The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-12
pay toward tho support Of the govern

b"y 'o""iN tho ouppoit VI tno koNeih-
ment
The irrigation policy In the arid and
semi-arid regions OF the west is one
fraught with the most benehcent and
far-reaohing good to the actual settlers
the home M kers. whose encouragement
Is traditional feature In Americas ma
tional policy. Do our opponents grudge
the nifty millions paid for the Panama
canalf Do they intend 10 cut down on
the pensions TO tho veterans OF the civil
war? Do they intend to put a stop TO
the irrigation policy7 or to the perma-
nent census bureau7 or TO immigration
inspection? Do they intend 10 abolish
rural free delivery DO they intend TO
cut down the navy7 or the Alaskan tele-
graph systemH Do they intend to dis
mantle our coast fortihcations7 II there
is to be a real and substantial cutting
down In national expenditures II must
be In such matters as these. The de-
partment Of agriculture has done service
OF incalculable value to the farmers OF
this country In many different lines. Do
our opponents wish TO cut down the
money for this service9 They can do II
only by destroying the usefulness OF the
service itself.
PUBLIC WORK.
The public work Of the United States
has never been conducted with a higher
degree OF honesty and efficiency than
at the present time; and a special need
OF praise belongs to those oflcials re-
sponsible for the Philippines and Porto
Rico. where the administrations have
been models Of their kind or course
wrong has occasionally occurred. but II
has been relentlessly stamped out. We
| have known no party In dealing with
| offenders. and have hunted down without
mercy every wrong-doer in the service
OF the nation whom IL was possible by
| the utmost vigilance 10 detect: for the
public servant who betrays his trust and
the private individual who debauches him
stand az the worst Of criminals. because
their crimes are crimes against the en-
tire community. and not only against
this generation but against the genera
tions that are yet 20 be.
THE PHILIPPINES.
Our opponents promise Independence
to the Philippine islands. Here again
we are confronted by the fact that their
irreconoilable differences Of opinion among
themselves, their proved inability 10
create constructive policy when in
power. and their readiness. for the sake
OF momentary political expediency to
abandon the principles upon which they
have insisted as essential. conspire TO
puzzle US as to whether they do or do
not intend in good faith 10 carry out this
promise IL they are given control Of the
government. In their platform they de-
clare for independence, approximation
their language is a little obscure-with-
out qualification as to time: and indeed
qualification as TO time is an absurdity
for we have neither right nor power TO
bind our SUCCESSORS when IL is impossible
TO foretel the conditions which may con-
front them; while II there is any princi-
pie involved In the matter. It Is just as
wrong TO deny Independence for few
years as 10 deny IL for an indefinite Pc
riod But in ter and equally Official
utterances by our opponents the term
self government was substituted for in
dependence: the words used being so
chosen that in their natural construc-
tion they described precisely the policy
now being carried on.
The language of the platform indicated
radical change Of policy; the later ut
terances indicated continuance Of the
present policy. But this caused trouble
In their own ranks: and In a still later
although less formal. utterance the self
government promise was recanted, and
Independence at some future time was
promised In its place. They have occu-
pied three entirely different positions
within fifty days. Which is the promise
they really intend to keep?
They do not know their own minds: and
no one can tell how long they would keep
of the same mind, should they by any
chance come to working agreement
among themselves. IL such ambiguity
affected only the American people IL
would not so greatly matter: for the
selves. But the Filipinos are in no such
condition.
PLANT OF SLOW GROWTH.
Cofdence 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
II did not perform II promised independ-
ence they Will expect Independence; not
In the remote future. for their descend
ants, but Immediately, for themselves
IL the promise thus made is not imme-
diately fulfilled they will regard IL as
broken, and Will not again trust TO Amer
lean faith; and it would be indeed n
wicked thing to deceive them I'm such
fashion.
Moreover. even II the promise were
made TO take effect only in the distant
future. the Fflipinos would be thrown
into confusion thereby. Instead of con-
tinuing to endeavor TO At themselves for
moral and material advancement in the
present, they would abandon all effort at
progress and begin factional intrigues for
future power
To promise to give them independence
when II Is prudent" TO do so, or when
they are "ft for It, OF course implies
that they are not fit for II now, and that
IL would be imprudent 70 give IL TO them
now. But as we must ourselves be the
judges as to when they become at"
and when IL would be prudent" TO keep
such a promise If IL were made, II neces-
sarfly follows that TO make such a prom
ise now would amount TO a deception
upon the Fflipinos.
1t may we'll be that our opponents have
no real intention OF putting their prom
ise into effect II this Is the case. II.
In other words, they are insincere In the
promise they make. u Is only necessary
To say again that IL Is unwse to trust
men who are false In one thing to deal
with anything. The mere consciousness
Of broken faith would hamper them in
continuing our policy in the islands, and |
only by continuing unchanged this pol |
icy can the honor OF the coun~s~ be main |
taipNd nr tho tpfnraSfs 90 ba ,,ioxa. |