The Topeka state journal., 1908-02-13

of barbarous character and small vo-
cabulary, and We are now engaged
with a school system in teaching their
children, at the rate of 500 a year. a
common medium of communication, the
business language of the Orient and
the language of free institution-our
own English Would Abraham Lincoln
have disapproved that policy?
I'VE have brought in the islands a
system of sanitation which has great
ly reduced the death rate, and we are
gradually teaching those tropical peo-
pie to live in such way that they
far abler to resist the diseases of the
tropical zone. Would Abraham Lincoln
have dissented from this policy?
1--WE have introduced a system of
taxation by which the burdens of gov
ernment are borne by the wealthy and
ability to pay, and have abolished the
old Spanish system by which the taxes
were chiefly exacted from the poor ana
humble classes. We have introduced
and carried on a system of improve
ment of harbors, roads, railroads and
inter-island communication by steam
navigation. We have united the ISLANDS
by improving the means of 1nter-com-
munication and stimulating the spread
of common medium in language as they
never have been united before. Would
Abraham Lincoln have objected to this
policy?
1--WE have introduced into the is
lands and their municipalities,
autonomy in the provincial govern
ments; we have introduced into the
central government. as one branch of
the legislature national assembly,
selected by the eligible voters of the
Christian provinces; and We have
now a government that is largely
government of Philippine people un-
der the final guidance, however, of
An1ariaan- RxRPufjVQ and one
American branch of the legislature.
Would Abraham Lincoln have dis
sented from this policy of thus, step
by step, leading these people on to
an understanding of the 'responsibili-
ties of self-government and familiar
ity with its difficulties?
1--WE have introduced into the Is
land all the constitutional guarantees
under the federal constitution except
the right to bear arms and the right
to serve on juries, for both of which
as yet the civiliza ton of the people is
entirely unfit; but we have given
them, and they are now enjoying, the
right to life, liberty and property and
the pursuit of happiness and free
dom from deprivation of any of those
rights except by due process of law.
We have given them a judicial system
which they, have every confidence.
Would Abraham Lincoln have dis
sented from this?
Lincoln Would Approve.
'sThe truth is. when the altruistic
liberal policy inaugurated by Nc
Kinley and carried on under Roose-
ve1t with respect to the Philippines is
fully understood, it may be affirmed
without hesitation that he would
have approved the Philippine policy
from the beginning to the end, not as
departure from, but as vindication
Of the principles, of the declaration of
independence.
During the administration or
Theodore Roosevelt our influence as
a world power has exceeded anything
before in our history. We have done
more toward bringing about the peace
of the world than any power in this
century. Under these circumstances
is there room for DOUBT rnat Abe Lin
coin would have approved the policy
of Mckinley and Roosevelt in main
tanning our position as a world power
in increasing the size of our navy SO
that when we do intervene in inter-
national affairs we may exercise an
influence commensurate with our
greatnes as nation?
Finally, can there be any doubt
where Abraham Lincoln would have
stood in the issues which peculiarly
distinguished the administration of
Theodore Roosevelt I refer to the
struggle which he and his admfnistra-
ton have made for the elimination
from our business and political fabric
of the corrupting influences of the un-'
lawful business combines and the de-
moralizing effect of disobedience to
law by our great railroad and trans
portation companies. The only thing
that distinguishes Lincoln in all his
life was the contention in favor Of tho
equal administration and protection of
the law. From the soles of his feet
through all that long frame to the top
of his head he was Democrat in the
true sense Of the word and opposed to
privileges and class immunity. He
was not an enemy of wealth lawfully
accumulated. He welcomed and en-
couraged internal improvements and of
course cherished prosperity developed
by business enterprises and the COM
bines of capital but he always exalted
in the consideration of every issue the
rights of the individual and especially
of the humber members of society
who were least able to protect them
selves. Therefore, we may know with
certainty that can not brook CONTRA
diction, that in the struggle to make
all business lawful, to take away from
great corporations the illegal privileges
and immunities that official investiga-
ton have shown in many instances to
prevail, Lincoln would have made the
same good fight which has endeared
Roosevelt to the same plain people of
the country who upheld the hands of
the martyred president through all the
great trials of his administration
Secretary Taft's afternoon and even
ing in, Grand Rapids were strenuous.
He arrived from Kansas City at 2:15
and the days activities included a pub
lie reception at the Morton house, a
reception and speech under the au-
spices of the Taft club at the Majestic
theater, a social dinner at the home of
Philo C. Fuller, an old college friend,
the Lincoln club banquet and address
and another banquet later In the even
ing.
An incident of the banquet was the
announcement that Senator William
Alden Smith would not be a candidate
for delegate at large to the Republican
national convention, withdrawing In
favor of ]. W. B1odgett, Michigan's