El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-08-20
Pacific Coast Interests.
Providence Journal.

Providence Journal.
This is large country, and 1t 10 not
strange that the interests of one SEQ
tion should sometimes be ignored or
overlooked by the people Of another.
In the discussion of the Philippines
problem the tendency of newspapers
published in the east has been to for
get the advantages of the retention of
the islands to the Pacific Coast.
Dwellers on the Atlantic Coast do not
always realize the great commercial
importance of the wide expanse of sea
beyond our far western shores They
look across the narrower waters that
divide us from Europe and consider
the trade carried there the
be-all and end-sll of our
prosperity. Such view is unin-
tentionally limited and imperfect, no
doubt IL can easily be corrected by
those who are willing to learn. And
certaiuly.the fact that the people of the
Pacific coast are practically unanimous
in their demand for the annexation of
the Philippines is one which should
have great weight. We do not mean
that the question is in any sense q
sectional one. The advantage Of one
is the advantage of all, and the war
has so united the nation that this con-
dition is readily perceived. Never
theless, it is fair to say that the Pa
cific Coast has an especial right to be
heard when the disposition OF the
Philippines is debated.
There is of course, a moral as we'll
as q commercial aspect to the question,
although the advocates of policy OF
scuttle choose to ignore it. Nothing
can alter the fact that the moment the
first gun was fired in Manila Bay we
assumed responsibilities we cannot
honorably escape. We did not
seek them: they were thrust upon us:
but now they are just as real as our
responsibilities in Cuba. Whether
the task before US be difficult or an
easy one, the moral duty remains. The
Little Americans, as the Independent
calls them, are at present laying much
stress upon the climatic conditions to
be encountered, and pointing to the
experience of our army in Cuba for
proof that white men cannot sta d the
diseases of tropical countries.
Yet the only way in
which civilization has advanced in the
past has been by the willingness of
white men to run such RISKS. Inc
whole history of the world is the his
tory of mans struggle with nature.
This continent could never have been
wrested from the Indians had
our forefathers been unwilling to face
disease and death. We doubt very
much IL typhoons at Manila are any
more destructive than tornadoes in
Kansas. New Orleans might be as
unhealthy as Santiago under similar
of life by sickness in General Skaters
army is due, as everyone knows, to
circumstances that would not exist or
dinarily,. and which need not have ex-
listed even in time of war.
If we are incompetent to take our
part in the redemption of the world
from savagery, let US say so and be
done with it, and withdraw into our
she'll again aud become a hermit ma
ton. Bnt we cannot believe that
such a conclusion will be welcome to
men of English blood and speech.
There are neglected opportunities be-
hind us: let US not repeat past mis-
takes. The Caroline Islands, as the
Independent reminds US, might have
| been ours long ago.
1--WE Americana 1t says, came
and gave the people Christianity and
| written language and the rudiments Of
civilization Any other nation would
have raised its flag over the islands;
but that was not our way. Then Ger
many and Spain, finding them un-
stolen, each claimed them by right of
| discovery long ago. We did not pro-
test, as we ought to have done. Spain, it
| was decided in the arbitration, had the
better of the two foundationless claims.
So Spain took the islands, drove out
our American citizens, forbade their
vessel to visit the islands, and began a
system of characteristic oppression"
Would II not be "a shame and dis
grace" as the Independent says,
IL the story were to be repeated now?
On the commercial side every argu-
| ment is in favor of the retention OF the
Philippines. The feeling on the Pacific
Coast is, as we have pointed out, par
ticularly strong; but all over the couu-
try commercial and political organiza-
tons are urging othe administration
not to forfeit the fruits of Admiral
] Dewey's brilliant victory. Those who