The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-12
PRESIDENT ROOSEYELTS FOR
 NAL LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE
tcontInued from Sixth Paas.l

(contlnued from Sixth Paee)
 ---~----..->~------ - ~-~-~-------->------ an amount estimated at one hundred and five millions a year. In other words, the reduction of taxation has been considera- bly greater than the reduction in the an nusl surplus. Since the close of the war with Spain there has been no sub stantial change in the rate of annual expenditures. As compared with the fiscal year ending in June, 1901, for exam pie, the fiscal year that has just closed showed a relatively small increase in ex- penditures lexcluding the canal payment already referred to), while the year pre- vious showed a relatively small de- crease.
 The expenditures of the nation have been managed in spirit of economy as far removed from waste as from nig- gardliness; and in the future every effort will be continued to secure an economy as strict as Is consistent with efficiency. Once more our opponents have promised what they cannot or should not perform. The prime reason why the expenses of the government have increased of recent years is to be found in the fact that the people after mature thought, have deem- ed it wise to have certain new forms of work for the public undertaken by the
 
 lures, for instance, as those for rural free delivery, or for the inspection of meats under the department of agricul- ture or for irrigation. But these new expenditures are necessary; no one would seriously propose to abandon them; and yet 1t is idle to declaim against the in- creased expense of the government un- less 1t is intended to cut down the very expenditures which cause the increase. The pensions to the veterans of the civil war are demanded by every sentiment of regard and gratitude. The rural free de- livery Is of the greatest use and con- Yenience to the farmers, body of men who live under conditions which make them ordinarily receive little direct re- turn for what they pay toward the sup port of the government The irrigation policy in the arid and semi-arid regions of the west is one fraught with the most benefcent and far-reaching good to the actual settlers the home-makers, whose encouragement is traditional feature in Americas national policy. Do our opponents grudge the fifty millions paid for the Panama canal? Do they intend to cut down on the pensions to the vet erans of the civil war? Do they intend to put stop to the irrigation policy? or to the permanent census bureau? or to immigration inspection? Do they intend to abolish rural free delivery? Do they intend to cut down the navy? or the Alaskan telegraph system? Do they in- tend to dismantle our coast Qualifications? If there is to be a real and substantial cutting down in national expenditures 1t must be in such matters as these The department of agriculture has done ser vice of incalculabie value to the farmers of this country in many different lines. Do our opponents wish to cut down the money for this service2 They can do it only by destroying the usefulness of the service itself
 High Degree of Honesty.
 The public wOrl. of the United States has nevea' Dee,f coii.iLcten with Il higher dee',e ol honesty aa4 sIclency than at t.i. present tlmc. 3tp1 special need of praise belongs 10 those officials re- sponslble for the Philippines and Port, Rico, where the administrations have been models of their kind. Of course wrong has occasionally occurred but it has been relentlessly stamped out. We have known no party in dealing with of. fenders and have hunted down without mercy every wrong-doer in the service of the nation whom 1t was possible by the utmost vigilance 10 detect: for the pubic sl want who betrays his trust and the private individual Who debauches him stand as the worst of criminals, be- cause their crimes are crimes against the entire community and not only against this generation but against the genera lions that are yet to be
 Our opponents promise independence to the Philippine lslanas Here again we are contrcnted l'S the fact that their ir- recon;la' 'sH differences of opinion among themsc'Nes, their proved inability to ere ate constructive policy when in power. and thair readiness, for the sake Of moae- tary political eXpedieney. to aband n tl,c principles upon which they have insisted as essential, conspire to puzzle us ia to whether they do or do not intend n ac.d faith to carry out this promise if t.ey are given control of the government In their platform they declare for in- dependence. apparently--'or their la guage is little obscure-without ouaI fication as to time; and indeed a aa. l. ! ficatiOn q. te time is an absurdity fur We have neither right nor power t1 biro our successors when it is impossible to foretell the conditions which may con front thsm while if there is any urh- - cipe involved in the matter. it is jus. ms wrong to deny independence for T ,ev, ye9rs as to deny 1t for an indefc;,a | period. But in later and equally off "a, ! utteranccs by our opponents the torn, | self-Govcrfment was substituted for in- 1 dependence; the words used being yo i chosen that in their natural constrrlcI.n they 1e c''ihed precisely the policy new | being ta' ricd on. The language of t.,e platform indicated radical change nt policy; the later utterances indica rl a of the present policy But this caused trouble in their own ra.ils. | and in still later. although less formal utterancc. the self government pror,iso was recanted. and independence at some | future time was promised in it's piatt. | They have occupied three entirely diH.r- ent positions within fifty days Wren is the promise they really intend to keoro | They do not know iheir cN, n minds: and | no one can tell how long they wcplJ | keep of the same mind should they hv | any chance come to a working agre e;nent | among themselves. If such ambiguity af- i, fccted only the American people 1t would | not so greatly matter; for the American | people can take care of themselves But | the Filipinos are in no such condition | Confidence is with them plant of slow growth They have been taught to trust the word of this government because this | government has promised nothing which |