The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-08-31

lllG ldWS or the country lO WHICH tHtS go.
 Before leaving international politics let me add that our nation has lost prestige, rather than gained it, by our experiment in colonialism We have given the monarchist a chance to ridi- cule our declaration of independence and the scoffer has twitted us with inconsistency. -
 A tour through the Philippine Islands has deepened the conviction that we should lose no time announcing our purpose to deal with the Filipinos as we dealt with the Cubans. Every consideration, commercial and political, leads to this conclusion. Such ground as we may need for coaling stations or for a naval base will be gladly conced- ed by the Philippines, who simply de- sire an opportunity to work out their own destiny, inspired by our example and aided by our advice. In SO far as our efforts has been directed toward the education of the Phillipinos we have rendered them distinct service bAA III GNuGdLl1lS lllCllI Nt illASA lGEpe5- nize that we are making colonization impossible. If we intended to hold them as subjects we would not dare educate them. Self-government with ultimate independence must be assunl- ed if we contemplate universal edu- cation in the Philippines. As soon as opportunity offers 1 shall discuss the Phillipine question more at length and I shall also refer to English rule in India for it throws light upon our own problems in the Philippines, but these subjects must be reserved until I can speak more in detail.
 In several of the nations of Europe the legislative department of govern ment is more quickly responsive to public sentiment than is our congress. In England, for, instance, where the ministry is formed from the dominant party when an election is held upon any important issue the government proceeds to put into law the will of the people expressed at the polls. While our system is superior in many res- poets it has one defect, viz: that con- gress does not meet in regular session until thirteen months after the election. During this period there is uncertainty, long drawn out which t. the business community is often more damaging than 9 change of policy put into effect Would not the situation be inn proved by constitutional amendment converting the first session of con- gress within a few months after the election and compelling the second ses- sion to adjourn several days before the following election? Such change would not only serve legitimate business tn- terests and give the public the benefit of more prompt relief through remedial legislation, but it would protect the people from the jobs that are usually reserved for the short session which is now held after the election and when many of the members feel less respon- sibility because of defeat at the polls.
 l return more convinced than before of the importance of a change in the method of electing United States sena- tors. There is noticeable everywhere a distinct movement toward democ- racy in its broadest sense. In all the countries which I have visited there is demand that the government be brought nearer to the people In China a constitution is under consideration, in Japan the people are demanding that the ministry, instead of being chosen by the emperor from among his particular friends, shall be selected from parliament and be in harmony with the dominant sentiment, in India there is agitation in favor of a native congress, in Russia the czar has been compelled to recognize the popular voice in the establishment of a duma and throughout Europe the movement manifests itself in various forms. In the United States this trend toward democracy has taken the form of a growing demand for the election of United States Senators by a direct vote of the people. It must be difficult to overestimate the strategic advant- age of this reform, for since every bill must receive the sanction of the senate as well as of the house If representa- tives before it can become a law. no important legislation of a national character is possible until the senate is brought into harmony with the peo- pie I am within the limits of the truth