Our Foreign Dependencies
Performed by William H. Taft
Recorded August 5, 1908
The Republican party has pursued
consistently the policy originally adopted with respect
to the dependencies which came to us as the result
of the Spanish War. The material prosperity of Puerto
Rico and the progress of its inhabitants toward better
conditions in respect to comfort of living and education
should make every American proud that this nation
has been an efficient instrument in bringing happiness
to a million people. In Cuba, the provisional government
established in order to prevent a bloody revolution,
has so administered affairs and initiated the necessary
laws, as to make it possible to turn back the island
to the lawfully elected officers of the Republic in
February next. In the Philippines, the experiment
of a national assembly has justified itself both as
an assistant in the government of the island and as
an education in the practice of self-government to
the people of the island. We have established a government
with effective and honest executive department and
a clean and fearless administration of justice. We
have created and are maintaining a comprehensive school
system which is educating the youth of the islands
in English and in industrial branches. We have constructed
great government public works, roads and harbor. We
have induced the private construction of 800 miles
of railroad; we have policed the island so that their
condition as to law and order is better now than it
ever has been in their history. It is quite unlikely
that the people, because of the dense ignorance of
90 percent, will be ready for complete self-government
and independence before two generations have passed.
But the policy of increasing partial self-government
step by step, as the people shall show themselves
fit for it, should be continued. The proposition of
the Democratic platform is to turn over the island
as soon as a stable government is established. This
has been established. The proposal then is in effect
to turn them over at once. Such action would lead
to ultimate chaos in the islands and the progress
among the ignorant masses in education and better
living will stop. We are engaged in the Philippines
in a great missionary work that does our nation honor
and is certain to promote in a most effective way
the influence of Christian civilization. It is cowardly
to lay down the burden until our purpose is achieved.