Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-12-09


Egypt, by the French in Algiers. by the
Dutch In lava. by the Russians In
Turkestan. by the japanese in Formosa:
but more distinctly than any OF these
powers we are endeavoring to develop
the natives themselves that they shall
take an ever-fncreasing share in their
own government, and as far is pru-
dent we are already admitting their
Representatives to a governmental equal
ity with our own There are commits
sioners, judges and governors in the is
lands who are Fflipinos and who have
exactly the same share in the govern
ment of the islands have their COL
leagues who are Americans, while in the
lower ranks. of course, the great ma
jority Of the public servants are Fill
pinOS.
For Elective Government.
Within two years we shall be trying
the experiment of elective lower
house in the Philippine legislature. It
may be that the Fflipinos win misuse
this legislature. and they certainly will
misuse 1t if they are misled by foolish
persons here at home into starting an
agitation for their own independence
into any factious or improper action. In
such case they will do themselves
good and will stop for the time being all
further effort to advance them and give
them a greater share in their own gov
eminent. But If they act with wisdom
and self-restraint. if they show that they
are capable Of electing a legislature
which in its turn is capable of taking
sane and efficient part in the actual work
Of government. they can rest assured
that full and increasing measure Of
recognition will be given them Above
all they should remember that their
prime needs are moral and Industrial not
political 1t is a good thing to try the
experiment of giving them a legislature:
but it is a far better thing to give them
schools. good roads, railroads which will
enable them to get their products to mar
ket, honest courts, an honest and efficient
coDstabulary, and all that tends to pro-
duce order, peace, fair dealing as between
man and man. and habits of intelligent
industry and thrift. If they are safe
guarded against oppression. and If their real
wants, material and spiritual. are studied
intelligently and in a spirit of friendly
sympathy, much more good will be done
them than by any effort to give them
political power, though this effort may
in its own proper time and place be
proper enough.
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 feel this so deep
ly that in the administration of these
islands I 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
the islands. There is no higher body Of
men in our public service than we have
in the Philippine islands under Gov.
Wright and his associates. So far as pos
sible these men should be given a free
hand, and .neir suggestions should re-
ceive the hearty backing both of the
executive and of the congress. There is
need of a vigilant and disinterested sup
port of our public servants in the Phil
ippines by good citizens here in the
United States. Unfortunately hitherto
those of our people here at home who
have specially claimed to be the cham
pions of the Fflipinos have in reality
been their worst enemies This will con-
tinue to be the case long they strive
to make the Filipinos independent, and |
stop all Industrial development of the |
islands by crying out against the laws
which would bring it the ground that |
capitalists must not exploit" the is
lands. Such proceedings are not only |
unwise, but are most harmful to the Fill |
pinos. who do not need independence at |
public servants. and tho industrial de-
yelopment that can only come If the in |
vestment OF American and foreign cap |
Ltal in the islands is favored in all |
legitimate ways.
Every measure taken concerning the |
Islands should be taken primarily with a /
view to their advantage. We should GER |
tainly give them lower tariff rates on |
their exports to the United States; II |
his Is not done 1t will be wrong to ex- |
end our shipping laws to them. 1 earn
>stly hope for the immediate enactment |
nts law of the legislation now pending |
% encourage American capital to seek |
Investment IN the islands in railroads. in |
aotories, in plantations, and in lumber
ng and mining.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House December 5, 1904