The times., 1898-09-20
Germany Waiting.

There is nothing very strange about
the reported action of Germany in sur
veying the Philippine Islands. with
view to seiZing one or more of the
group for coaling and naval purposes.
Such action on the part of the Kaiser
would amount to an intolerable affront
if an American determination to retain
the entire archipelago had been frank
ly announced. as it ought to have been.
But nothing of the kind has been pro-
posed and, on the other hand, there is
not the slightest reason to doubt that
the same influences which induced Mr..
Mckinley To sign the Edmunds-Ireland
protocol have assured the German
government that this country will be
prepared TO surrender most of the Phil
ippines. and TO make that fact clear as
soon as Republican political interests
are no longer endangered by impend-
ing congressional elections.
1t will be observed that the Admin
istration press is just now busy in try
ing to educate the people up to the idea
of a return of the islands to Spain, the
Island of Luzon excepted. The bitter
pill is sought to be sugar-coated with
remarks on an alleged certainty that
the Peace Commission will insist that
Spain shall never ALLEVIATE any Philip
pine territory without the consent of
the United States. But every intelIi-
gent American knows that sort of
thing to be subterfuge which it were
better to call treachery and be done
with it.
There is no ground for believing that
Germany or any other first-class power
would consider itself bound by such
dog -the-manger arrangement on our
tory to Spain would instantly convict
US. of hypocrisy and the inkumanity We
denounce in others. Relegation of the
unfortunate Tagal natives to the hor-
rors of Spanish robbery. outrage, and
butchery, however covered up by lying
promises and agreements, would be
crime which would justly throw us
out of the courts of civilization. The
American people would disclaim and
resent il with scorn. and we have no
idea that anybody else would accept
its terms as worth the paper they were
written on.
Certainly no blame could attach to
Germany for ignoring them, and,
whether that were true or not, they
would be ignored. Perhaps the cession
Of ri
be treated with silence for the time
being, and the new condition acqui-
esced in until the United States had
disbanded its army, reduced its navy,
and placed itself on a comparatively
helpless peace footing again. But by
then the festive Kaiser would be about
ready to grab the Island of Cebu, and
one or two more perhaps. and say to
US: What are you going to do about
it?''
We should have to answer: Moth
ingl" For the straight issue cannot be
lodged, no matter how important
lodging may be to Mr. Edmunds or
Monsignor Ireland. We cannot return
any part of the Philippines to Spain
without heartless wickedness and dis
grace. We cannot divide their posses
sion with the continental powers. be-
cause to attempt to do so would plunge
Europe and Asia in a war which we
could not keep out of. We have the
choice of two courses. We are in a
position to keep every foot of the
archipelago, and in doing so, be sure
of the backing of Great Britain and
Japan. Or, we can give up everything
that Dewey's victory has won for us;
abandon the rich promise of CONNER
ciaI greatness in the Orient that pos
session insures; haul down our flag,
and thus cover our nation with humil-
iation and loss of dignity and prestige
in the eyes of the world.
The latter alternative does not make
pretty picture. but we are sorry to
say that it is an attractive one to some
persons high in the councils of the
Government-attracti because it rep
resents the payment of some mere Re-
publican campaign debts of 1896
Democrat of 1896