The Washington times., 1907-05-30
Address on National
AItruiSm Delivered at
St. Louis.
Improvement in Condi-
tons Since Govern
ment Took Charge.
Trade Greatly Increased
and ScourgeS Are
Decreased.
Monetary Gains to Uncle
Sam Nothing, Owing
to Reciprocity.

ST. LOUIS, No. May 3O.-Secretary Of
War Taft was suffering from bronchitis
when he arose this morning at, the home
of Charles Nagel and had~fecourse TO
the services of a throat specialist be-
fore starting on a busy day.
After a reception at the Nagel home
r4he Secretary was given an automobile
ride and taken to the Country Club. He
was then brought back 10 the OdeOn
where he addressed a large crowd OF
the Millers' National Federation dele
gates at 3 D. m His subject was Some
Recent Instances Of Our National Al
truism."
Gentlemen of the Aiillers' Convention:
I esteem it a privilege and an honor TO
address this large, influential and repre-
sentative body. Today Is Memorial Day
and therefore instead of discussing a
subject in which you are interested as
rnillers. I prefer 10 talk 10 you as citi-
zens and patriots. and have Yentured 70
take as the subject OF my remarks. Re
cent Instances Of Our National Altru-
ism
There are those who look to the past
70 find national virtue and contemplate
the present as a period OF national de-
graduation. They impeach the motives
OF those who guide national councils
and in the odium politicum are blind
10 the broad facts which must lead the
impartial historian to reach a cOnclu-
sion wholly at variance with the pessi-
mlsdc view of such critics. The best
illustration Of what 1 am saying is in
the attitude Of a certain class Of critics
toward our policy in respect of the Span
ish war and the problems which fol-
lowed It.
1 ask your attention today. therefore,
To the page of the nations history COW
ering the last nine years, with the hope
OF showing that there never has been,
on the part Of any country, a greater
exhibition OF pure altruism than that eX-
hibited by the United States from the
beginning Of the Spanish war down 10
the present day. toward the peoples who
were Immediately affected. AS we read
the history of a man or a nation, that
which excites our admiration is cour-
ageous action for WHICH no motive can
be found save that of a desire to dis
charge a duty to mankind A study
of the conduct of our nation with re-
spect to Cuba. Porto Rico. and the
philippines. covering now nearly a de-
-cade, ought to ill every American with
pride.
QC Stl0n or wisdom
We made the declaration that we
would not retain Cuba, but would make
her an independent republic as soon as
circumstances would permit The wis
dom Of this self-denying declaration has
often been questioned, and I am not
prepared myself TO say that il was the
wiser course to pursue. So far as our
country was concerned, il was. But
whether in our anxiety TO make clear
our own unselish motive. we may not
have committed ourselves to a policy
not best adapted to the welfare OF the
Cubans.
We expended in the Cuban war up
ward Of 100000 900, and we never have
invited from Cuba the return Of a single
cent. We offered up in deaths and
wounds and disease in that war. the
lives Of las officers and over 400 en-
gisted men. We paid S20.000O00 to Spain
hinder the treaty Of peace. The exact
consideration for this sum II may be
difficult to state. but the result of the
payment was the treaty and by that
treaty was secured a cession of Cuba
and Porto Rico and the Philippines
freed from the debts which Spain had
incurred in their maintenance. It is not
payment the United States freed the
islands from a heavy burden OF debt
which. under ordinary conditions of g
transfer. might have followed them un-
der American sovereignty.
The condition Of the soldiers of the
Cuban army required that some reliet
should be afforded which would enable
them to disband and return to peaceful
employment. To facilitate this, 81
apiece was paid to each Cuban soldier
on his bringing in and depositing hi,
arms. In this way $500 900 were PAID
out OF the United States Treasury. ant
upon the payment being completed. the
exist.
The subject Of sanitation of the island
from one end 10 the other and enc.
cially in the towns left IN a filthy con.
dltlon, was taken up with the thor
Oughness Of the army surgeons, and ir
the course OF this effort one of tn,
greatest and most useful discoVerie,
known to medical science to wit: tn,
transmission of disease by the mos
QuitOes. was added 70 the sum Of hu
man knowledge For four years thi.
sanitation went on. and under Amer.
icar occupation the amount exnandee
FOR this out OF the Cuban TREASURY
reached the large sum OF SlO,0O0OO0.
Improvements in Schools.
Cuba. an island 1900 square miles ir
area, with population g 1.60o.0oo bsl
enrolled in her public schools under
Spanish control 1896 pupils. Their,
were practically no separate schoo
buildings. The pupils were collected II
Ios residences Of the teachers. Their,