Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-18

tratlon conventions with great nations
were confirmed and extradition boundary
and naturalization treaties Of supreme i'm
portance were ratified. We indorSe such
achievements as the highest duty people
can perform and proclaim the obligation
of further strengthening the bonds of
friendship and god Will with all the ma
tons of the world.
Merchant Marine.
We adhere to the republican doctrine of
encouragement to American shipping and
urge such legislation as will revive the
merchant marine prestige of the coun-
try. SO essential to national defense. the
enlargement of foreign trade and the in
dustrial prosperity of our own people.
Veterans of the War.
Another republican policy which must
be ever maintained is that of generous
provision for those who have fought the
country's battles and for the widows and
orphans of those who have fallen. We
commend the increase in the widows
pensions made by the present Congress
and declare for a liberal administration of
all pension laws, to the end that the pee
memories of heroic sacrifice grow more
sacred with the passing years.
Civil Service.
We reaffirm our former declarations that
the civil service laws. enacted, extended
and enforced by the republican party.
shall continue to be maintained and
obeyed.
Public Health.
We commend the efforts designed to
secure greater efficiency in national public
health agencies and favor such legislation
as will effect this purpose.
Bureau of Mines and Mining.
In the interest of the great mineral
industries of our country We earnestly
favor the establishment of a bureau of
mines and mining.
Cuba, Porto Rico, Philippines and
Panama.
The American government, in repub-
lican hands. has freed Cuba. given peace
and protection to Porto Rico and the
Philippines under our flag and begun the
construction of the Panama canal The
present conditions in Cuba vindicate this
wisdom of maintaining between that re-
public and this imperishable bonds of
mutual interest, and tine nope Is now ex-
pressed that the Cuban people will soon
again be ready to assume complete Soy
ereignty over their land.
In Porto Rico the government of the
United States is meeting loyal and pa
triotic support. order and prosperity pre-
vail and the we'll being of the people is
in every respect promoted and conserved.
We believe that the native inhabitants
of Porto Rico should at once be collect
lively made citizens of the United States.
and that all others properly qualified UNI
der existing laws residing in said island
should have the privilege of becoming
naturaliZed.
In the Philippines instruction has been
suppressed. law established and life and
property made secure. Education and
practical experience are there advancing
the capacity of the people for government
and the policies of Mckinley and Roose-
welt are leading the inhabitants step by
step to an ever increasing measure of
home rule.
Time has justified the selection of the
Panama route for the great isthmian
canal and events have shown the wisdom
of securing authority over the zone
through which it is to be built The
far beyond expectation. and already the
realization of the hopes Of centuries has
come within the vision Of the near future.
New Mexico and Arizona.
We favor the immediate admission of
the territories of New Mexico and Ari-
IONA as separate states in the Union
Centenary Of the Birth of Lincoln.
February II, 1909. will be the loOth an
niversary OF the birth of Abraham Lin
coin, an Immortal spirit whose fame has
frightened with the receding years and
whose name stands among the first of
those given to the world by the great re-