Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-12-11

which has happened among Asiatic
powers which are their own masters /
We have given the Filiplnos constItn. \
tional government, q government based
upon Justice, and we have shown that
we have governed them for their good !
and not for our, aggrandizemen. u
At the present time. as during tho
past ten, years, the tnexorable logic Of
facts shows that this government
must be supplied by us and not by
them. We must be Wfse5a1fd gener.
GUS. We must help the Filipinos to
master the difficult art of2S self con.
troll, which is simply another name for
self govern ment, But we cannot give
them self government save in the
sense OF governing them so that grad
ually they may, If they. are sable, + learn
+ to govern themselves. No one can
prophesy the exact date when 1t will
be wise to consider Independence as
fixed and definite policy.
Porto Rico. :,
again recommend that American
citizenship be conferred upon the peo.
pie Of Porto Rico.
Cuba.
In Cuba our occupancy will cease in
about two months time The Cubans
nave in orderly manner elected their
own governmental authorities; and the
island will be turned over to them.
Our occupation on this occasion has
lasted little over two years, aud .
Cuba has thriven and prospered under
it. Our earnest hope and one desire
is that the people Of the island shall
now govern themselves with justice,
SO that peace and order may be &C.
cure. :
Tho Fleets Reception.
take this opportunity publicly to
state my appreciation Of the way In
which in Japan, In Australia, in New
Zealand and in all the states Of South
America the battle heet has been re-
ceived on its practice voyage around
the world. The American government
cannot too strongly express its appre-
citation Of the Astounding and generous
hospitality shown our ships in every
S~'> >' = s.~s>
The Army. !
| AS regards the army, call attention
to the fact that, while our Junior off,
GERS and enlisted men stand very high,
the present system Of promotion by
seniority results In bringing into the
| higher grades many men OF mediocre
capacity who have but a5 short time to
serve. No man should regard 1T as
his vested right to rise to the highest
rank In the army any more than In
any other profession.
The scope Of retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con.
slider general unfitness to command
for any cause in order to securesa far
more rigid enforcement than at pres
ent in the elimination Of officers for
mental, physical OF temperamental
disabilities. But this plan Is recon-
mended only If the congress doas not
see fit to provide what In my judy
ment Is far better-that Isl; for selec.s
ton In promotion and for elimination
for age. Z
| Now that the organized militia, the
national guard, has been incorporated
with the army as part Of the national
forces it behooves the government to
do every reasonable thing in its pow
er to perfect its efficiency.
A bill is now pending before the
congress creating a number Of extra
officers In the army. which. If passed,
as 1t ought to be, will enable more Of
hcers to be trained as instructors of
national guard and assigned to that
duty. 7
There should be legislation to pro-
vide a complete plan for organic
Ing the great body Of volunteers be-
hind the regular army and national
guard when war has come. While
teams representing the United States
won the rife and revolver champion
ships of the world against ali corners
IN England this year, it is unfortunate.
~ true that the great body Of our citi-
zens shoot less and less as time goes
on. y
10 meet this we should encourage
rlne practice among schoolboys and
indeed among all classes, as well as
IN the military services. BY every
means in our power. 3SS
The Navy. Z W u
approve the recommendations Of
the general board for the increase Of
the navy. calling especial attention to-
the need Of additional destroyers ana
Golfers and, above all, OF the four bat
tleshfps. It is desirable to- complete
as soon as possible d sqnadronIof eight
battleships of the best existing type.
The North Dakota, Delaware, Florida
and Utah will form the FIRST division
Of this squadron. !, IN
I most earnestly recommend that the
general board be by law turned into
general stat. Thep is literally MOI
excuse whatever for confirming the
present bureau organization OF the
navy The may should ha seated aag
purely military Organization, and
everything should be subordinatea to-
the one object Of securing military