The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-08


tinue under the protection of Il strong
and disinterested power, able to guar
antee to-the. islands order at home and
protection from foreign invasion. But
no one can prophesy the exact date
when it will be wise to consider in
dependence as a fixed and definite
policy 1t would be worse than folly
to try to set down such 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.
1 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
have in orderly manner. elected their
own governmental authorities, and the
island will be turned over to them.
Our occupation on this occasion has
lasted a 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 solemnly warn them to re
member 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 gov
ern themselves from within.
Japanese Exposition.
The Japanese government has post
poned until 1917 the date of the great
international exposition, the action be-
ing taken so as to insure ample time
in which to prepare to make the eX-
position 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 will
be- marking as it does the fiftieth an
niversary of the ascension 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 century is
something unparalleled in all previous
history. This exposition will fifty
commemorate and signalize the giant
progress that has been achieved. 1t
is the first exposition of it's kind that
has ever been held in Asia. The Unit
ed States because of the ancient
friendship between the two peoples,
because each of us fronts on the Pa
cific and because of the growing com
merciaI relations between this country
nd els IA int Of in
seeing the exposition made a success
in every way.
I 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 re-
lsceived 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
port they visited. .
The Army.
/ AS regards the army, l 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 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 9th
er profession. 1t is a curious and by
no. means creditable fact that there
should be so often a failure on the part
of the public and its representatives to
understand the great need from the
standpoint of the service and the ma
ton of refusing to promote respectable
elderly incompetents. The higher
places should be given to the most de-
serving men without regard to senior
ity. at least seniority should be treat
ed as only one consideration. In the
stress of modern industrial competi-
ton no business firm could succeed if
those responsible for its management
were chosen simply on the ground that
they were the oldest people in its en-
pIoyment. Yet this is the course advo-
Gated as regards the army and re-
Quired by law for all grades except
those of general officer. AS matter
of fact, all of the best officers in the
highest ranks of the army are those
who have attained their present posi-,
ton wholly or in part by process of
selection.
The scope of retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con-
slider general unf1tness to command for
any cause in order to secure far
more rigid enforcement than at pres
ent in the elimination of officers for
mental, physical or temperamental
disabilities. But this plan is recon-
mended only if the congress does not