PAGE SHOULD THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAU OF INSULAR AFFAIRS BE TRANSFERRED TO SOME OTHER DEPARTMENT THAN THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR? BY MAJOR GEORGE H. SHELTON, U. S. A.. 102 DISCUSSION OF THE LAST PAPER BY REV. DR. LYMAN ABBOTT REV. DR. H. L. MOREHOUSE HON. JOHN J. FITZGERALD TRUE ANTI-IMPERIALISM, BY J. WESTON ALLEN. 112 113 115 114 Fourth Session. Topic: The Philippine Islands." WHAT HAD BEST BE DONE FOR THE MATERIAL ADVANCEMENT OF 117 124 AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, BY HON. E. J. HILL.. 126 136 141 CITIZENSHIP And Self-GoverNMENT FOR PORTO RICANS, BY SENOR EDUCATION IN PORTO RICO, BY HON. EDWIN G. DEXTER. THE RURAL POPULATION OF PORTO RICO, BY HON. GEORGE CABOT 143 148 155 THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PORTO RICANS, BY SENOR MANUEL 161 SOME EDUCATIONAL EXPERIMENTS IN PORTO RICO, BY EVERETT W. PROGRESS IN PORTO RICO, BY DR. ROLAND P. FALKNER. 166 171 176 Sixtb Session. Topic: "Hawaii." HAWAII AND HER NEEDS, BY HON. GEORGE R. Carter.. 177 181 REMARKS OF DAVID L. WITHINGTON. 186 SYMPOSIUM OF LETTERS FROM PROMINENT MEN IN HAWAII IN PLATFORM OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL LAKE MOHONK CONFERENCE OF FRIENDS OF THE INDIAN AND OTHER DEPENDENT PEOPLES, 1908 (The Platform is the official utterance of the Conference and embodies only those principles on which the members unanimously agreed. -ED.) At the session of the Mohonk Conference a year ago the Platform adopted presented a preliminary review of the progress accomplished in behalf of the Indians during the twenty-five years of the history of these Conferences. That worthy story we do not need so soon to repeat. Suffice it to say that our Government has with general wisdom, and with a prevailing purpose to do justice to all our dependent peoples, carried on its good work under the charge of its various Departments. So far as the Indians are concerned, most of the principles we have contended for are accepted, and they are carried out by a body of officials who have never been surpassed in character and capacity. What remains is to complete what is begun, giving education and citizenship to the Indian, putting him, as soon as possible, under the same administration of law as governs other citizens about him, so that Indian administration as such may as soon as possible come to an end. To certain remaining incidental wrongs and needs we call attention. A much larger task is before our country in the control of our non-contiguous possessions as to the method of whose government there is less agreement among our people and our law makers. In their behalf as in behalf of all our dependent or belated peoples the duty of this Conference is to insist upon the application of the universal Christian principle of altruism. We are not to consider what they can do for us, but what we can do for them. We are not to look upon those people as inferior, but as our equals in right, if not yet in opportunity; and we are to put them in the way of receiving every opportunity for justice and liberty that we possess, that they may share with us the rights of full self-government. To this end we must ask laws to help them rather than to help us, and by education and every form of Christian service bring them into the full possession of the highest Christian civilization. Believing then, that we are to count no races inferior and subject, but that all races of men have the same rights to life, liberty and happiness that we enjoy, and that so far as their care has been put in our hands, it is our duty to seek to give them their rights, we now offer to the American people and to our legislators these following recommendations for certain particular needs that require present and pressing attention. I. Observing the confusion which comes from the complexity of the administration, particularly in Alaska, and the difficulty in securing prompt administration of justice, we ask Congress to consider whether some more united and responsible form of administration may not be devised; and particularly we ask that laws be enacted and executed which by imprisoning offenders shall prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors to the natives. We also ask that increased appropriations for the education of Alaskan youth be made. II. The additional appropriation needed to purchase small homesteads for the rest of the wronged, dispossessed and homeless Indians of California, Congress should make at this coming session, to complete the work of justice and mercy so well begun by the Government last year. III. The allotting their lands to Navajo Indians who have for years lived on the public domain, should be completed under Section 4 of the General Severalty Act; and where the title to land and water, which due care of its wards by the Government as guardian would have secured to such Indians has been lost to them and taken up by white men, we believe that the Government should by law provide other land and water rights for such dispossessed Navajos. IV. We warmly commend the policy of the Indian Bureau which puts emphasis on the education of Indian youth near their own homes, and the closing of the non-reservation schools or the modifying of the courses of study and methods of administration so as to admit white pupils and ultimately bring these institutions under the control of the states in which they are located. We also urge the enlargement of the system of day schools for the people. V. For Porto Rico we repeat the demand of justice that the rights of full citizenship be given to all its people. We further ask the immediate extension of the Forestry Service to Porto Rico, and the consideration of such aid or direction as may wisely be given for public projects of irrigation and for the Sanitary Service; also that consideration be given by Congress to the encouragement of the coffee industry. VI. For the Philippine Islands we repeat and emphasize the urgent request of the Philippine Commission and the Secretary of War that tariff relief be given to them such as has been given to Porto Rico. We protest that the refusal to do this is selfish and unjust. We VII. Hawaii has trustfully sought the rule and protection of the United States. Her peculiar and most important commercial position requires of us special and earnest consideration. ask of Congress particular study of those conditions which require exceptional legislation in her behalf, particularly in view of the disadvantages which the Coastwise Shipping Act imposes on her in restricting passenger travel. In view, also, of the peculiar population of Hawaii, we desire that the attention of the Commission on Immigration be given to the special conditions which now limit European immigration. VIII. In view of the coming international congress at Shanghai to control the traffic in opium, we urge that Congress enact a drastic law which shall forbid the production, manufacture, importation, sale or distribution of opium in any of its forms in this country or in any of its dependencies except as to be used under strict medical direction. IX. We accept the doctrine so often declared from Washington to Roosevelt that morality and religion are essential to national well-being, and therefore urge upon the missionary organizations of the various Christian bodies continued and increased attention to educational and missionary work among all our dependent peoples. |