The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-12-03

We shall all wish. and the country will
expect. this to be the central subject
OF our deliberations during the pres
ent session; but it is subject so
many-sided and so deserving of care
full ard discriminating discussion that
| shall take the liberty of addressing
you upon 1t in a special message at
later date than this. 1t is of capital
Importance that the business men OF
this country should be relieved OF all
uncertainties of law with regard to
their enterprises and investments and
clear path indicated which they can
travel without anxiety. II is as i'm
portant that they should be relieved
OF embarrassment and set free TO
prosper as that private monopoly
should be destroyed. The ways OF
action should be thrown wide open.
turn to subject which hope
can be handled promptly and with
out serious controversy of any kind.
I mean the method of selecting nomi-
nees for the presidency of the United
States. | feel confident that l
do not misinterpret the wishes
or the expectations OF the
country when urge the prompt
enactment of legislation which will
provide for primary elections through
out the country at which the voters of
the several parties may choose their
nominees for the presidency without
the intervention OF nominating con-
ventions venture the suggestion
that this legislation should provide
for the retention of party conventions,
but only for the purpose OF declaring
and accepting the verdict of the pri-
maries and formulating the platforms
of the parties and suggest that
these conventions should consist not
of delegates chosen for this single pur-
pose. but of the nominees for con-
gress, the nominees for vacant seats
in the senate of the United States, the
senators whose terms have not yet
closed, the national committees,
and the candidates for the presidency
themselves, in order that platforms
may be framed by those responsible 10
the people for carrying them into eff
feet
Independence for Philippines,
These are all matters OF vital do
nestle concern. and besides them, out
side the charmed circle OF our own
national life in which our affections
command US, as we'll as our con
sciences, there stand out our obliga-
lions toward our territories over sea.
Here we are trustees, Porto Rico,
Hawaii, the Philippines, are ours, once
regarded as mere possessions, are no
longer to be selhshly exploited; they
are part OF the domain OF public con
science and of serviceable and enlight-
ened craftsmanship. We must admin
them and with the same sense of re.
spohsibillty to them as toward our
own people In our domestic affairs No
doubt We shall successfully enough
bind Porto Rico and the Hawaiian is
lands to ourselves by ties of justice
and affection, but the performance of
our duty toward the Philippines is a
more difficult and debatable matter.
We can satisfy the obligations of gem
erous justice toward the people Of
Porto Rico by giving them the ample
and familiar rights and privileges ac-
corded our own citizens in our own
territory and our obligations toward
the people of Hawaii by perfecting the
provisions OF self-goyernment already
granted them, but in the Philippines
we must go further. We must hold
steadily in view their ultimate indie
pende1ce, and we must move toward
the time of that independence as
steadily as the way can be cleared and
the foundations thoughtfully and per-
manently laid.
Test of Res possibility.
Acting under the authority con-
ferred upon the president by congress,
! have already accorded the people OF
the islands a majority in both houses
of their legislative body by appointing
FIVE instead Of four native citizens to
the membership of the commission.
belieYe that In this way We shall
make proof OF their capacity in coun-
sci and their sense of the responsible
ity In the exercise of political power,
and that the success of this step will
be sure to clear our view for the steps
which are to follow. Step by step
we should extend and perfect the sys-
tenn of selfgovernment In the Islands,
making test OF them and modifying
them as experience discloses their
successes and .heir failures. that we
should wore and more put under thu
control of the native citizens Of thc
archipelago The essential instrument
Of their life, III cir local Instrumental
ties Of government, their schools, al
the common interests of their commu
mites, ard SO by counsel and expert
ence set up a government which all
the world will see to be suitable to
people whose affairs are under thelr
own control At last. hope and be.
lieve, we are beginning to gain the
Of the Filipino peoples. BY
their counsel and experience. rather
than by cur own, we shall learn how
best to serve them and how soon 4 |