New-York tribune., 1908-02-13

We have brought about in the islands sys-
tenn of sanitation which has greatly reduced the
death rate. and we are gradually teaching tnose
tropical! people to live in such way that tney
may become stronger and better and far aoieE
to resist the diseases OF the tropic zones w ouid
Abraham Lincoln have dissented from this pol
icy?
We have introduced a system of taxation by
which the burdens of government are borne by
the wealthy and the humble in the proportion OF
their ability to pay, and have abolished the old
Spanish system by which the taxes were chfefly
exacted from the poor and humble classes We
have introduced and carried on a system OF I'M
provement of harbors roads. railroads and inter
island communication by steam navigation we
have united the islands by improving the means
of intercommunication and stimulating the
spread Of a common medium in language as they
never have been united before. Would ADrahaih
Lincoln have objected to this policy?
We have organized autonomy in the munich
paIitfes, autonomy in the provincial govern
ments we have introduced into the central gov
ernment branch Of the legislature Ma
tional Assembly. selected by the eligible voters
of the Christian provinces, and we have now
government that Is largely government OF the
Philippine people, under the final guidance. how
ever. of an American executive and one Amef1-
can branch of the legislature Would Abraham
Lincoln have dssented from this policy of thus.
step by step. leading these people on to an
understanding of the responsibilities OF self
government and familiarity with It's difficulties?
We have introduced into the islands all the
constitutional guarantees under the federal con-
sttution. except the right to bear arms and the
right to serve on jur1es for both of which. as
vet the civilization of the people is entirely un
fit, but have given them. and they are now
enjoying, the right to life liberty and prosperity
and the pursuit of happiness and freedom from
deprivation of any of those rights except by due
process of law. We have given them a judicial
system In the in1partiahty and .,s elnc,eney q. Oh
which they have every confidence Would Aora-
ham Lincoln have dssented from this?
LINCOLN WOULD HAVE APPROVED.
The truth is when the altruistic. liberal policy
inaugurated by Mckinley and carried on under
Roosevelt with respect to the Philippines is fully
20 nP Tfrno In
and his political methods considered 1t may
be affirmed without hesitation that he would
have approved the Philippine policy from the
beginning to the end not as departure from
but vindication Of the principles Of the Dec
laration of Independence.
Stepping now beyond the Philippine policy into
the general policy of expansion can it be prop
erly assumed that Lincoln would have been op-
posed to this distinguishing characteristic of
the Mckinley administration? If it were found
ed military glory and the lust of power 1T
would certainly not meet his approval, but that
is the last motive which can be properly at
tributed to those who have supported and car
ried on the present national policy OF expansion
and world power influence. One of the reasons
why Mr.. Lincoln bitterly opposed to
slavery. as he said In his controversy with
Douglas. was that it was an inconsistent biot
upon our escutcheon as free country. and that
it robbed us Of our proper world influence IN
favor Of freedom and liberty. Nothing could
more clearly show his desire that we, among the
nations of the world should WELD an influence
in favor of the spread of free institutions ana IN
favor of international morality.
The growth in the power Of this country. even
from the time Of Mr.. Lincoln to the present day.
has been enormous. The increase has been from
about 3O.0OO.OO0 to SOOO0OOO people. The pop
ulaton Of the country now extends soldly from
the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. All of this
increases the influence that We must WELD In
the world whether we would or no. The speed
with which communication can now be had be-
tween the nations of the world has SO far re-
duced the size Of the world for practical pur-
poses that we are much nearer to our national
neighbors than were before We are
International
part. We can no longer occupy a position
of isolation. Let u.s. then. see to it that the part
bear is of sufficient dignity and force TO be
worthy Of the intelligence, the wealth and the
moral tone of our people and the extent of our
possessions.
During the administration of Theodore Roose
welt our influence world power has ex-
ceeded anything before in our history. We have
done more toward bringing about the peace or
the world than any other power in this century
Under these circumstances is there room Tor
doubt that Abraham Lincoln would have ap-
proved the policy of Mckinley and Roosevelt In
maintaining our position as a world power, IN
increasing the size Of our navy so that when we
do intervene In international ana1rs we may eA-
ercise influence commensurate with our
greatness as nation?
THE ROOSEVELT ADMINISTRATION.
Finally. can there be any doubt where Abra-
ham Lincoln would have stood In the issues
which peculiarly distinguish the administration
of Theodore Roosevelt? 1 refer to the struggle
which he and his administration have made for
the elimination from our business and political
lawful business combinations and the demoraliz-
ing effect of disobedience to law by our great
railroad and transportation companies; me one
thing that distinguished Lincoln in all his life
the contention in favor of the equal ADMIN
istration and protection of the laws. From the
soles of his feet through all that long frame TO
the top of his head. he was a democrat in the
true sense of the word and opposed to privilege
and class immunity. He was not an enemy of
wealth lawfully accumulated. He welcomed and
encouraged internal improvements. and of
course favored prosperity developed by business
he always exalted in the consideration or every
issue the rights of the individual. and especially
of the humber members of society. who were
least able to protect themselves.
Therefore, we may know with certainty that
cannot brook contradiction that in the struggle
TO make all business lawful, to take away from
great corporate combinations the Illegal prv-
ieges and mmunities that official Investigations
have shown In many instances to prevail, LIN
coin would have made the same good fight
which has endeared Roosevelt to the same plain
people of the country who upheld the hands OF
the martyred President through all the great
trials of his administration
Ambassador Jusserand spoke the election
Of President Lincoln the interest manifested
abroad in his uaeeranceS in that famous strug-
gle between equally brave opponents with its
va rious fortunes" Lincoln's humble birth and
character and the feeling in France at the news
of his death.
Governor Guild assigned to the toast
Lincoln and National Development He said
in part:
We are to some extent controlling corpora
tions but by all kinds of local legislation whose
constantly varying form makes the profitable
field of investment of to-day a desert of deficit
tomorrow Fair play and the protection of the
public demand the establishment of a uniform
system of corporation control by expert ad-
visers under the supervision of the national
government
National law compels corporation when it
fails in business and ends its affairs to lquidate
on the same basis in every state in the Union
Logic and common sense alike demand that not