The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-21

the last five years of peace under
Spanish rule, the average total trade
of the islands was less than S36, 0O0,-
600. During the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1908. the trade of the is
lands was over $66, 100000. There is
but one point of disturbance, and that
is in the country of the Mohammedan
Moros, where there is an occasional
fitful savage outbreak against the en-
fOrcement of the law recently made
to provide for adequate supervision
and control to put an end to the prac-
tice of human slavery.
When Governor Taft sailed from
Manila in December last to fill the
higher Office where he will still guard
the destinies of the people for whom
he has done such great and noble ser
vice, he was followed to the shore by
a mighty thrOng, not of depressed and
sullen subjects, but of free and peace
full people, whose tears and prayers
of affectionate farewell showed that
"our flag has not lost its gift of bene-
dictiOn in its world wide journey to
their shores"
None can foreteI the future: but
there seems no reasonable cause to
doubt, that under the policy already
effectively inaugurated, the institu-
tons already implanted, and the pro-
cesses already begun, in the Philippine
interrupted, the Philippine people will
follow in the footsteps of the people
of Cuba; that more slowly indeed, be-
cause they are not as advanced, vet as
surely, they will grow in capacity for
self-gOvernmen t, and receiving power
as they grow in capacity, will come
to bear substantially such relations to
the people of the United States as dc
now the people of Cuba, differing in
details as conditions and needs differ,
but the same in principle and the
same in benefcent results.
The Isthmian Canal.
In 1900 the project of an Isthnian
canal stood where it was left by the
Clayton ulwer treaty of 1850. For
half a century it had halted, with
Great Britain resting upon a joint
right of control, and the great under
taking of de Lesseps struggling
against the doom of failure imposed
by extravaganza and corruption On
the 18th of November, 1901, the Hay
Pauncefote treaty with Great Britain
relieved the enterprise of the right Of
British control and left that right ex-
clusiveiy in the United States Then
followed swiftly the negotiations and
protocols with Nicaragua; the 18th
milan Canal act of June 2Stn, 1902
the Just agreement with the French
canal company to pay them the value
of the work they had done; the ne
gotiation and ratification Of the treaty
with Colon bia. the rejection OF that
treaty by Colombia in violation of our
rights and the worlds right to the pas
sage of the isthmus; the seizure by
Panama. of the opportunity TO renew
her oft-repeated effort to throw off
the hateful and oppressive yoke Of
Colombia and resume the fndepen-
dence which once had been hers, and
of which she had been deprived by
fraud and force; the success of the
revolution; our recognition of the new
republic followed by recognition from
substantially all the civilized powers of
the world the treaty with Panama
recognizing and confirming our right
to construct the canal; the ratification
Of the treaty by the senate. confirm
atorv legislation by congress; the2pay-
menf of the S5O,OOO,OOO0 to the French
company and to Panama the ap-
Monument of the canal commission in
accordance with law; and its organi-
cation to begin the work.
The action Of the United States at
every step has been in accordance with
the law of nations, consistent with the
principles of justice and honor, in dis