The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-14

TALK BY TAFT
WAR SECRETARY SPEAKS At LIN.
COLIN CLUB BANQUET.
MAKES COMPARISON
Says That Lincoln Would Have Fol-
lowed the Policy Regarding Our
Island Possessions That Roosevelt
Has lnaugurated.

Has Inaugurated.
Grand Rapids, Mich, Feb. 12.-The
Lincoln club banquet here tonight was
a brilliant success, with a gala assem-
bly, of speakers not equaled in Michi-
gan political banquets. More than
1000 persons occupied seats at the
tables. The hall was deliberately dec
GRATED, and as a compliment of Am
bassador %Jusserand of France, French
colors were mingled with the Ameri-
can.
The speakers were Ambassador JUS
serand, Congressman George Edmund
Foss. Secretary of War Taft, Governor.
Curtis Guild, Jr., of Massachusetts, and
Director John Barrett of the bureau Of
South American republics. Although
all Of the speakers we're greeted with
enthusiasm, it was Secretary Taft
who received the greatest outburst Of
applause. It continued for several.
minutes before he could begin his adj
dress. interrupted by applause. he
spoke In part as follows:
How We Got Them.
1.-THE Philippine islands came to us
without our design. In war one must
pursue his enemy where he a find
him. 1t was necessary tnat Dewey
should destroy the Spanish fleet in the
Pacific to prevent its use against our
commerce and against u Pacific ter
ritory. The destruction Of the Span
ish feet put The Philippine islands at
our mercy.
I'VE had no troops, however, and as
a reasonable war measure we invoked
the assistance of Aguinaldo and his
fellow insurgents against the power
of Spain. and with the assistance OF
Aguinaldo's ARMY we took the city Of
Manila and then peace came. u
question was, what course lay open
to us?
Should we turn onr island allies
back to the government of Spain and
the oppression against which they had
revolted? Would Abraham Lincoln
have advised that course? / do not
think 50.
I'm the now nearly 10 years that
we have been IN the islands We have
produced tranquility and freedom from
the ladronism and disturbance which
long interfered with agriculture on the
islands. We have done this ct the
cost Of blood and. treasure. Would
Abraham Lincoln have disproved this
policy3
Lincoln Would Approve.
I'VE have introduced In the
islands all the constitutional guaran-
tees under the federal constitution
except the right to bear arms and the
right to serve on juries. for both OF
which as yet the civilization Of the
people is entirely unit, but we have
given them and they : now enjoying
the right to life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness with freedom from
deprivation OF any Of these rights ex-
cept by due process of law. We have
given them a judicial system in the
impartiality and efficiency Of which
they have every confidence. Would
Abraham Lincoln have dissented from
this?
FINALLY, can there be any doubt
where Lincoln would have stood on
the issues which peculiarly distinguish
the administration Of Theodore Roose.
welt? l refer to the struggle which
he and his administration have made
for the termination from u business
and political fabric Of corrupting infu'
ences of unlawful business combina
lions and the demoralizing influence
of disobedience to law by u great
railroad and transportation companies
1.-THE n thing that distinguished
Lincoln in all his life was the conten
ton in favor OF the equal adninistra
ton and protection Of these laws. Lin
coin would have made the same goot
fight which has endeared Roosevelt tt
the same plain people who upheld The
hands OF the martyred presiden'
through all the great trials OF his aa
ministration."
Low TACOMA DEATH RATE.
Tacoma. Feb. 12.-Dr. A. D. Green