Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-27

cause of irritation between us and any
other nation was removed by the set
Element of the Alaskan boundary.
IN the Caribbean sea we have made
good our promises of independence to
Cuba, and have proved our assertion
that our mission in the island was one
of justice and not of self-aggrandize-
nent: and thereby no less than by our
action in Venezuela and Panama We
have shown that the Monroe doctrine
is living reality designed for the
hurt of no nation, but for the protec-
ton of civilization on the western con
tinent. and for the peace of the world
Our steady growth in power has gone
hand in hand with Il strengthening
disposition to use this power with
stric, regard for the rights of others.
and for the cause of international JUS
tice and good viii.
Friendship iS Desired.
We earnestly desire friendship with
all the nations of the new and old
worlds; and we CndeavOr to place our
relations with them upon a basis of
reciprocal advantage instead of hOstili-
ty. We hold that the prosperity of
each nation is an aid and not a him
drancc to the prosperity of other ma
tons. We seek international amity
for the same reasons that make us be-
lieve in peace within our own borders;
and we seek this peace not because we
are afraid or unready. but because we
think that peace is right as well as ad-
vantagcous.
American interests in the Pacific
have rapidly grown, American enter
prise has laid a cable across this. the
greatest of oceans. We have proved
in effective fashion that we wish the
Chinese Empire well and desire its in
tegrity and independence.
Our foothoid in the Philippines
greatly strengthens our position in the
competition for the trade of the east;
but we are governing the Philippines
in the interest of the Philippine peo-
pie themselves. We have already Civ
en- them a large share in their govern
ment, and our purpose is to increase
this share as rapidly as they give evil
dence OF increasing fitness for the
task. The great majority of the Off
Gals OF the islands. whether elective
VI ollDpiiillNt. al = dlt tti'lE naive q III
pinOS We are now providing for a leg
islative assembly. This is the first
step 10 be taken in the future; and il
would be eminently unwise to declare
what our next step will be until this
first step has been taken and the re-
suits are manifest. To have gone fas-
ter than we have already gone in Civ
ing the islanders a constantly increas-
ing measure of Self-gOvernmCnt would
have been disastrous. At the present
moment to give political independence
to the islands would result in the i'm
mediate loss of civil rights, personal
liberty and public order, as regards
the mass of the FflipinOs, for the ma
jority of the islanders have been given
these great bOOns by us, and only keep
them because we vigilantIy safeguard
and guarantee them. To Withdraw orr
government from the islands at this
time would mean to the average ma ,
tive the loss of his barely-won civil |
freedom. We have established in the |
islands a government by Americans |
assisted by FiIipinos. We are steadily |
striving to transform this into self |
government by the Filipinos assisted |
by Americans.
Policy of Lincoln.
The principles which we uphold |
should appeal to all our countrymen.
in all portions of our country. Above
all they should give us strength with
the men and women who are the spir-
itual heirs Of those who upheld the
hands Of Abraham Lincoln; for we are
striving 20 do our work in the spirit
with which Lincoln approached his. Il
During the seven years that have just
passed there is no duty, domestic or
foreign. which we have shirked: no y
necessary task which we have feared II
10 undertake. or which we have not II
performed with reasonable efficiency Il
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