The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-14

ritorial acquisition, but for the purpose
of liberating the island Of Cuba from
the misrule Of Spain"
Representative Hopkins Of Illinois,
Just returned from an extended trip
throughout the west. where he was in
touch with tho public sentiment ON the
questions OF the war, said. 1T is too
early y0t to say just what ought to b
policy in regard to the Philippines,
Much may depend ON the cost Of the
war. We may have to keep the islands,
in q measure, to reimburse ourselves.
Representative Benton McMillin, one
ef~the leading Democrats Of the house
aud q prominent member of the ways
and means committee, said: Thomas
Jefferson drove 1t home until the people
OF the world accept the saying az fit
with regard TO this nation that we
should cultivate peace, and
friendship with all. nations and have
entangling alliances with none.' There
has been nothing to take away from the
force Of this saying. Did you cver think
Of it? If the preposterous notion could
BIO realized of a~nnexing the Philippines
as q state. there would be 40 members
OF congress from there, including Ma
lays, ncgritos, sepoys and the like.
There are 5000, 900 people there, and
II W. have $50 Representatives for
20, 900, 900 people it would mean about
As for the Philippines. If wa annexed
it, it would take o larger army and ma
Wy to defend than that needed for the
United States. If we exchanged it TO
any European power for possessions in
the West Indies, IL would break the bal
ance and produce acute friction among
the great pswers. In case 81 d ~protecto-
rate by the United States, allowing the
people in those islands 10 have homo
rule after the Egyptian fashion, it
wonld result In action unforeseen and
foreign to our form of government. My
conclusion On the whole matter is that
we should do nothing. but let the is
lands remain in statu quo until the wal
ends. But / mistake the spirit Of tho
American people if they arc now ready
for annexation in any form Of outlying
territory"
Representative Hilborn of California,
who by his residence on the Pacific
coast has been led to look into the ques-
ton more than most men in congress,
said: This is one Of the most difficult
problems that the government will have
to solve as a result Of the war. 1t will
be "a happy solution IL we find that IL
will be possible to adopt the policy
which England has found 80 successful
in Egypt, but we cannot be unmindful
OF the fact hat conditions in Egypt and
the Philippines are very different. Who
is it in the Philippines to whom you
would turn over the ark of the covenant
of government? Have they the material
there for the formation Of q reliable
government that the United States
would be justified in intrusting with
the management Of affairs under a gen.
eral supervision by the government?
However this may be we may find
1t impossible to- haul down our flag
when onc it has been raised over the
islands. We are sending out u young
men by the thousands to expel Spain.
Some of u boys will find their graves
in that land. Those who live will,
many of them, stay there and become
interested In the islands and their well
fare. Both the living and the dead will
form strong ties, which will make it
difficult for us to sever the islands from
us and turn them over to the govern
ment Of strangers. Chicago Times
Herald.