Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-12-08

!.
tional government, government based
UPON justice. and we have shdFvn that
we have governed them for their good
and not for our aggrundizement-
At the present time, as DURING the
past ten years, the ine1orablo logic u
facts shows that this government
must be supplied by us and not ~
them. We must be wise and gener'
Gus. We must help the Filipinos 70
master the difficult art Of self con-
troll, which is simply another name 1of
self government But we cannot give
them self government save In the
sense Of governing them 80 that grad
ually they may. II they are able, learn
to govern themselves. No one can
prophesy the exact date when 1t WIN
be wise to consider independence as
a fixed and definite policy.
Porto Rice.
| again recommend that American
citizenship be conferred upon the peO'
pie Of Porto Rico.
/. 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 prospercd under
1t. Our earnest hope and ono desire
is that the people Of the island shall
now govern themselves with Justice.
SO that peace and order may be Sc
cure. ,sfsa =.
The Fleets Reception. !
1 take this opportunity publicly to
state my appreciation Of the way in
which in Japan, in Australia, in New
Zealand and In oil the states Of South
America the battle feet has been re-
ceived 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. 49,. =
The Army.
AS regards the army.l call attention
to the fact that, while. our Junior ON
GERS and enlisted men stand very high.
the present system Of promotion by
seniority results In bringing into tho
higher grades many men Of mediocre
capacity who have but o 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
n.. VN~0%aac@0gN
The scope Of retiring boards should
be extended 80 that they could con.
slider general unfitnesS 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 temperamentat
disabilities. But this plan is recon-"
n,ended only IL the congress dos not
see at to provide what In my 5udg-
ment is far better-that iS, for selcc.
ton in promotion and for elimination
for age.
Now that the organized militia. the
national guard, has been Incorporated
with the army as part of the national
forces it behooves the government to
do every reasonable thing In It's pow
er to perfect. its efficiency,
A bill is now pending before the
congress creating d number Of extra
officers in the army, which. il passed.
as It ought to be, will enable more Of
ficers to be trained as Instructors OF
national guard and assigned to that
duty.
There should be legislation to pro
vide complete plan for organic
ing the great body Of volunteers be.
hind the regular army and national
guard when war has come. While
teams representing the United States
won the rife and revolver champion
ships Of the world against all comcrs
in England this year, it is unfortunate
~ true that the great body Of our citS-
xens shoot less and less as time Goes
on. Sf>s'f ~.
To meet this we sho1ld encourage
ride practice among schoolboyS and
indeed among all classes, as wen as
in the military services, by every
means in our power.
This Navy. ,
I approve the recommendation OF
the general board for the increase Of
the navy, calling especial attention to
the need Of additional destroyere and
GOLFERS and. above all, Of the four bat
tleships. 1t is desirable to complete
as soon as possible squadron Of eight
battleships of the best existing type.
The North Dakota, Delaware, FloFi6a
and Utah win form the FIRST division
of this squadron. ,5sA
most earnestly recommend that the
general board be by law turned into
a general stan. Thee is literally no
excuse whatever for continuing the
present bureau organization Of the
navy. The navy should be treated as
a purely military organization. and