The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-05-05
FAITH IN AMERICAN PEOPLE

Secretary Taft, who represented the
President at the opening of the st.
Louis Exposition Saturday, could not
fail to speak on expansion. The oc-
casiOn concentrated the first great
expansion of the country, and his
most conspicuous public service is
identified with the last inevitable
The Louisiana purchase involved
large problems which were courage
ously and unhesitatingly faced. The
Philippine acquisition involves prob
lens, possibly still larger and more
difficult, certainly widely different,
and they must be faced with equal
courage and resolu ton. Secretary
Taft reflected the public feeling when
by comforting statehood on the new
territory is probable" Those who
shrink from the possibility discred-
it the American people. And then he
added: Without being blind to the
difficulties or the dangers, it gives me
the greatest happiness to know and
to say that the President of the Unit
ed States is glad to take his stand
among those who believe in the cap
acity of the American people when
aroused by the call of duty to solve
any problem of government, however
new, which depends solely on the
clear-headness, the honesty and the
courage, the generosity and the self
restraint of the American people.
These words go to the heart of the
vital issue. There are two grounds
upon which hesitation and unwilling
. ness to accept the Philippine prob
lens may be based. The first is feel
ing that the Uuited States should not
under any circumstances go beyond
its own continental confines and
should not take any direct part in
the development or advancement of
the world outside This is at least
INELIGIBLE ground. 1t can be under
stood even if it cannot be approved.
1t is the position which Belongs to the
little Americans. 1t rests upon the
idea that we were big enough with
out any island or exterior possessions,
and that it is not desirable to extend
beyond our natural borders which
/ embrace only contiguous territory
homogeneous population and ques-
tions of ultimate statehood. There
are those who believe III this limited
America, and, however Objectionable.
it is a view which is early comprehen-
sible.
The other ground is that the Amer
lean people are unfamiliar with ques-
tions connected with the adminestra-
ton Of dependencies or colonies and
are not capable of dealing with them.
This is an impeachment of the ability
OF the American people to.handle that
class of problems. 1t is some times
added by way of eXtenuating this
view that American institutions are
not adapted 20 colonial government.
This answer is beside the question. 1t
would be just as reasonable TO say
that British institutions are not
adapted to the government of India
orSouth Africa. These dependencies
do not have the same political system
which prevails in England-parlia-
mentry government and absolute
selferule. British institutions are one
thing in Great Britain and another in
greater Britain. So American insti-
buttons sre adaptable to different con
ditions. Their essence is liberty com
patible with the the welfare of those
to whom it is extended. American
rule in the Philippines means the adj
ministration of the islands for the