Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1904-12-08

years we shall be trying the experiment OK
an elective lower house In the Philipplne
LEGISLATURE 1t may be that the Fihpinos
will misuse this Legislature. and they GER
tainly will misuse it II they are misleo ny
foolish persons here at home into starting
an agitation for their own Independence or
into any factious or improper action IN SUCH
case they will do themselves no eoou dhu
will stop for the time being all further eI-
fort to advance them and give them q
greater share in their own government. But
IL they act with wisdom and self restraint.
If they show that they are capable OF electing
a Legislature which in Its turn Is capaple
Of taking a sane and efficient part IN the
actual work of government they can rest
assured that a full and increasing measure
OF recognition will be given them. Above all
they should remember that their prime needs
are moral and industrial, not political. 1t Is
a good thing to try the experiment or CIV
ing them a Legislature; but 1t Is a far bet
ter thing to give them schools, good roads,
railroads which will enable them to get their
products to market. honest courts, an honest
and efficient constabulary and all that tenus
to produce order, peace, fair dealing as be-
tween man and man. and habits OF intelli-
gent industry and thrift If they are safe
guarded against oppression, and II their real
wants material and spiritual are studied In
telligently and in spirit of friendly SYM
pathy. much more good will be done them
than by an effort to give them political
power, though this effort may in Its own
proper time and place be proper enough.
Meanwhile our own people should remem-
Der that there Is need for the highest stand
ard of conduct among the Americans sent
to the Philippine Islands not only among tho
public servants but among the private In
dividuas who go to them. 1t Is because l
feel this deeply that in the administra-
tion Of these islands have positively re-
fused to permit any discrimination whatso-
ever for political reasons. and have insisted
that in choosing the public servants consid-
Grafton should be paid solely to the worth
Of the men chosen and to the needs of the
islands. There Is no higher body of men In
our public service than we have In the
Philippine Islands under Governor Wright
and his associates. So far possible these
men should be given a free hand, and their
suggestions should receive the hearty back
ing both Of the Executive and of the Con-
gress. There is need of a vigilant and dis
interested support of our public servants in
the Philippines by good citizens here In the
United States
Unfortunately hitherto those Of peo-
pie here at home who have specially claimed
to be the champions Of the F'lipinos have
in reality been their worst enemies. This
will continue to be the case as long as they
strive to make the Filipinos Independent.
and stop all industrial development Of the
islands by crying out against the laws which
would bring 1t on the ground that capital
lists must not exploit the islands. Such pro-
ceedings not only unwise but most
harmful to the Filipinos, who do not need
independence at ALL but who do need good
laws. good public servants and the indus
trial development that can only come If the
investment of American and foreign capital
in the islands Is favored in all legitimate
ways
Every measure taken concerning the islands
should be taken primarily with view to
their advantage. We should certainly give
them lower tariff rates their exports to
the United States; II this Is not done it will
be a wrong to extend our shipping laws to
them I earnestly hope for the immediate
enactment into law of the legislation now
to encourage American artal to
seek investment in the islands in railroads,
in factories. in plantations, and in lumber
ing and mining.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.