery of his address on the Philip
pines at Fargo.
The president began his address by
referring to the loyal and brave
service of the sons of the north
west in the war with Spain and
the restoring of peace in the Phil
ippines. He quoted from a speech de-
livered by President Mckinley in
Minnesota on the return of the SOL
diers from the Philippines in which
Mr.. Mckinley promised that congress
would provide for the islands ''gov-
eminent which will bring them bless
ings, and whic! will promote their ma
terial interests as we'll as advance
their people in the path of civilization
and intelligence"
This, President Roosevelt went on
to say, had been done, and lie declared
credit was due to the men who had so
admirably managed the military and
civil affairs Of the islands, and to the
men in congress who had so heartily
backed them.
Splendid Work of the Army.
The work of the army-composed of
regulars and volunteers alille-in re-
storing order in the islands and pre-
pairing the way for civil government
was most faithfully and bravely done.
"Among hundred thousand hot
blooded and powerful young men serv-
ing in small detachments on the other
side of the globe, it was impossible
that occasional instances of wrong
doing should not occur. But these Of
fenses We're the exception and not the
rule. AS whole our troops showed
not only signal courage and efficiency,
but great humanity and the most sin
cere desire to promote the welfare and
liberties of the islanders.
Gas rapidly as military rule was ex-
tended over the islands by the defeat
of the insurgents, just so rapidly was
it replaced by the civil government.
At the present time the civil govern
ment is supreme and the army in the
Philippines has been reduced until it
is sufficient merely to provide against
the recurrence of trouble.
Work of Congress.
'The congress which has just adj
journed has passed Legislation of high
Importance and great wisdom in the
interests of the Filipino people. First
and foremost they conferred upon
them by law the present admira BILE
civil government; IN addition they
gave them an excellent currency; they
passed measure allowing the organ
ization of a native constabulary; and
they provided, in the interests of the
islands, for a reduction of rs per
cent. in the tariff on Filipino articles
brought to this country. l asked that
a still further reduction should be
made.
Tribute to Gov. Taft.
'sThe best thing that can be done in
handling such a problem as that in the
Philippines, so peculiar, SO delicate, so
difficult and so remote, is to put the
best man possible in charge and then
give him the heartiest possible support
and the freest possible hand. This is
what has been done with Gov. Taft.
There is not in the nation higher or
finer type of public servant than Gov.
Taft. He has rendered literally ines
Unable service, not only to the peo-
pie of the Philippine islands, but also
to the people of the United States, by
what he has done in those islands, He
has been able to do it. because from
the beginning he has been given abso-
lutte support by the war department,
under Secretary Root. With the ces-
sation Of organized resistance the civil
government assumed it's proper posi-
ton Of headship. The army in the
Philippines is now one of the instru-
ments through which Gov. Taft does
his admirable work. The civil govern
ment, of which Gov. Taft is the head,
is supreme, and it will do we'll in the fu-
ture as it has in the past. because it
will be backed up in the future as it
has been in the past.
Remember always that in the Phil
ippines the American government
has tried and is trying to carry out ex-
actly what the greatest genius and
most revered patriot ever known in
the Philippine islands-Jose Rial
steadfastly advocated. This man,
shortly before his death, in mes
sage to his countrymen, under date
of December 16, 1896, condemned I'M
sparingly the instruction of Agui-
naldo, terminated just before our navy
appeared upon the scene, and pointed
out the path his people should follow
to liberty and Enlightenment"