The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-12-04

ing made as to our purpose to do all in
our power for their welfare. So far
our action In the Philippines has been
abundantly justified. not mainly and
indeed not primarily because Of the
added dignity it, has given US as a
| nation by proving that we are capable
| honorab ly>and efficiently to bear the
interna tonal burdens which mighty
people should bear. but even more be-
! cause Of the immense benefit that has
come to the people Of the Philippine
| islands In these islands we are stead
! lily Introducing both liberty and order
to u greater degree than their people
have ever before known. We have Sc
cured justice. We have provided an
efficient police force and have put
down ludronism. Only in the islands
| Of Leyte and Samar is the authority
| Of our government resisted. and this by
wild mountain tribes under the super
stitious inspiration Of fakirs and pseu-
do religious leaders. We are constant
| ly increasing the measure of liberty
accorded the islanders. and next spring,
| If conditions warrant we shall take a
great stride forward in testing their
capacity for self government by sum-
! moning the first Filipino legislative as
| sembly. and the way in which they
stand this test will largely determine
| whether the self government thus
granted will be Increased or decreased.
| for If we have erred at all in the Phil
| ippines it has been in proceeding too
rapidly in the direction Of granting a
large measure Of self government. We
! are building roads. We have, for the
immeasurable good Of the people. ar
ranged for the building of railroads.
Let us also see to it that they are Civ
en- free access to our markets. This
nation owes no more imperative duty
managing the affairs Of all the islands
under the American flag-the Philip
pines, Porto Rico and Hawaii-so as to
make it evident that 1t is in every way
to their advantage that the flag should
fly over them.
Porto Rican Affairs.
American citizenship should be con-
! ferred on the citizens of Porto Rico.
| The harbor Of San Juan in Porto Rico
| should be dredged and improved, The
expenses of the federal court Of Porto
Rico should be met from the federal
treasury. The administration of the
! affairs Of Porto Rico, together with
those Of the Philippines, Hawaii and
be directed under one executive de-
partment. by preference the depart
ment of state or the department of
war
Hawaii
The needs Of Hawaii are peculiar.
Every aid should t. given the islands,
and our efforts should be unceasny to
develop them along the lines of COM
munity of small freeholders. not of
greet planters with cody titled es-
tates. Situated, as this territory is, in
the middle of the Pacific. there are
duties imposed upon this small COM
munlty which do not fall in like degree
or manner upon any other American
community. This warrants our treat
ing it differently from the way in
which we treat territories contiguous
to or surrounded by sister territories
or other states and justifes the setting
aside Of portion of our revenues to
be expended for educational and in
ternal improvements therein. Hawaii
Is now making an effort to secure i'm
migration tit in the end to assume the
duties and burdens Of full American
citizenship, and whenever the leaders
In the various industries Of those is
! lands finally adopt our ideals and
heartily join our administration in en-
| deavoring to develop a middle class
of substantial citizens way will then
be found to deal with the commercial
and Industrial problems which now ap-
| pear to them so serious. The best
| Americanism Is that which aims for
stability and permanency Of prosper
Gus citizenship rather than immediate
returns on large masses Of capital
! Alaska.
Alaska's needs have been partially
met, but there must be complete re-
organization Of the governmental sys-
TEN, as have before indicated to you.
I ask your especial attention to this.
Our fellow citizens who dwell on the
shores Of Puget sound with character
fstic energy are, arranging to hold In
Seattle the Alaska Yukon Pacific expo
sition. Its special aims include the up
building Of Alaska and the develop
ment of American commerce. on the
i Pacific ocean. This exposition in it's
purposes and scope should appeal not
only to the people Of the Pacific slope,
/ but to the people Of the United States
at large. Alaska since it was bought
has yielded to the government $11 .00O.-
! 600 Of revenue and has produced near
ly $3O0,00O,0OO in gold, furs and fish,
! When properly developed it will become
. in large degree land Of homes. The
countries bordering the Pacific ocean
have a population more numerous than
that Of oil tho couDfrioa nf E11ropo