The sun., 1906-12-05

I
and business men in the West, for at present
at certain seasons Of the year the difference
! in interest rates between the East and the
! West Is from to 10 per cent, whereas in
Canada the corresponding difference is but
| per cent. Any plan must, of course.
| guard the interests OF Western and Southern
| bankers as carefully IA it guards the in
| terests of New York or Chicago bankers,
and must he drawn from the standpoints
| of the farmer and the merchant no less
| than from the standpoints of the city banker
! and the country banker.
The law should be amended 80 as spe-
! officially to provide that the funds derived
/ from customs duties may be treated by the
| Secretary OF the Treasury as he treats
| funds obtained under the internal revenue
| laws. There should be a considerable in
crease in bills OF small denominations.
| Permission should be given banks, II neces-
sary under settled restrictions, to retire
| their circulation to a larger amount than
| three millions a month
PHILIPPINE TARIFF.
provide lower tariff for or else absolute
free trade In Philippine products will be-
| come a law. No harm will come to any
J American industry, and while there will
| be some small but real material benefit to
| the Filipinos, the main benefit will come
| by the showing made as to our purpose
20 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 nation,
by proving that we are capable honorably
| and efficiently to bear the international
| burdens which a mighty people should
| bear, but even more because of the I'M
| mense benefit that has come to the people
| OF the Philippine Islands. In these islands
we are steadily introducing both liberty
| and order to a greater degree than their
people have ever before known. We have
secured justice. We have provided an
efficient police force and have put down
ladronisn. Only in the islands OF Leyte
and Samar Ia the authority OF our Gov
| ernment resisted, and this by wild noun
tain tribes under the superstitious insPira-
ton OF fakirs and peeudo-rehgious leaders.
We are constantly increasing the measure
OF liberty accorded the islanders, and next
spring, II conditions warrant, We shall take
| a great stride forward in testing their ca
pacity for self.government by summon
ing the first Filipino Legislative assembly;
and the way in which they stand this test
| will largely determine whether the self
government thus granted will be increased
| or decreased; for II we have erred at all In
| the Philippines IL has been in proceeding
too rapidly in the direction OF granting
are building roads. We have, for the i'm
measurable good Of the people, arranged
for the building OF railroads. Let us also
| see to it that they are given free access
imperative duty TO itself and mankind than
the duty OF managing the affairs OF all the
islands under the American fiag-the
Philippines, Porto Rico and Hawaii-so as to
make It evident that it is in every way to
their advantage that the flag should fly
over them.
PORTO RrCAN AFFAIRS.
American citizenship should be conferred
on the citizens of Porto Rico. The harbor
Of San Juan in Porto Rico should be dredged
and improved. The expenses OF the Fed
eral Court of Porto Rico should be met from
ton of the affairs of Porto Rico, together
with those OF the Philippines, Hawaii and
our other insular possessions, should all be
directed under one executive department
by preference the Department OF State or
the Department OF War.
HAWAII.
The needs of Hawaii are peculiar; every
aid should be given the islands, and our
efforts should be unceasing to develop them
along the lines OF community OF small
freeholders, not OF great planters with
ooolie-tilled estates Situated as this Terri
tory is, in the middle of the Pacific, there are
duties imposed upon this small community
which do not fall in like degree or manner
upon any other American community.
This warrants our treating II differently
from the way in which we treat Territories
contiguous to or surrounded by sister
Territories or other States and justities
the setting aside of portion OF our reve-
nues to be expended for educational and
internal improvements therein. Hawaii is
now making an effort TO secure immigra-
ton fit in the end TO assume the duties and
burdens OF full American citizenship, and
whenever the leaders in the various indus
tries of those islands finally adopt our
ideals and heartily join our administration
in endeavoring to develop middle class or
substantial citizens a way will then be
found to deal with the commercial and
industrial problems which now appear to
them so serious. The best Americanlsm
il that which aims for. stability and per-
manency OF prosperous citizenship, rather
than immediate returns on large masses OF
capital.
Alaska's needs have been partially met,
but there must be a complete reorganiza-
ton Of the governmental system, as have
before indicated to you, l ask your espe-
who dwell on the shores of Puget Sound
with characteristic energy are arranging TO
hold in Seattle the Alaska Yukon Pacific
Exposition. Its specialH aims include the
upbuilding OF Alaska and the development
of American commerce on the Pacific
Ocean. This exposition, in its 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 Govern
duced nearly $500, 600 600 in gold, furs
and fish. When properly developed it will
become in large degree a land Of homes.
The countries bordering the Pacific Ocean
have a population more numerous than
that of all the countries OF Europe; their
annual foreign commerce amounts to over
$1,000 ,OOO, 600, Of which the share OF the
United States is some s7OO,O00OOO. II this
trade were thoroughly understood and
pushed by our manufacturers and pro-
ducers the industries not only Of the Pa
cific slope but OF all our country, and par
ticularly of our cotton-growing States,
would be greatly benefited OF course, in
order to get these benefits, we must treat
fairly the countries with which we trade.
INTERNATIONAL MORALITY.
It is a mistake, and il betrays a spirit OF
foolish cynicism, to maintain that all inter-
national governmental action is, and must
ever De, based upon mere seltishness, and
that 20 advance ethical reasons for such
action is always a sign Of hypocrisy. This
is no more necessarily true of the action
of governments than Of the action of indi-
viduals. 1t is a sure sign of a base nature
always to ascT1be base motives for the
actions OF others. Unquestionably no
nation can afford 10 disregard proper con-
sideratons of self-interest, any more than a
private individual can do so. But il is