The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-03

OF the parties, and ] suggest that
these conventions should consist not
OF delegates chosen for this single
purpose, but OF the nominees for
congress, 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 TO the people for
carrying them into effect,
Territories Over Sea.
These are all matters of vital do
nestle concern. and besides them,
outside the charmed circle OF our own
national life In which our affections
command us. as well as our con-
sciences, there stand out our obliga-
tions toward our territories over sea,
Here we are trustees, Porto Rico,
Hawaii, the Philippines. are ours. in
deed, but not ours to do what we
please with. Such territories. once
regarded as mere possessions. are no
longer to be selflshly exploited; they
are part OF the domain or public con-
science and OF serviceable and en-
lightened statesmanship, We must
administer them for the people who
live In them and with the same sense
OF responsibility to them as toward
our own people In our domestic AZ
fairs. 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 moro diff
flcuIt and 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 accord
ed our own citizens in our own terri
tories and our obligations toward the
people OF Hawaii by perfectipg tho
provision for government already
granted them, but in the Philippines
we must go further. We must hold
steadily In view their ultimate inde-
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.
Natives on Commission.
Acting under the authority con-
ferred upon the president By congress.
l have already accorded the people
OF the islands a majorlty In both
houses or their legislative body by
appointing five instead OF four na-
tive citizens 10 the membership OF the
commission. I believe that in this
way we shall make proof OF their ca
pacity in counsel and their sense OF
responsibility In the exercise of po-
lttlcal power. and that the success OF
this step will be sure to clear our
view for the steps which are to fol-
low. Step by step we should extend
and perfect the system OF self govern
rnent in the islands. making test OF
them and modifying them as expert
ence discloses their successes and
their failures; that we should mora
and more put under the control of tho
native citizens OF tho archipelago the
essential instruments Of their life.
their local instrumentalities Of gov"
ernmenL their schools. all the COM
mon interests Of their communities
and so by counsel and experience set
up q government which all the world
VIII see to be suitable to people
whose affairs are under their own
control AT last. I hope and believe
we are beginning to gain the conf
dence Of tho Filipino peoples. BY their
counsel and experience. rather thar
by our own. we shall learn how best
TO serve them and how soon il will
be possible and wise to withdraw oui
supervision. Let us once find the path
and set out with firm and confident
tread upon IT. and we shall not wan
der from 1t or linger upon It.
Duty as to Alaska.
A duty faces us with regard to
Alaska which seems TO me very
pressing and very imperative: per-
haps ! should say a double duty, for
1t concerns both the political and the
material development OF the territory.
The people OF Alaska should be given
the full territorial form OF govern
ment. and Alaska. as a storehouse,
should be unlocked, One key to II is
a system Of railways. These the
government should itself build and
administer, and the ports and terml-
mails II should itself control In the IN
terest OF all who wish to use them for
the service and development OF the
country and It's people,
But the construction OF railways is
only the first step; is only thrustlng