Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-12-08

and Australasia may be established.
The creation Of such steamship lines
should be the natural corollary Of the
voyage Of the battle feet II should
precede the opening Of the Panama
canal.
The Philippines.
Real progress toward self govern
ment Il being made In the Philippine
Islands. The gathering Of q Philippine
legislative body and Philippine assem-
bly, marks process absolutely new in
Asia. not only as regards Asiatic colo
MES Of European powers, but as re-
CARDS Asiatic possessions Of other Ash
attic powers, and indeed, always en-
cepting the striking and wonderful ex-
ample afforded by the great empire Of
japan, It 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 FilIpinos constltu-
tional government, q government based
upon justice. and we have shown that
we have governed them for their good
and not for our aggrandlzement
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, II they are able, learn
to govern themselves. No one can
prophesy the exact date when It will
be wise to consider independence as
a fixed and definite policy.
Porto Rico.
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, aud
Cuba has thriven and prospered under
Il. 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 Sc.
| cure.
The Fleets Reception.
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 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.
The Army.
As regards the army, call attention
to the fact that, while our junior OH
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 1t as
/ his vested right to rise to the highest
rank in the army any more than in
any other profession.
The scope Of retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con.
slider general unAtness to command
for any cause In order to secure a 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 II the congress does not
see at to provide what in my judg-
ment ls far better-that IL, for selec.
tion 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 eficiency.
A bin ls now pending before the
congress creating a number Of extra
officers In the army, which, If passed,
as II ought to be. win enable more Of
ticers to be trained as instructors Of
national guard and assigned to that
duty.
There should be legislation to pro-
vide a 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 corners
In England this year. II IL unfortunate
ly true that the great body Of our citi-
sens shoot less and less as time goes
on.
To meet this we should encourage
rifle practice among schoolboys and
indeed among all classes, as wen a.
In the military services, by every
means in our power.
The Navy.
/