Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-12-10

parture when computed with anything
which has happened among Asiatic
powers which are their own masters.
We have given the Filipinos constitu-
lionai government, q government based ]
! apon justice, and we have shown that
re have governed them . 81 faeir good
Il NOT for our aggrandizeiasnt,
1t the present time, as duiS The
past ten years. the inexorabie logic Of
Facts shows that this government
must be supplied By US and act BIZ
them We must be wise aiis ge4er
GUS. We must help the f'ilyinos to I
master the difficult art of self con-
troll, which is simply another name for
self government. But we cannot give
them self government save ~ the
sense of governing them so that grad
ually they may, il they are able learn
/ to govern themselves. No one can
| prophesy the exact date when it will
be wise to consider independence as
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 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 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 it's 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 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 a 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.
The scope of retiring boards should
be extended so that they could con-
slider general unfitness 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 if the congress does not
see fit TO provide what in my judg-
ment is far better-that IS. for selec-
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 behooyes the government to
do every reasonable thing In its pow
err to perfect its efficiency.
/ A bill is now pending before the
congress creating number of extra
officers In the army, which. II passed.
..I,@A - l.. a
fcers 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
1 teams representing the United States
won the rife and revolver champion
ships of the world against all corners
In England this year, it is unfortunate
" true that the great body of our citi-
zens shoot less and less as time goes
| on
To meet this we should encourage
| rifle practice among schoolboys and
indeed among all classes. as well as
in the military services. by every
means in our power.
The Navy.
approve the recommendations Of
the general board for the increase of
the navy, calling especial attention to
the need of additional destroyers and
Golfers and. above all, of the four bat
tleships. It is desirable to complete
as soon as possible a squadron of eight
battieships of the best existing type.
| The North Dakota, Delaware, Florida
and Utah will form the first division
of this squadron.
most earnestly recommend that the
general board be by law turned into
a general staff The is literally no
excuse whatever for continuing the
] present bureau organization of the