Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-12-09
The Navy.

The strong arm Of the government
An enforcing respect for its just rights
IN international matters Is tie navy Of
the United States. most earnestly
recommend that there lie no halt In tie
work u upbuilding the AmeI'-'l navy,
We have undertaken 20 build tie 18th
milan canal We have undertaken %
seeure for ourselves our just share IN
the trade OF the orient. We have I'M
dertaken 10 protect our citizens from
Improper treatment In foreign lands.
We continue steadily 20 insist on tie
application OF the Monroe doctrine 20
the western hemisphere. Unless our
attitude In these and all similar mat
tiers IS 10 be mere bolstful sham we
cannot afford 10 abandon our naval
programme. Our voice is now potent
for peace and is so potent because we
are not afraid Of war. But our prot
estatiOns upon behalf Of peace would
neither receive nor deserve the slight
est attention IL we were impotent 10
make them good.
The Army.
Within the last three years the Unit
ed States has set an example in dis
armament where disarmament was
proper BY law our army is fixed at
a maximum Of 10000 and a minimum
Of G0.0Oo men. When there was insur-
rection in the Philippines we kept the
army at the maximum. Peace came in
the Philippines, and now our army
has been reduced TO the minimum at
which 1t is possible TO keep IL with due
regard TO its efficiency. We should be
able. in the event OF some sudden
emergency. TO put into the field one
first class army corps. which should be.
as a whole. at least the equal OF any
body of troops of like number belong
ing to any other nation.
Great progress has been made IN pro-
tecting our coasts by adequate FORTH
cations with sufficient guns. We
should. however. pay much more heed
than at present 20 the development OF
an extensive system OF floating mines
for use in all our more important har-
bors. These mines have been proved
W Ft q AAlV'A saAteudAa
against hostile fleets.
The Philippines.
In the Philippine Islands there has
been during the past year a continual
ton Of the steady progress which has
obtained ever since our troops definite
~ got the upper hand of the insur-
gents. The Philippine people. or. to
speak more accurately, the many
tribes and even races sundered from
| one another more or less sharply who
60 to make up the people OF the Philip
/ pine Islands, contain many elements
OF good. and some elements which we
( have a right TO hope stand for prog
/ ress. At present they are utterly in
/ capable OF existing in independence at
/ all or OF building up a civilization of
their own. l firmly believe that we
( can help them 10 rise higher and high
/ er In the scale Of civilization and Of
[ capacity for self government. and
( most earnestly hope that in the end
7 they will be able 10 stand. IL not en-
I tirely alone, yet In some such relation
| to the United States as Cuba now
I stands. This end is not yet In sight,
/ and 1t may be indefinitely postponed
( If our people are foolish enough to turn
/ the attention of the Filipinos away
from the problems Of achieving moral
and material prosperity. of working
! for a stable. orderly and Just govern
ment. and toward foolish and danger
I Gus intrigues for a complete independ-
( ence for which they are as yet totally
I unfit
On the other hand, our people must
keep steadily before their minds the
fact that the justification for our stay
( in the Philippines must ultimately rest
I chiefly upon the good we are able to
do in the islands. | do not overlook
I the fact that in the development of our
interests in the Pacific ocean and
7 along its coasts the Philippines have
played and will play an important part
/ and that our interests have been serv-
I ed in more than one way by the pos
session Of tie 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 worid's
work, and this particular piece of work
has been imposed upon lis By tie re-
suits of the war with Spain. We are
endeavoring to develop the natives
( themselves so that they shall take an
/ ever increasing share in their own gov
/ eminent, and, as far as Is prudent, we
are already admitting their representa-
tives to governmental equality with
our own. There are commissioners.
[ judges and governors In tie islands
! who are Filipinos and who have exact
/ ~ the same share In the government
4 of the islands as have their colleagues
/ who are Americans, while In the lower
{ ranks. OF course, the great majority of
( the public servants are Filipinos
Within two years we shall be trying
/ the experiment Of an elective lower
house in the Philippine legislature. II
I the Filipinos act with wisdom and self
restraint. II they show that they are
/ capable of electing legislature which
in its turn is capable of taking a sane
and efficient part In the actual work Of
/ government, they can rest assure! that
full and increasing measure OF rec
ognition will be given them.
Every measure taken concerning the
islands should be taken primarily with
view to their advantage. We should
certainly give them lower tariff rates
on their exports 70 the United States.
III this Is not done 1t will he a wrong
! 10 extend our shipping Avs TO them.