The Delta independent., 1907-06-28
UncIe Sam, Prize Altruist.
lFrum the Omaha Bee }

tFrun the Omaha Bce.)
In rather striking address at st.
Louis on Memorial day, Secretary Taft
called attention to the remarkable ex-
hibition of altrusm on the part of the
United States, since the close of the
Spanish war, and did not hesitate to
refer to the lack of gratitude on the
part of the peoples that have been the
beneficiaries of Uncle Sans unselfsh
expenditure of time and money for the
benefit of others. 1t was frank state
ment of American experience in gov
erning or protecting outlying posses
sions, and a confession of disappoint-
ment at the insular aloofness and dis
content that appear to be the most
marked rewards of altruistic effort.
Cuba's tooth of ingratitude seems to
have cut deepest. The secretary showed
that the United States spent $500, ,OO0,-
900 and many lives to free Cuba from
an intolerable tyranny. and for ten
years the nation has been to an annual
yearly expense to carry out it's pledge
of unselfishness toward Cuba. The Gu
bans are evidently untitled for self
government, and likewise ungrateful to
the American people who have tried to
save them, first from Spain, and later
from themselves. However, patient
Uncle Sam proposes to keep his word
and give Cuba another chance.
Porto Rico came to the American
school with Cuba. At that time there
was not one building in Porto Rico ded-
icated to educational purposes and only
q, 900 children in schools of any kind
Today there are 100, 900 school children
enrolled, over 100 school buildings, and
the government is spending over $780,
900 a year for educational purposes in
/ Porto Rico. The United States has es-
tablished absolute free trade with Porto
Rico, thus forfeiting about SIS, ,00O, 900
year in duties that would otherwise
be levied against the products of the
country. The island has been advanced
from pauperism to prosperity, and the
natives are still ungrateful.
/ Even more striking results are shown
in the Philippines. The islands cost
the United States about $40, ,OOO, 900,
including the cost of war and the re-
stOration of peace, and an additional
s., 5,OOo, Oo0 annually for the support of
the army in the Philippines. Congress
also voted $3,00O,0oO for the relief of
the famine sufferers a few years ago
and has been liberal in appropriations
for other purposes. Today over 500, 900
Filipino children are studying English
in the schools and there are more Eng
disappearing than Spanish-speaking
natives in the archipelago, the result
of less than ten years effort. Under
American management, the Philippines
have more than 1000 miles of railway,
rs compared with I24 miles at the time
Of the American occupation. New i'm
petus has been given to the develop
ment of the agricultural and other re-
sources, and civil government, with
native officials, has been established
throughout the islands. With all this
effort and expenditure, says Secretary
Taft, the United States has had no
Interior motive, but has worked, and is
working, to develop the Filipinos until
they shall be able to take charge of
their own affairs. When that time
comes, the United States will grant the
Filipinos complete independence and
will withdraw from the islands.
Certainly Secretary Taft is justified
in his declaration that "There never
has been, on the part Of any country.
greater exhibition of pure altruism
than that exhibited by the United
States from the Spanish war to the
present time" The work has been re-
markable when it is remembered tina
the only dividend expected from the in
vestment is the pleasure of pushing the
cause of civilization and increasing the
opportunity for progress to those less
fortunate than ourselves in their envi-
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