American problems

The contents list chapters on small states, selfish legislation, rural life, the progressives, the pioneer spirit and the tariff. A note says the chapters present Mr. Roosevelt’s views on many of the great national issues of today, written since his return to America and originally published in The Outlook as editorials or articles.

On the Philippines, the writer says two things would have been worse than leaving them under Spanish rule: turning the islands adrift to manage themselves, or managing them by a joint arrangement of various Powers. The writer says that under such circumstances it is probably better for a State to be under the control of a single Power, even one without high ideals, than under the control of three or four Powers. The text says no system of legislation can accomplish anything unless back of it there is the right type of National character. The writer adds that if such decisions as these two indicated the Court’s permanent attitude, there would be real and grave cause of alarm.