Presidential addresses and state papers, Volume 2 (of 7)Roosevelt, Theodore
History
Presidential addresses and state papers, Volume 2 (of 7)
Roosevelt, Theodore
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919; United States -- Politics and government -- 1901-1909
There are still troubles ahead in the islands. The insurrection
has become an affair of local banditti and marauders, who deserve
no higher regard than the brigands of portions of the Old World.
Encouragement, direct or indirect, to these insurrectos stands on the
same footing as encouragement to hostile Indians in the days when we
still had Indian wars. Exactly as our aim is to give to the Indian who
remains peaceful the fullest and amplest consideration, but to have it
understood that we will show no weakness if he goes on the warpath,
so we must make it evident, unless we are false to our own traditions
and to the demands of civilization and humanity, that while we will do
everything in our power for the Filipino who is peaceful, we will take
the sternest measures with the Filipino who follows the path of the
insurrecto and the ladrone.
The heartiest praise is due to large numbers of the natives of
the islands for their steadfast loyalty. The Macabebes have been
conspicuous for their courage and devotion to the flag. I recommend
that the Secretary of War be empowered to take some systematic action
in the way of aiding those of these men who are crippled in the
service and the families of those who are killed.
The time has come when there should be additional legislation for
the Philippines. Nothing better can be done for the islands than
to introduce industrial enterprises. Nothing would benefit them so
much as throwing them open to industrial development. The connection
between idleness and mischief is proverbial, and the opportunity to
do remunerative work is one of the surest preventives of war. Of
course no business man will go into the Philippines unless it is to
his interest to do so, and it is immensely to the interest of the
islands that he should go in. It is therefore necessary that the
Congress should pass laws by which the resources of the islands can
be developed; so that franchises (for limited terms of years) can be
granted to companies doing business in them, and every encouragement
be given to the incoming of business men of every kind.
Not to permit this is to do a wrong to the Philippines. The franchises
must be granted and the business permitted only under regulations
which will guarantee the islands against any kind of improper
exploitation. But the vast natural wealth of the islands must be
developed, and the capital willing to develop it must be given the
opportunity. The field must be thrown open to individual enterprise,
which has been the real factor in the development of every region over
which our flag has flown. It is urgently necessary to enact suitable
laws dealing with general transportation, mining, banking, currency,
homesteads, and the use and ownership of the lands and timber. These
laws will give free play to industrial enterprise; and the commercial
development which will surely follow will afford to the people of the
islands the best proofs of the sincerity of our desire to aid them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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