The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-12-08


must be supplied by us and not by
them We must be wise and gener-
Gus; we must help the ElipinJs to |
master the difficult art of solf-conrol, /
which is simply another name for self /
government But we can not give
them selfgovernmcnt save in the
sense of governing them so that
gradually they may, if they are able, !
learn to govern themselves. Under |
the present system of Just laws and
sympathetic administration. we have
every reason to believe that they are
gradually acquiring the character
which lies at the basis of self-govern-
ment, and for which if it be lacking,
no system of laws, no paper constitu-
ton. will in any wise serve as a sub
sutute. Our people in the Philippines
have achieved what may legitimately
be called a marvellous success in Civ
ing to them a government which
marks on the part of those in author
ity both the necessary understanding
of the people and the necessary pur-
pose to serve them disinterestedly
and in good faith. l trust that with
in a generation the time will arrive
when the Philippines can decide for
themselves whethr 1t is well for them
to become Independent or to continue
under the protection of a strong and
disinterested power, able to guaran-
tee to the islands order at home and
protection from foreign invasion.
But no one can prophesy the exact
date wnen il will be wise to consider
independence as a fixed and definite
policy. It would be worse than folly
to try to set down such a date in ad"
vance, for It must depend upon the
way in which the Philippine people
themselves develop the power of self
mastery.
PORTO RICO.
I'again recommend that American
citizenship be conferred upon the
people of Porto Rico
CUBA.
In Cuba our occupancy Will cease
in about two months time; the Gu
bans have in orderly manner elected
their own governmental authorities,
and the island will be turned over to
them. Our occupations on this occa-
sion has lasted little over two years,
and 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 secure, We will gladly help them
to this end; but l would solemnIy
warn them to remember the great
truth that the only way a people can
permanently avoid being governed
from without is to show that they
both can and will govern themselves
from within.
JAPANESE EXPOSITION.
The Japanese Government has post
poned until 1917 the date of the great
international exposition. the action
being taken so as to insure ample
time in which to prepare to make the
exposition all that it should be made.
The American commissioners have
visited Japan and the postponement
will merely give ampler opportunity
for America to be represented at the
exposition. Not since the first inter-
national exposition has there been
one of greater Importance than this
VIII W maj Mis- as II uOCo lllC llIlICoh
anniversary of the ascention to the
throne of the Emperor of Japan. The
extraordinary leap TO a foremost
place among the nations of the world
made by Japan during this half cen
fury is something unparalleled in all
previous history. This exposition will
fifty commemorate and signalize the
giant progress that has been achiev-
ed, 1t is the first exposition of its
kind that has ever been held in Asia.
The United States, because of the an
cient friendship between the two
peoples, because each of us fronts on
the Pacific, and because of the grow
ing commercial relations between
this country and Asia, takes a pecu-
liar interest in seeing the exposition
made a success in every way.
l 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 fleet has
been received on its practice voyage
around the world. The American Gov
eminent can not too strongly express
its appreciation of the Astounding and
generous hospitality shown our ships
in every port they visited
THE ARMY.
AS regards the Army I call atten-
ton to the fact that while our junior
officers and enlisted men stand very
high, the present system of promotion
by seniority results in bringing into
the higher grades many men of medi-
OGRE capacity who have but short
time to serve. No man should regard
it as his vested right to rise to the
highest rank in the Army any more
than in any other profession. It is
curious and by no means creditable
fact that there should be so often a
failure on the part of the public and
Il q L.E il.c.. l-n..