The Elbert County tribune., 1907-11-14
TELLS THEM ABOUT THE FoRMA-
TIoN AND MANAGEMENT OF
POLITICAL PARTIES.
SUBDIVISION NATURAL
BELIEVES THAT BOTH PARTIES IN
THE PHILIPPINES DESIRE
GOOD GOVERNMENT.

Secretary Taft. In an ad
dress at a banquet given by the Pro
sress party Tuesday night, spoke Of
the history of party divisions and de-
clared that their existence was a nee
essary part of the changes in the Phil
ippines.
The only method of conducting
popular government" he said, 'is by
political parties. The federal party at
the time Of its organization was In no
sense political. When 1t existed 1t was
the only party organized to convince
the people that 1t was best to accept
tse promise of the Americans. 1t
worked bravely and faithfully to this
end and to such an extent that much Of
the success of the early government of
the islands was in no small measure
due to the federalists. They sought
peace and taught the people to seek
peace.
After the firm establishment of the
government had been accomplished a
change was natural. In elections for
Gembers OF the Assembly it was nat
ural for the people to divide.
Knowing and believing that both
the Nationalist and Progress parties
have the interests of the government
at heart, the question of which shall
control is settled only by election
sometimes casting party information
one way and sometimes another.
"The first principle of party politics
necessary to learn is that defeat must
not cause encouragement. The first
lesson in self-goyernment that voters
have to learn is to be good losers. and
when that is learned to be good win
ners, because self-government imposes
restraint on both sides. The minority
must not strive to strike down the
work of their opponents because they
are not in control. and the majority
must SO conduct affairs as to show that
the people have part in the govern
ment
Nothing has given greater pleasure
or more confidence in the success of
what we are doing than the action OF
the Assembly. All matters up to date
have been treated in conservative
manner by both the minority and the
majority. All l ask is that The minor
ity. while pointing out the faults of the
majority. may always conduct itself
with praise, SO as to show that the AS
sembly is a success"
The secretary referred to mistakes
OF The Cuban government, due to lack
of interest in public affairs on the part
of the legislators of that island, and de-
clared that the Philippine Assembly
showed a difference in this respect.
Secretary Taft told the Associated
Press tonight that he expected to re-
turn home over the Siberian railway.
He thought at first the troubles at
Vladivostok would keep his party away
from there. He has received no replies
to dispatches of inquiry he has sent
but he regards 1t as extremely probable
that he will stick to his original plans.
A meeting in Manila of Nationalists
and Radicals, no members of the AS
sembly being present, adopted a motion
censuring the majority of that body for
inaction in regard to propositions In
favor of independence.
Returns from election held yesterday
are coming in slowly and are not def
mite from any province. There are in
dications, however. that the Progress
party has scored a victory. All reports
are to the effect that the election,
which was the first held for the choice
of provincial governors by direct vote
of the people. was quiet throughout the
archipelago.