Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-22
Senator Fairbanks
Letter Of Acceptance
loonlInned dom raga Flyel

pines has beer dictated BY a broad
sense ot duty. 1t has not been sub
yerslye Of our national ideals, but has
been in conformity with the best ira
ditlons OF our country.
The archipelago came 20 the United
states as the result Of q war, aud II
became the duty OF the United states
MS the result Of a val and 1t became
the duty OF the administration 10 en-
force the laws there as elsewhere, TO
maintain the national sovereignty and
10 i~naugurate civil government. BE-
fore the in%surrection had ceased Pres
ident Mckinley admirably expressed
our purpose, said he:
no effort will be spared to build
up tho waste places desolated by war
ami by long years OF disagreement.
We shall not wait for the end of strife
to begin the benificent work We
shall continue as we have begun, to
open schools and churches, 10 set the
courts In operation. TO foster industry
and trade and commerce, and In ev.
cry way In our power TO make these
people whom Providence has brought
within our jurisdiction feel that 1t IL
their liberty and not our power; their
welfare. and not our gain. W. are
seeking to enhance. Our flag has ney.
er waived over any community but In
blessing. ! believe the Filipinos will
soon recognize the fact that !: has not
lost its gift OF benediction in its world
wide journey to their shores"
President Roosevelt has continued
the work In the same Just and gener.
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 government. The judicial
system has been improved, corrup-
ton has been driven out, public
schools have been established and
the people already are enjoying a
large measure Of self government.
Congress has authorized a represen.
tatiye assembly 10 be chosen In due
time by the people OF the islands. The
ballot box Ii not the sign Of imperial.
ism. No M need have any grave
concern with respect to the future of
the archipelago II the United States
goes forward as heretofore inspired
by the same lofty purpose which has
characterized the administrations OF
President Mckinley and President
Roosevelt. We may safely trust to
the future to deal with the Filipjnos
in a ann consistent with their high
est 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 var.
ious degrees OF civilization among
them. their unfamlllarity with civic du
ties, make It inadvisable 10 indulge in
any declaration as to the future doll.
cies, which may lead TO misunder-
standing. The people of the Philip.
pines do not distrust 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 10 a matter of duty.
the United States does not consider
The cost. When the history Of our
country is written 1t win be found that.
there Is no brighter page, or one
which viii yield more pleasure and
satisfaction In Its contemplation than
the n 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 vir.
tue Of the treaty Of peace negotiated
and ratified according TO the require
ments of the constitution, and the re-
sponsihiii,y of administration rests
upon us, not as a matter of sentiment.
but as a duty imposed by the obliga-
tons OF law.
The application of the proceeds of
public land sales to the reclamation
of irrigable portions of our arid and
semi-arid public domain, meets my
cordial approval. Through the on.
lightened policy thus established IN.
der the present administration. the
l~ong-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 improductive Al the same time
a vast ARIA of the public domain will