The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-12-05

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These are all matters of vital
domestic concern. and besides them,
/ outside the charmed circle of our
| own national life in which our af-
/ fections command US, IA we'll as our
! consciences, there stand out our
| obligations toward our territories
over sea. Here We are trustees.
Porto Rico. Hawaii. the Philippines,
are ours, indeed, but not ours 10 do
what we please with. Such terri
tories, once regarded as mere pos
sessions, are no longer 10 be selfish
ly exploited; they are part of the
domain of public conscience and OF
serviceable and enlightened states
manship. We must administer them
for the people who live in them and
with the same sense OF responsible
ity TO them as toward our own peo-
pie in our domestic affairs. No
doubt we shall successfully enough
bind Porto Rico and the Hawaiian
Islands TO ourselves by ties of justice
and interest and affection, but the
performance of our duty toward the
debatable matter. We can satisfy
the obligations OF generous justice
toward the people of Porto Rico by
giving them the ample and familiar
rights and privileges accorded our
own citizens in our own territories
and our obligations toward the peo-
pie Of Hawaii by perfecting the pro-
visions for government already
granted them, but in the Philippines
we must go further. We must hold
steadily in view their ultimate indie
pendence, 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 Con-
gress, ] 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. ! believe that in
this way we shall make proof Of
their capacity in counsel and their
sense of responsibility in the exer-
else of political power. and that the
success of this step will be sure to
clear our view for the steps which
should extend and perfect the sys-
tenn of self government in the ISL
ands, making test of them and modi-
flying them as experience discloses
their successes and their failures;
that we should more and more put
under the control Of the native citi-
zens Of the archipelago the essential
instruments of their life, their local
instrumentalities Of government,
their schools, all the common inter-
ests of their communities, and so
by counsel and experience set up
government which all the world Will
see to be suitable to people whose
affairs are under their own control.
At last. | hope and believe. we are
beginning TO gain the confidence OF
the Filipino peoples. BY their coun-
sci and experience, rather than by
our own. we shall learn how best 10
serve them and how soon il Will be
possible and wise to withdraw our
supervision. Let us once find the
path and set out with firm and con
fident tread upon it and we shall
not wander from ii or linger upon 1T.
A duty faces us with regard to
Alaska which seems to be very press
ing and very imperative; perhaps |
should say a double duty, for il con-
Germs both the political and the ma
terial development of the Territory.
The people of Alaska should be given
the full Territorial form OF govern
ment, and AlaskaS as storehouse,
should be unlocked. One key to it is a
system OF railways. These the Gov
ernment should itself build and ad-
and the ports and terminals
il should itself control in the interest
of all who wish 10 use them for the
service and development Of the coun-
try and its people.
But the construction of railways is
only the first step; is only thrusting
in the key to the storehouse and
throwing back the lock and opening
the door. How the tempting resources
of the country are to be exploited is
another matter. To which shall take
the liberty of from time to time call
ing your attention, for ii is policy
which must be worked out by we'll
stages. not upon theory,
but upon lines of practical expediency.
1t is part of our general problem of
We have freer hand in
out the problem in Alaska than
in the States of the Union; and yet
the principle and object are the same,
wherever we touch IL. We must use
the resources OF the country, not lock
them up. There need be no conflict
or jealousy as between State and Fed
eral authorities, for there can be no
essential differences of purpose be
tween them. The resources in ques-
tion must be used. but not destroyed
or wasted; used. but not monopolized
upon any narrow idea OF individual
rights as against the abiding inter
ests OF communities. That a policy
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