New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-10
The Daily and Sunday Tribune for ont
of-foun readers. 81 a month. Changes OF
address gfve no HOnble
TIE SPANISH ISLANDS As PAYMENT

How IL this Nation TO be repaid for a war
which. certain officials estimate. will have cost
about $3.50 900 coo however soon II terminates!
Were Spain n nation able to pay. international
law would Justify demand for indemnity Gov
erinC the entire expenditures arising from tn"
war But Spain cannot pay. unless in territory,
and those who oppose the taking Of Porto RICO
and the Philippines in effect propose that the
country shall get no payment. Cuba is ho'
worth so00.OOO.O0O. unless American enterprise
the expenditure OF American capital and the
costly establishment of wise. honest ana
stable government give il that value. ard II her
people set up such government this country
has proposed that the island shall belong 10
them Porto Rico Is a valuable possession but.
as II stands worth nothing like the cost OF war.
There remain islands in the Pacific Manila
Bay would he a most costly possession II II had
TO be constantly defended against any govern
mc,t or instruction coverinrsshe rest of that
island Moreover the island of LuZon itself
would probably be a costly possession If savage
insurgents were to control other islands and
ports all around It. while Germany and France
and other Powers would he selling upon the ISL
apds having the richer deposits Of gold. of coal
and other minerals. \ perpetual state of de-
fence AGAINST those other nations would be I'M
oyoidablc. and so costly that LuzOn alone would
be OF questionable value. The whole body or
Pacjt,c islands. If taken from Spain part pay
menf for the expenditures of war. would be
held by .itle which no other Power could
rightly cues ion or would care 10 assai
Under such conditions these islands would be-
come Of great value and could he defended
with comparative ease. The natives are brave
and with American organization and officers
would probably make better troops than the
Egyptian and perhaps better than the Indian.
troops organized by Great Britain. Through
such organization the maintenance of order in
the islands and their defence against invasion
by any land force would be easier and less
costly Will. the development Of tie resources
and trade Of the islands would he more rapid
because Of the relations established with The
natives. What their value is no one knows
The trade with Spain cannot be accurately
stated. although about 10 per cent of the i'm
ports come from that country. No record shows
with accuracy the trade by the way OF other
islands or Hong Kong. but the dircct exports Of
the Philippines in 1896 were about $40 $4,000
Ia Great Britain $7.467,500. TO the United States
"a $50 857 to France $1.900.200. TO Japan in
1907 1885,. 900 and to Germany S223.7OO. The
imports. on the other hand. We're valued at
$40 63l 250-from Great Britain S2.461 900 from
Germany S744.02S. from France $685. and
from the United States direct only S162. 446, not
Including the larger movement by way of Hong
Kong.
When IL IA considered that these islands, even
without decent government or order. or modern
organization or methods OF industry. have In
ten years exported 9l4.055 tons of hemp. II per
cent of which went 10 the United States and
/ $50. 904 tons Of sugar. - per cent to the
United States. though profits are unsatisfactory
owing to the ignorance Of planters and their
lack Of resources. and that tobacco. coffee. cocoa
and indigo can be produced In great quantities.
II Will be realized that under American direc-
don tae Islands might be made largely proata-