Warren sheaf., 1908-12-10

seS present time, az during the past ten
~ l.e ineXnrallle logic OF facts shows.
IS II fh IS government must be supplied
|Jy Us and not by them. We must be-
ssse al nd generous; we must help the
III. nos to master the difficult art Of
control which is simply another
lot give them self-government save In
the sense OF governing them so that
gradual lly they may. Il they are able.
learn to govern themselves Under the
present system of just laws and sympa-
shet1c administration, we have every rea-5
son TO believe that they are gradually ac-5
1usring the character which lies at the.
basis OF sself-government, and for which,
Il 1t be lacking, no system Of laws. no.
paper constitution will In any wise serve
as substitute. Our people In the Phil.
lpplnes have achieved what may legiti-.
nately be called marvellous success in
giving to them government which
marks on the part Of those in authority
both the necessary understanding OF the
people and the necessary purpose to
serve them disinterestedly and in good.
faith. trust that within generation
the time will arrive when the Philippines
can decide for themselves whether it is
well Tor them to become Independent OF.
to continue under the protection of a
strong and disinterested power. able to
guarantee to the islands order at home
and protection from foreign invasion. But
no one can prophesy the exact date when
1T Will be wise to consider independence
as 9 fixed and definite policy. It would
be worse than folly to try to set down
such date In advance. for 1t must de-
pend upon the way in which the Philip
pine. people themselves develop the pow
er OF self mastery 58ss
Porto Rico.
again recommend that American cit
izenship be conferred upon the people Of
81 Porto Rico. .zs2 .%7st - - Is
n Cuba. s. {.
In Cuba our occupancy will cease In
3 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 occu-
patton on this occasion has lasted q lit
tie over two years. and Cuba has .thriv-
en- and prospered under It, Our earnest
nope and one desire IL that the people
OF the island shall now govern them
selves with Justice, so that peace and or
der may be secure. We will gladly help
them to this end; but would solemnly
warn them to remember the great truth
that the only way people can perman-
is to show that they both can and win
govern 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 expo
slt1on all that it should be made. The
American commissioners have visited
Japan ana the postponement will mere
@ly give ampler opportunity for Ameri-
ca to be represented at the exposition.
MOI since the first International expo
sltlon has there been one of greater
Importance than this will be, marking.
as it does, the fftieth anniversary Of
the ascension to the throne of the en-
peror OF Japan. The extraordinary
nations Of the world made by Japan
during this half century is something
unparalleled in all previous history
This exposition will fitly commemorate
and signalize the giant progress that
has been achieved. It is the first ex-
position of It's kind that has ever been
held in Asia. The United States, be-
cause Of the ancient friendship between
the two peoples, because each Of us
fronts on the Pacific, and because Of
the growing commercial relations be-
tween this country. and Asia, takes q
peculiar interest in seeing the exposf-
tion 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-
ceived on its practice voyage around
the world. The American government
can not too strongly express its appre-
citation of the abounding and generous
hospitality shown our ships in every
port they visited.
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 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 a curious and
| by no means creditable fact that there
should be so often a failure on the
part Of the public and its representa-
! tives to understand the great need,
from the standpoint of the service and
| the nation, of refusing to promote re-
L
higher places should be given to the
most deserving men without regard to
seniority; at least seniority should be
treated as only one consideration. In
| the stress of modern industrial COM
| petition no business firm could succeed
If those responsible for its management
were chosen simply on the ground that
| they were the Oldest people in it's en-
| ployment; vet 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 lSof the best officers in the
highest ranks of the army are those
| who have attained their present posi-
tion wholly or in part by a process of
selection #E .sss3sAA $* "a
The scope of retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con-
slider general unfitness to command for
1 any cause, in order to secure a far more
I5rigid enforcement than at present in
| the elimination Of officers for mental,
physical or temperamental disabilities.
But this plan is recommended only if
/ the congress does not see fit to provide
what Fl in my udgment is far better,
/ that is, for selection in promotion, and
| r