Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1913-12-05

tons toward our territories over sea. J
Here we are trustees.
Porto Rico, Hawaii, the Philippines,
are ours, indeed, but not ours to 90
what we please with. Such territories, {
once regarded as mere possessions
are no longer to be selfishly exploit
ed: they are part of the domain OF
public conscience and of serviceaple
and enlightened statesmanship. We
must administer them for the people
who live in them and with the same
sense of responsibility to them as to-
ward our own people in our domestic
affairs.
No doubt we shall successfully
enough bind Porto Rico and the Ha-
waiian islands to ourselves by ties OF
Justice and interest and affection, but
the performance of our duty toward
the Philippines Is more difficult
and debatable matter.
Philippines Present Problem.
We can satisfy the obligations of
generous justice toward the people OF
Porto Rico by giving them the ample
and familiar rights and privileges &C
corded our own citizens In our own
territories and our obligations toward
the people of Hawaii by perfecting
the provisions for self government al
ready granted them. but in the Phil
ippines we must go further.
We must hold steadily in view
their ultimate independence. and we
must move toward the time OF that
independence as steadily as the way
can be cleared and the foundations
thoughtfully and permanently laid.
Acting under the authority con-
ferred upon the president by congress,
l have already accorded the people OF
the islands a majority in both houses
!. Of their legislative body by appoint
ing five instead of four native ctti-
zens to the membership OF the COM
mission, l believe that in this way
J we shall make proof Of their capacity
!. in counsc. and their sense of respon-
: sibility in the exercise Of political
! power, and that the success OF this
!, step will tie sure to clear our view for
: the steps which are to follow.
Perfect Self Government.
: Step by step we should extend and
! perfect the system Of self-governmen1
= in the islands, making test OF then
: and modifying them as experience
discloses their success and theil
. failures; that we should more ant
more put under the control OF the ma
: tive citizens Of the archipelago tn
essential instruments of their life
e their local instrumentalities OF gov
- eminent, their schools. all the con
q mon interests of their communities
and so by counsel and experience sc
up a government which all the worl
will see to be suitable to peopl
= whose affairs are under their ow
# control.
nj At last, / hope and believe, we ar
- beginning to gain the confidence
the Filipino peoples. BY their coul
sci and experience, rather than by OF
ne own, we shall learn how best to serV
n them and how soon it will be possib
IT. and wise to withdraw our supervisor
b. Let us once find the path and set OF
ng with firm and confident tread upon
IS and we shall not wander from 1t
OF linger upon 1t.
:. Duty to Alaska.
nj. A duty faces US with regard to Ala
re- ka which seems to me very pressir
iii and very Imperative; perhaps shou
st. say double duty, for 1t concerl
ed both the political and the material d
ty velopment of the territory.
be The people Of Alaska should be 81
Jet en- the full territorial form of COVER
10. ment, and Alaska, as storehous
Of should be unlocked. One key to 1t
a system of railways. These the &c
eminent should itself build and
minister, and the ports and termina
an it should itself control in the int
Sc est of all who wish to use them I
an the service and development of t
for country and its people.
es. But the construction of railways
lis only the first step; Is only thrusti
TIA in the key to the storehouse q
the throwing back the lock and openi
len the door.
ons How the tempting resources OF
the country are to be exploited is anott
lay matter, to which / shall take the
EST erty of from time to time calling yG
om. attention, for it Is a policy which mi
be worked out by well-considel
his stages, not upon theory. but up
re- lines Of practical expediency. It
My part of our general problem OF cons
40 walton.
RES We have freer hand in work
the out the problem in Alaska than In
,on- states Of the Union; and yet the pl