The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-14
REPUBLICANS RATIFY
NEW YORK MEETING IN HONOR or
 HIGGINS.
Secretary of War Taft the Principai Speaker, and He DevOres Most of His Address to Phi1ip-
 ulnea.

New York, Oct. 13.--Many prominent
 Republicans were present tonight at
 the ratification meeting and reception
 rendered by the Union League Clup 70
 Lieutenant-Governor Higgins. Repupn-
 can candidate for Governor, and to nis
 associates on the State ticket. Corne- Illus N. Bliss, President of the club, and
 Treasurer of the National Republican Committee. presided.
 In introducing Secretary of War Tart. he paid high tribute to the Secretarys conduct of the affairs in the Philippines and particularly to his strong unhold- ing of the policy of President Roose- welt in the islands.
 Secretary Taft devoted large part
 of his address to the Philippines aues-
 ton. saying:
 What we would like to know from Judge Parker Is whether he thinks the Filipinos are now ready for seif-gov- ernment. There Is the same indefinite ness of statement with respect to what he expects to do as in regard to 70 many other issues which he seems to meet. but in fact dismisses with an ambiguous and noncommitai statement. The American people are entitled to know from one to whom they are in- vited to intrust the executive power of the nation for four years, and from the party to which they are invited to intrust the legislative control and what if they are elected. they propose to do. ''The Republican party states with out hesitation that the Filipinos are not now fitted for self government, ard that they are not likely to be fitted for a generation or more.
 Judge Parker leaves open, as does the Democratic party, the question of the present fitness of the Filipno peo- pie In such a way as to invite discon-' tent and discussion of the Philippines among the people theselves, and espe- ciaily among the demogogues and the l ambitious adyenturers and extremists. {. It Is necessary to explain to an Amer
 can audience that with 90 per cent of | ignorant, superstitious people. most in : f1uenced by first one leader and then another of their own kind. discussion as to the fitness of the people for im- mediate Independence, tends to noth- ing but political agitation, nothing but restlessness and to destroying the pres- ent government.
 'The Democratic party Is directly
 responsible for two years of the war of the insurrection that was continued in 1901 and 1902. Their speeches, their | attitude, their obstruction to the gov ernmental policy encouraged the ex- tremists. encouraged the violent in tho Philippines to believe that with each succeed ing election the Democrats were | to come in, and If they only maintained | their attitude of disturbance and law lessness. they would receive the power | of governing their fellow citizens. The attitude of Judge Parker and the atti- | tude of the Democrats who are behind | him with respect to the Philippines question. whether intentional or not. | Is exactly in accordance with their pre- | vious pernicious policy of stirring up | the Filipino people against the present government, the success of which is the only hope of the islands.
 Judge Parker in his speech of ac- ceptance, charged that the Philippines cost the United States $500. .o00, ,0o0. This Is an exaggeration so great as to be ludicrous. An official report to Con- gress by the Secretary of War in 1902
 showed that the expenses of the army isi the Philippines from 1898 to and in ciuding ten months of the fiscal year 1902, were $fs9.00o,ooo. The Secretary | added that the expenditure of these
 $16s,000,o00 had. part of 1t, been for permanent plants, which constituted
 an asset of the Government and would
 be useful for a number of years.