Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-08
ROOSEVELT


task of the kind has ever been better |
performed. The men on the isthmus. |
from Colonel Goethals and his fellow |
commissioners through the entire list |
of employees who are faithfully doing !
their duty, have won their right to the !
ungrudging respect and gratitude of
the American people.
Ocean Mail Lines.
I again recommend the extension of
the ocean mail act of 1891 so that sat
isfactory American ocean mail lines to
South America, Asia. the Philippines
and Australasia may be established
The creation of such steamship lines
should be the natural corollary of the
voyage OF the battle feet. 1t should
precede the opening of the Panama
canal.
The Philippines.
Real progress toward self govern
ment is being made in the Philippine
Islands Tie gathering of Philippine
legislative body and Philippine assem-
bly, marks a process absolutely new In
Asia, not only as regards Asiatic colo
MES of European powers. but as re-
CARDS Asiatlc possessions of other Ash
| attic powers. and indeed. always ex-
cepting the striking and wonderful ex-
ample afforded by the great empire of
Japan. 1t opens an entirely new de-
parture when compared with anything
| which has happened among Asiatic
| powers which are their own masters.
| We have given the F'ilipinos constitu-
| tional government, government based
| upon justice. and we have shown that
| we have governed them for their good
and not for our ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
| At the present time, as during the
past ten years, the memorable logic OF
| facts shows that this government
must be supplied by US and not by
them. We must be wise and gener-
Gus. We must help the FilipinoS to
master the difficult art of self con
troll, which is simply another name for
self government. But we cannot give
them self government save in the
sense of governing them SO that grad
ually they may, If they are able, learn
to govern themselves. No one can
prophesy the exact date when it viii
be wise to consider independence as
fixed and definite policy.
Porto Rico.
. 1 again recommend that American
pie of Porto Rico.
Cuba.
In Cuba our occupancy will cease II
about two months time. The Cuban:
have in orderly manner elected thei
. own governmental authorities, and th'
; island will be turned over to them
Our occupation on this occasion ha
, lasted a little over two years. an(
, Cuba has thriven and prospc-ed undo
it. Our earnest hope and one desir
, | is that the people of the island shall
now govern themselves with justice
so that peace and order may be Sc
cure.
The Fleets Reception.
I take this opportunity publicly t
state my appreciation of the way il
which in Japan. in Australia, in New
Zealand and in all the states of Soutl
America the battle feet has been re
ceived on its practice voyage aroun'
the world. The American government
cannot too strongly express its appre
{ citation of the Astounding and generou
: hospitality shown our ships in ever
D port they visited.
The Army.
AS regards the army. call attentio
I, to the fact that, while our Junior of
GERS ard enlisted men stand very higl
the present system of promotion b
: seniority results in bringing into I'll
higher grades many men of mediocl
s capacity who have but short time I
serve. No man should regard it 6
his vested right to rise to the highe
n rank in the army any more than
J. any other profession.
e The scope of retiring boards shou