Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-09-26
GUS spirit which inspired President

GUS spirit which inspired President
Mckinley.
Military rule was quickly succeeded
by the civil authority. The people Of
the Islands have been invited as fast
as possible to participate in the work
OF self government.
Congress has authorized repre-
sentative assembly to be chosen in
due time by the people of the islands
The ballot box is not the sign of i'm
perialism. No one need have any
grave concern with respect to the fu-
ture of the archipelago II the United
States goes forward as heretofore in
spired by the same lofty purpose
| which has characterized the admins
| trations of President Mckinley and
President Roosevelt. We may safely
trust to the future to deal with the
| Filipinos in a manner consistent with
| their highest and best interests. and
| with the duty and honor OF the United
States.
The people of the islands have had
| abundant evidence of the exalted pur-
pose of the United States. The va
rious degrees of civilization among
| them, their unfamilarlty with civic
duties make II inadvisable to indulge
in any declaration as to future poll
| cies, which may lead to misunder-
standing. The people of the Philip
pines do not mistrust us. We need
not distrust ourselves
Our opponents say the Philippine
policy does not pay. They should not
forget that the United States did not
go to war with Spain for dollars and
cents. They should remember that
when II comes to a matter of duty, the
United States does not consider the
cost. When the history of our coun-
try is written It will be found that
there Is no brighter page, or one
which will yield more pleasure and
satisfaction in its contemplation than
the one which tells of our discharge
of the responsibilities growing out of
the war with Spain. The archipelago
belongs to the United States. Its
title is vested in this government by
virtue of the treaty of peace negotia.
ted and ratified according to the re-
the responsibility of administration
rests upon us, not as matter of sen
timent. but as duty imposed by the
obligations of the law.
The application of the proceeds OF
public land sales to the reclamation
of the lrrigable portions OF our arid
and semi-arid public domain, meets
my cordial approval. Through the
enlightened policy thus established
under the present administration, the
long deferred hopes of the struggling
settlers of the great arid and semi
arid West. will be realized in the up
building OF substantial communities
in places hitherto waste. or compare
lively unproductive. At the same time
apehed, eed ar1an' Upon wRich RisRh" the Industrious
homeseekers. now residing In over
crowded eastern centers, may find
homes. The sum Of over twenty mil
lions of dollars. now available in the
reclamation fund, to which additions
are constantly being made. guaran-
tees, under wise administration. great
progress in the work of irrigation, and
the settlement of the arid region with
in n few years.
The development of trade with the
Orient promises to absorb the in
creased production OF cereals In the
far West. so as to leave the market
conditions on the Atlantic seaboard
undisturbed. The settlement Of the
present unproductive regions will
rlnf fnr hn fa
lures Of the East
Only by unduly extending this let
ter could consider all the declara-
tions embraced in the platform of the
convention. Further reflection but
strengthens my opinion of their wis
dom and shall give them my earnest
support.
We are gratiied that sectional diff
ferences have disappeared and that
fraternal spirit pervades the people
Of all sections Of our country. We re-
joice in national inheritance which
is our common pride Republican pol
icies are as broad as our country's
needs. They are neither sectional nor
racial in their generous design.
We are inspired with one high pur-
pose. and that is, under Divine guild
ance. to promote peace and good or
der, virtue and knowledge. Justice,
patriotism and prosperity among our
| countrymen and to Increase to the
utmost the strength and honor Of the
great republic.
Very respectfully yours,
| CHARLES w. FAIRBANKS.