Gilpin observer., 1904-12-08
We


continue steadily to insist on the applf-s
cation of the Monroe doctrine to tho
western hemisphere. Unless our attitude
in these and all similar matters Is to b6
mere boastful sham we can not afford
to abandon our naval programme. Our
voice is now potent for peace. and is 80
potent because we not afraid of war
But our protestations upon behalf Of
peace would neither receive nor deserve
the slightest attention If we were i'm
potent to make them good.
The Army.
Within the last three years the United
States has set an example in disarma-
ment where disarmament was proper.
By law our army is fixed at a maximum
of one hundred thousand and minimum
of sixty thousand men. When there was
insurrection in the Philippines we kept
the army at the maximum. Peace came
in the Philippines. and now our army
has been reduced to the minimum at
which it is possible to keep 1t with due
regard to it's efficiency. The guns now
mounted require twenty eight thousand
men. IL the coast fortifcations are to be
adequately manned Relatively to the
nation. it is not now so large as the po-
lice force of New York or Chicago relaL
lively to the population of either city.
We need more officers; there are not
enough to perform the regular army
work. 1t is very important that the Off
GERS Of the army should be accustomed
to handle their men in masses. 1t Is
also important that the national guard
of the several states should be accus-
toned to actual field maneuvering, espe-
cially in connection with the regulars.
For this reason we are to be congratu-
lated upon the success of the field ma
enuvers at Manassas last fall, maneuvers
in which a larger number of regulars
and national guard took part than was
ever before assembled together in time
of peace. No other civilized nation has,
relatively to its population such d.
minutive army ours; and while the
army Is small we are not to be ex-
cused If we fail to keep it at a very high
grade of proficiency.
Great progress has been made in pro-
tecting our coasts by adequate fortih-
cations with sufficient guns. We should.
however, pay much more heed than at
present TO the development of an exten-
sve system of floating mines Tor use in
all our more important harbors. Thes~
mines have been proved to be a most for
micable safeguard against hostile fleets.
The Philippines.
In the Philippine islands there has-
been during the past year a continuation
of the steady progress which has OBJ
tained ever since troops definitely
got the upper hand of the insurgents
The Philippine people. or. to speak more
accurately, the many tribes, and even
races, sundered from one another more
or less sharply. who go to make up the
people of the Philippine islands. contain
many elements of good. and some ele-
ments which we have right to hope
stand for progress. At present they are
utterly incapable of existing in inde-
pendence at all or of building up a CIV
ilization of their own. 1 firmly believe
that We can hep them to rise higher and
higher in the scale of civilization and
of capacity for government. and
most earnestly hope that in the end they
will be able to stand. II not entirely alone.
yet in some such relation to the United
States as Cuba now stands This end
is not yet in sight. and it may be in
definitely postponed II our people arc
foolish enough to turn the attention Of
the Filipinos away from the problems of
achieving moral and material prosperity,
of working for stable, orderly, and just
government, and toward foolish and dan
gerous intrigues for a complete independ-
| ence for which they are as yet totally
| unfit.
On the other hand our people must
keep steadily before their minds the fact
that the justification for our stay in the
Philippines must ultima tely rest chiefly
upon the good we are able to do in the
Islands. / do not overlook the fact that
in the development of our interests I'm
the Pacific ocean and along its coasts,
the Philippines have played and win play
an important part, and that our interests
have been served in more than one way
by the possession Of the islands. But
our chief reason for continuing to hold
them must be that we ought in good
faith to try to do our share OF the
worlds work, and this particular piece
of work has been imposed upon Ms by
the results of the war with Spain. The
problem presented to us in the Philip
pine islands is akin to. but not exactly
like. the problems presented to the other
great civilized powers which have pos
sessions in the Orient More distinctly
than any of the powers We are endeAv~'
oring to develop the natives themselves
SO that they shall take an ever-increas-
ing share in their own government. and
as far as is prudent We are already ad-
mitting their representatives to a gov
ernmental equality with our own. There
are commissioners judges and governors
in the islands who are Filipinos and who
have exactly the same share in the gov-~
ernment OF the islands as have their col~
leagues who are Americans. while In tho
lower ranks. of course. the great major
ity of the public servants are FilipinosS
Within two years we shall be trying the
experiment of an elective lower house In
the Philippine legislature
Meanwhile our own people should re-
member that there is need for the high
est standard OF conduct among the Amer
leans sent to the Philippine Islands. not
only among the public servants but
among the private individuals who go
to them. 1t is because I feel this 50
deeply that in the administration OF these
islands have positively refused to per-
nit any discrimination whatsoever 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 high
er body Of men in our public service
than we have in the Philippine islands
under Gov. Wright and his associates.
So far as possible these men should be
given free hand. and their suggestions
should receive the hearty backing both.
OF the Executive and OF the Congress.
There is need OF vigilant and disinter-