Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-12-09

can nations 1t is mere truism to say
that every nation: whether In america OF
it's freedom. its Independence. must ultt-
mately realize that the right of such tnde-
pendence cannot be separated from the re-
sponsibility Of making good use OF 1t.
The strong arm of the Government in en-
forcing respect for its just rights in inter
national matters is the Navy of the United
there be no halt in the
The Navy. work Of upbuilding the
American Navy. There
is no patriotic duty. before us as q
se needs anaa of this position We have
undertaken to build the Isthmian Canal We
Just share in the trade of the Orient. We.
nave undertaken to protect our citizens from
eone:nue steadily to insist on the application
of the Monroe Doctrine to the Western
and a Similar Is be IN
boastful sham not afford to aban-
don our naval programme Our voice is now
potent for peace, and is so potent because we
are not afraid of war. But our protestations
upon behalf of peace would neither receive
were impotent to make them good
Within the last three years the United
where disarmament properly. By
law our Army is fixed at a maximum Of
100000 and mini
The Army. mum of 10000 men.
When there was in
surrection in the Philippines kept the
Army at the maximum. Peace came in the
hilippines, and Army has been
reduced to the minimum at which 1t Is pos
sible to keep it with due regard to its eff
900 men, if the coast fortifications are to be-
adequately manned. Relatively to the Ma
tion it is not now SO large as the police
force of New York Chicago relatively to-
the population of either city. We need more
officers; there are not enough to peform
the regular Army work 1t is very important
that the officers of the Army should be
customed to handle their men In masses,
it is also important that the National
- &h4 ctota SI,a hn
customed to actual field maneuvertng.
pecially in connection with the regulars. For
this reason we are to be congratulated upon
the success of the field maneuvers at Man
last Fall. maneuvers In which a larg-
number of regulars and National Guar6
took part than ever before assembled
together in time of peace. No other civil
lied Nation has, relatively to Its population
such a diminutive Army ours: and whiler
the Army Is small we not to be ex-
cused if we fail to keep it at very high
grade of proficiency. 1t must be necessarily
practiced; the standard for the enlisted men
should be kept very high, while at the same
time the service should be made as attrac-
tive possible; and the standard for the
officers should be kept even higher-whtch,
as regards the upper ranks. can best be done
by introducing some system of selection and
rejection into the promotions We should be-
able in the event of some sudden emerg-
ency, to put into the field one frst-class
Army corps, which should be, as whole, at
least the equal of any body of troops of like
number belonging to any, other nation.
In the Philippine Islands there has been
during the past year continuation OF the
steady progress which has obtained ever
since our troops definitely got the upper
hand of the insurgents The Philippine peo-
pie, or, to speak more
The Philippines. accurately, the many
tribes. and even races.
sundered from another more or less
sharply. who go to make up the people or
the Philippine Islands, contain many ele-
ments of good, and some elements which We
have right to hope stand for progress At
present they utterly incapable of exist
ind2nendonce o
| up a civilization Of their own 1 firmly be-
| lieve that can help them to rise higher
and higher in the scale OF civilization and OF
| capacity for self-government. ana most
| earnestly hope that in the end they will be-
able to stand, if not entirely alone yet IN.
| Cuba now stands. This end Is not yet IN
| sight, and it may be indefinitely postponed
| If our people 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,
| dangerous intrigues for complete indie
pendence for which they are as yet totally
| unfit.
i On the other hand, our people must keep.
| steadily before their minds the fact that the
| justifca ton for stay in the Philippines
must ultimately 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 in the Pacific Ocean and along
l it's coasts the Philippines have played and
will 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 us 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 possessions in.
the Orient. There are points of resemblance
. in our work to the work which is being done
by the British in India and Egypt, by lAss
French in Algiers by the Dutch in Java by
the Russians in Turkestan, by the Japanese
in Fornosa; but more distinctly than any of
these powers we are endeavoring to develop.
: the natives themselves so that they shall
, | take an ever-increasing share In their own
| government, and far is prudent we are
, | already admitting their representatives. to q.
governmental equality with our own.
There are Commissioners, Judges. and Gov
ernors in the islands who Filipinos and
! who have exactly the same share in the
government of the islands as have their col
leagues who Americans. while in the
p the public servants are Filipinos. Within two
! years we shall be trying the experiment of
e an elective lower house IN the fhaIpplne
u u will misuse this Legislature. and they GER
tainly will misuse it If they are m1sled by
foolish persons here at home into starting
an agitation for their own independence or
, into any factious or improper action. In such
case they will do themselves no good ana
will stop for the time being all further ef-
y fort to advance them and give them a
) greater share in their own government. But
. if they act with wisdom ana sel1-restraiht, I,
e :, If they show that they are capable OF electins
. a Legislature which in Its turn Is capable
u of taking a and efficient part in the
u actual work of government. they can rest
e assured that fell and increasing measure
o of recognition will be given them. Above all
:, they should remember that their prime needs
II are moral and industrial, not political 1t Is
y a good thing to try the experiment Of CIV
e ing them Legislature; l>ut 1t is far bet
. ter thing to give them schools, good roads
It railroads which will enable them to get theil
| products to market, honest courts, an honest
Is and efficient constabulary and all that tends
IS to produce order, peace, fair dealing as be-
n tween man and man. and habits Of intelli.
l. gent industry and thrift. If they are safe.
Is guarded against oppression. and If their rea
% wants, material and spiritual, are studied IN
g teIlieently and in a spirit of friendly sym
= pathy, much more good will be done them
s. than by effort to give them politica
se power though this effort may in Its OWL
1t proper time and place be proper enough.
N Meanwhile our own people should remem
l. her that there is need for the highest stand