The record-union., 1898-12-08
FEARS OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

It is urged by the anti-acquisition-
lists that the Philippines lie in nest
of European and other dependencies.
with England to the southeast, Hol-
land to the south, France to the east
on the mainland, Germany and Eng
aand on the northwest and Russia and
Japan beyond. Now, say the fearful,
such are the commercial and strategic
advantages OF the group that their
transfer to any one of the rival Pow
ers, or their absorption by strong
new Power, will unquestionably dis
turb the equilibrium of Europeanized
Asia. Therefore, the conclusion is
drawn that If we insist upon holding
and governing these islands. we will
be interfering in European politics, and
thus involving ourselves in matters
the fathers warned us against
But the answer to these claims is
that we do not of necessity intermed-
ole with European affairs by seating
ourselves in the Philippines. Since
the declaration of President Monroe
conditions have wonderfully changed.
In the matter of traversing the ocean.
in speed Of communication, in new es-
fablished lines of commerce. in df-
Rerted and. new lines of trade, and in
the establishment of the republic upon
the western shores of the continent,
conditions have been created which put
MS into touch with the commercial ac-
tivity of all the world. A share of
the worlds trade is ours by the right
of whatever assertive force we project
into it.
II we seat ourselves permanently in
the Philippines our institutions will
threaten the stability Of no Asiatic nor
European Power. This will not be
menace to the advance of civilization
nor will they in any way whatever re-
late to the thrones and kingdoms of the
world These can continue their jeal-
ousies and contentious, their marry
ing and inter-marrying, their stretch
Ing forth Of commercial greedy hands
and we will never for moment inter-
tere with them. If there comes, by
any possibility, trouble out of our ac-
QUESTION, it will arise only because of
the affirmative and grossly selfish de-
mand Of some one of the great Pow
ers that we shall divide with them
that which they never called upon
Spain to partition.
IT, as the anti-expansionists assert,
these European Powers object to us
as neighbor in Asian waters, there
will arise the question, "Are these the
u1ctators of our domicile, the arbiters
OF our destinies, the masters of our
sitting and rising?" In such an event,
an attempt to give force to the objec-
fion unquestionably would involve US
dn trouble, but shall we therefore re-
fuse and neglect to avail of the new
conditions of the world to take that
place which our Importance, our COM
merce, the promise of our trade and
the genius of our institutions indicate
as rightly ours? Are we forever to
measure our activities. and limit our
aspirations by the whim and greed Of
other notions?
But as a matter of fact, neither Rus
sia, Holland. England nor Germany
would be affected politically or other
wise, more by our occupation of the
philippines than by their retention by
the Spanish. Neither of the nations
named would take harm politically or
Stheir institutions or crowns be men
Reed by our occupancy Commercial
wars are not likely to be those of arms
an these days and no other would find
cause in our seat in the Philippines
for a war Of arms.
England will be our nearest neighbor,
her Borneo insular possessions lying
near to the Philippines on the south :
Nward, and her Chinese possessions
snortheasterly and but GOO miles dis
tant. England, we well know, far and
away prefers us as a neighbor to the
Spanish or any other. and the same
may be said of Japan. Holland has
never been aggressive in these mat
ferss and is not Power of such
strength in Asian waters as to affect
us or be affected by us greatly.
-.
nearly 900 miles distant. could find no
cause for a rivalry that would involve
the two nations in war, except through
a violent wrench of conditions. Neither
is there reason to believe that Russia
contemplates or that she will ever have
reason to entertain sentiments con-
cerning our occupation Of the Philip
pines that will make her our enemy
The fact is, all these speeulations
concerning the threat of the Powers
are born of timidity and tears. save in
the case of Germany, which alone has
manifested a disposition to divide the
spoil of war with us. But what rea-
son is there to believe she will make
that desire manifest aggressively?
Good for Secretary of Agriculture
Wilsoni He talks out in school. A
New York paper represented him as
having declared himself to be an inn
perialist. The Secretary accordingly
genes back in this fine order:
I never said that in my life to any
body / am farmer. I am trying to
get facts regarding production, and to
disseminate them through the country.
There is no politics in this depart
ment. We are engaged here in scien-
tific research As to that term 'imper-
5alisn, I regard it as offensive. / am