The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-14
The Philippines a Political issue.

The Philippines a Political issue.
The only open question of great import
ance in the preliminary treaty of peace
between this country and Spain is that
relating to the Philippines. Nobody can
predict with any degree of certainty what
is going TO be the result of the delibera-
tons Of the peace commissioners respect
ing the future of these islands.
The protocol makes it clear that Spain
is to lose all Of her possessions in the West
Indies. but leaves everything in doubt so
far as the Philippines are concerned. The
United States are to occupy and hold the
city. bay and harbor of Manila until the
peace commission shall decide what shall
be done with these islands.
An extraordinary effort is being made TO
create a public sentiment in favor of in
sisting upon the permanent possession of
them. Back Of this effort are leading men
in public and private life Many of our
merchants look for a tremendous expan-
sion of our trade with the Far East, and
say that for the purposes of that trade
we must have possession Of the Philip
pines Church people think they see the
hand of Providence in Admiral Dewey's
victory Mr. Depew voiced their thought
in respect to the matter the other day,
when he said: at seems that God came
to the conclusion that the horrible tyranny
that was clouding the fairest portions OF
the earth for three hundred years must
cease. He has decreed it as clearly as If
written in letters of fire strung In the
clouds that we must teach our civilization
TO those who are falling under our pro
tectorate. as we would teach children"
Col Ingersoll, IN discussing the future
control Of the Islands spoke the sentiments
of those who believe in territorial eXpan-
sion in the widest sense, and who talk
of an imperial policy as something that
IS particularly needed for the prosperity
and happiness of the American people.
He said. Manila bay we have made too
valuable for any one else TO hold 1t Is
ours The Inferior races mdst go; the
law of the survival of the lttest rules"
But against this proposed abandonment
of the policy adopted by the founders Of
the republic, conservative people-the peo-
pie who take the common sense view Of
the stuation-proest. They believe that
in the settlement with Spain our CONNER
cial interests In the Philippines will be so
well protected that we would have roth
Tag to gain by possessing the islands. They
cannot see that this country ia called upon
to waste the lives of its best young men
and tax its people in the effort to sive its
civilization TO the barbarians of those
far away islands. They have grave
doubts as TO whether the people of the
Philippines could be made to appreciate
our laws and institutions. If they could
not we shouldn't be doing them a service
by trying to teach them our civilization.
It IS not improbable that good men had
some such idea in respect to the races
which inhabited this fair land in the carly
colonial days. The races were not GiViliz-
ed. They disappeared. The tlttest surviv-
ed. Tha aNould be the result in the Phil
ippines probably II we should undertake
to teach our civilization to the Philippines
The President of course has it In his
power to influence greatly the determina-
ton of the question as to whether or not
we shall possess the Philippines. Tie can
appoint commissioners who will insist
upon the possession of them, or who will
be satisfied with certain very much de-
sired concessions in them.
But if the treaty should not give us pos
session of them what action would the
Senate take In respect to it? Those who
favor possession of the Philippines are
working to influence the Senate. They
are sure that the President will appoint
commissioners who will be against posses
sion of the islands.
The Senate is certain to be divided in
regard to the matter, and a division in
that body may have the effect of making
possession of the Philippines a great po-
litical issue
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