Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-12-08

ment. But we can not give them
self-government save in the sense Oh
governing them so that gradually
they may, IL they are able, learn
to govern themselves. Under the pres
ent system of just laws and SYM
pathetic administration, we have eV-
cry reason to believe that they are
gradually acquiring the character
which lies at the basis of self-goV-
ernment, and for which, If 1t be
lacking, no system of laws, no paper
constitution, will in any wise serve
as substitute. Our people in the
Philippines have achieved what may
legitimately be called a marvellous
success in giving to them govern.
ment which marks on the part OF
those i'm authority both the necessary
understanding of the people and the
necessary purpose to serve them DIS
intcrestedly and in good faith. |
trust that within generation the
time will arrive when the Philippines
can decide for themselves whether Ii
Is well for them to become independ-
cnt, or to continue under the protec-
ton of strong and distnterested
power. able to guarantee to the is
lands order at home and protection
from foreign invasion. But no one
can prophesy the exact date when 1t
will be wise to consider independ-
ence as fixed and definite policy.
II would be worse than folly to try
to set down such date in advance,
for II must depend upon the way in
which the Philippine people them
selves develop the power of sclf-mast-
cry.
PORTO RICO.
| 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 elect
ed their own governmental author
tiles, and the island will be turned
over to them. Our occupation on this
occasion 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
| would sOlemnly warn them to re-
member the great truth that the
only way 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 1t should
be made. The American commission
ers have visited Japan and the post
ponement will merely give ampleI
opportunity FOR America to be repre-
scented at the exposition. Not since
the first international exposition ha.
there been one of greater Importance
than this will be, marking as 1t doe
the fiftieth anniversary of the ascen
sion to the throne of the Empero
of Japan. The extraordinary leap t.
foremost place among the nation
of the world made by Japan dur
ing this half century is something
unparalleled in all previous history
This exposition will fifty common
crate and signalize the giant prog
ress that has been achieved. Ii Il
the first exposition of its kind tina
has ever been held in Asia. TIT
United States, because of the an
cient friendship between the tw,
peoples, because each of us fronts
on the Pacific, and because of thu
growing commercial relations be
tween this country and Asia, take
peculiar interest in seeing the ex
position made a success in every way
The Fleet.
take this opportunity publicl.
to state my appreciation Of the wa,
in which in Japan, in Australia, II
New Zealand, and in all the State
of South America. the battle fee
has been received on its practise voy
age around the world. The Amer
lean Government can not too strong
ly express its appreciation of tn
Astounding and generous hospitalit.
shown our ships in every port the.
visited.
THE ARMY.
AS regards the Army | call atten
tion TO the fact that while our JUNO
officers and enlisted men stand yer
high, the present system of promo
ton by seniority results in bringing
into the higher grades many men o
mediocre capacity who have but
short time to serve. No man shout
regard II as his vested right to ris
10 the highest rank in the Arm
any more than in any other profes
sion. II is a curious and by no mean
creditable fact that there should b
so often "A failure on the part Of tn
public and its representatives to nm
derstand the great need, from tn
standpoint of the service and tn
Nation, of refusing to promote re
spectacle, elderly incompetents. TIL
higher places should be given to tn
most deserving men without regar
to seniority; at least seniority shoul
he treated as only one considers
ton. In the stress of modern In
dustrial competition no business fri
could succeed If those responsible
for its management were chosen sin
ply on the ground that they wer
the Oldest people in its employment
yet this Is the course advocated a
pnUurlg thn a ranttiraI IA