The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-14
Reasons for The
Retention Of LUZoD

THE significance of the following edi-
torial from the Philadelphia Press con-
sists in the fact that it undoubtedly re-
fleets with accuracy the purpose of the
administration to insist upon American
retention of the island of LuZon, which
means eventually all the Philippines since
with Luzon taken from il, SPANS foot
hold in tho Archipelago becomes at once
untenable. The island of Luzon in the
past has been the Keystone of Spanish
| authority in the East Indies. 1t is about
the size of Cuba and Porto Rico added
together and in natural resources is
credibly reported to be, If possible their
superior.l
The presence of the peace commission
in Washington brings the Philippines 10
decision. The United States can take
all the group, a coaling station or Lu-
zon, with the city of Manila. in all prob
| ability the commission will be instructed
to ask the last; but why take any terri
tory save a coaling station? Not for the
profit and trade of the colony alone. This
is shallow. Luzon. a fertile tropical
| island, has yielded Spain a net profit of
81, 100000 1t will yield us more. But to
| nation like the United States this is no
temptation, though it sweeps away the
plea that the possession will be costly.
1t Will pay its way. The present trade is
another item, but the total profit on the
current commerce of the Philippines can
not be much over 100000 the return of
single big American firm. This is worth
| having, but 1t does not measure very big
against the profits on our total trade of
sLSi70O0,0 900 in the last fiscal year. Wider
relations and reasons are needed to JUS
tify their acquisition.
o
First the United States needs i'm the
| trade of the east a commercial base Our
| trade with China has grown ten-fold in
twenty years. 1t has trebled in three
| All Eastern Asia and MALAYSIA is opcn-
| ing. The experience of England for two
| centuries has demonstrated that this
| trade is best acquired when carried on
| from eastern trading ccnters where goods
are protected and contracts enforced by
| the familiar home law of the trader
| This gives the English trader his price
| less advantage q Hong Kong, Singapore
| and so on around to Bombay. He trades
| on his own soil, under his own law and
on all issues cf possession or of contract
he is secure of "A final appeal to a British
| court in London. The possibility of this
| appeal means security, and on security
rests the profits of trade.
| o
| Every American merchant knows the
value Of federal law in protecting his con-
|
ever won permanent eastern trade with
out secure commercial base. The best
| of eastern states are far worse than the
| worst and most reckless of American
states Trade follows the flag because the
| flag means law-law certain, just and IA.
miiar. If our trade in the east is to
grow, as England's has at Hong Kong,
J we must have at Manila great CONNER
| cial base where warehouses, partner
| ships, bargains and contracts are under
a law both familiar to and trusted by our
traders and where all port regulations,
local taxes and official action will be
friendly to American trade. AS a nation
we need Manila exactly as any firm whose
trade in a distant spot grows soon finds
1t must have its own warehouse and
| agent.
The new possession is needed as an out
| let for capital and enterprise. Why has
| not American capital sought the manifold
| riches of Central America and the trop-
| ical regions beyond? Pecause the admin
| lstratiOn is corrupt and the law purchas-
! able. improvements. investments, crops
and profits In Spanish American states
are not safe, because the courts cannot
be trusted, Ceylon swarms with profit
able tea plantations growing q tea in
| digenous to Farther India and not cul-
| tivated there because the native states
had courts and governments no man could
| trust. English law makes English invest
| ments possible, Our capital is rolling up.
Money for months together has been
as cheap i'm New York as In London. The
English investor finds English protoc-