The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-07-30

and hlvc proved our assertion that our
mission in the island was one OF justin
-ation and not OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
auR thereby no less than by our action
Ia Venezuela and Panama We have shown
thar The Monroe Doctrine Is u living real
lty, designed Tor the hurt OF no nation,
hut FOR the protection or civilization on
the western continent. and for the peace
Of the world. our atcndy growth In pow
ar has gone hand In hand with "a streng-
thcntd disposition 90 use this power with
strict regard Tor the rights OF Ghers, and
for the cause OF International Justice and
goodwill
We earnestly desire friendship with all
the nations of the New and old Worlds;
and We endcuvor to place our relations
with them upon "a basis of reciprocal adj
vantage instead of hostility. We hold
that the prosperity of caclS,natlon Is an
aid and not ID hindmncc TO the prosperity
OF other nations. We seek International
amity for the aumc reasons that make us
believe tn peace within our own borders,
and W. seek This peace not because We
are afraid OF unrcady, but because We
think that peace is right ~ well rs ad-
yantageous,
American interests I'm the Pacific have
rnuiIlv crown American enterprise has
lilil a i.llllN uA luan AAlln. llli kAluAADA VI
oceans SIC hnpr proved I'm effective FASH
ion that Ne wish the Chinese Empire well
and desire It's integrity ana Independence
our foothold in the Philippines greatly
strourthrus our position Ia the competi-
ton for the trade of the cast. but We are
governing the Philippines In the interest
of the Philippine people themselves. We
have already given them "a large share In
their governments ana our purpose Is 20
increase this share ag rapidly AZ they
give evidence OF increasing nness for tho
task. The great majority or the officials
Of the Islands, whether elective OF APP
polutive, are already native Ftlipinos
we ara now providing loT n legislative
ASS mhly. This b. the flrst step to be taxi
on in the future, and II would bo emil
nouuy uuwiso to declare what our ncNt
step win he until this first step has been
taken and the results are manifest. To
have gone faster than we have already
gone lu giving the Islanders constantly
Increasing measure Of sclfgOvernment
would have brcn disastrous. AT the pres
emit moment to give political independence
totht Islands would result IN the immediate
loss of civil rights. personal liberty and
publ, order as regards the mass OF the
Fiupiuo-. Tor the majority Of the is
handlers have been given these great blooms
by ~. ana only keep them because wa
ViEilautly safeguard and guarantee them.
To Withdraw our government from the
islands nj this time would mean to the
average native the loss OF his barcly-won
civil freedom. We have established In
the islands 10 government by Americans
assisted by Tupiuos. We are steadily
striving to transform this into self-goY-
erumrnl by thr FilIpIn0s assisted By
Americans.
The principles which we uphold should
appeal tu tl our ouuntrymen. In all por-
tious uf our country. Above all they
should give us strength with the men and
women WHO are the spiritual heirs OF
those who upheld The hands Of Abraham
Lincoln. for Ne are striving 20 do our
work !n 90. -pifi with which Lincoln APP
preached hi- During the seven years
that have JUST passed there ls no duty,
domestic OF foreign. which We have shirk-
90. uo necessary task which We have
feared to undertake or which We have not
performed with reasonable efficiency, We
huyr never pleaded impotence. We have
never sought refuge 90 criticism and com
plant instead OF action We face the
future w.th our past ana our present rs
euaraniors OF our promises, and We ARE
content to stand or tu fall by the record
which We have made and arc making.