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

post of defense for the United States.
Ricn as we are, the American people
have no more valuable possession than
the sentiment expressed in the dispatch
which 1 will now read:
Havana May 20, 1902
Theodore Roosevelt, President WasAlns-
The government of the island having
been just transferred, /, as CHIEF nagls-
trate Of the republic faithIqlIy lnteTP3fe L
Cuba, have the honor to send you and
the American people testimony OF our
profound gratitude and the assurance OF
an enduring friendship, with wishes and
prayers to the Almighty for the welfare
and prosperity of the United States
T. ESTRADA PALMA
The Philippines.
When the last national convention
met the Philippines also were under
military rule. The insurrectos from
the mountains spread terror among
the peaceful people by midnight foray
and secret assassination. Aguinaldo
bided his time in a secret retreat
Over seventy thousand American SOL
diers from more than five hundred
stations, held a still vigorous enemy
in check The Philippine commits
sion had not yet begun its work
The last vestige of insurrectlon mas
been swept away. With their work
accomplished, over $1,000 American
troops have been brought back across
the Pacific. Civil government has
been esta blished throughout the
justice prevail. The Philippine COM
mission guided at first by executive
order and then by the wise legislation
of congress in the Philippine govern
ment act of July 1, 1902, have estab-
Iished and conducted a government
which has been a credit to their coun-
try and a blessing to the people OF the
islands. The body of laws which they
have enacted upon careful and intel
Iigent study of the needs OF the coun-
try challenges comparison with the
statutes of any country me per
sonnet of civil government has Deen
brought together under an advanced
and comprehensive civil service law,
which has been rigidly enforced. A
complete census has been taken, de-
signed to be there as it was in cuba
the basis for representative govern
ment- and the people of the ISLANDS
will soon proceed under provisions al
ready made by congress TO the elec-
ton of a representative assembly, in
which for the first time in their his
tory they may have a voice in the
making of their own laws In the
meantime the local and provincial
governments are in the hands of Off
GERS elected by the Filipinos; and IN
the great central offices, in the COM
mission, on the bench, in the execu-
tive departments, the most distin-
ruished men Of the Filipino race are
taking their part in the governm ent
of their people. A free school system
has been established and hundreds of
thousands of children are learning
| lessons which will help fit them for
seIf-government. The seeds of relig-
ious strife existing in the bitter con-
! troversy between the people and the
religious orders have been deprived of
potency for harm by the purchase of
the friars' lands, and their practical
/ withdrawal. BY the act of congress
of March 2, 1908, a gold standard has
been established to take the place Of
/ the fluctuating silver currency. The
unit of value is made exactly one-half
| the value of the American gold dol
/ lar so that American money is prac-
tically part of their currency system
To enable the Philippine governm ent
/ to issue this new currency. $4,000, 600
was borrowed by them in 1903 in
the city of New York: and it was Dor
/ rowed at a net interest charge of SIS
i per cent. per annum- The trade OF
/ the islands has increased nOtwith-
standing adverse conditions. During