Arizona republican., 1898-05-13

by ledQlnS uemOcTdtS do well o
 publicans.
 As the senate must pass upon the treaty Of peace which will conclude the war, the sentiment cf that body is an important factor in the solution of the Philippine problem. Wnlie some of the senators, like Frye O, Maine, are careful to say that until l, is positively known that the Philip pines are under the flag Of the United States it is unwise to discuss any pol icy regarding them, it is nevertheless true that canvass of the senate has been made, with a view of learning whether there is a majority in favor of retaining the Philippines as a pos session of the United States after the war closes. The canvass, it is assert ed by those who have it in charge, indicates a very general sentiment in favor of holding the islands perma- nently.
 Senator German, on the democratic side, and Senator Lodge, on the repub- Iican side, are outspoken in their ad- vocacy of this policy, and there are many others who hold equally posi- tive affirmative views. Senator Cor man says that it will be absolutely necessary for the United States, if it proposes to continue as a naval pow CT and if it desires to extend it's com merce and trade, to secure possessions in various parts of the world which will be available as headquarters for vessels carrying the American flag. "The obstacles in the way of the gov ernment of a distant possession like the Philippines" said Senator Cor man, are by no means insurmount- able and certainly do not outweigh the great considerations which favor continued occupation of the islands It is fact worth emphasizing that if the result of the battle at Manila had been disastrous to Commodore Dewey there would have been no port in the east open to him. It seems to me that it would be the part of wis dom, if we hope to extend cur com mercial interests, to hold such a point as the Philippines present, and as a matter of course Hawaii ought to come to us right away"
 Senator Lodge points out that for some years the United States has been endeavoring to secure a large portion of the oriental trade, and that already
 
 China and Japan has assumed goodly proportions. With the United States in possession of the Philippines for a base from which to command this orient and with Hawaii as a halfway point in the Pacific, the development of the entire country would be tre- mendous, while San Francisco and the entire western coast would ex- md f, o,-Ixr rI~I4 Francisco" says he, would become a great city of export and import, rival ing New York and Boston on the east eTn coast.
 A glance at the map of the world indicates the importance of the Phil ippines, and accounts for the broad views that are being taken of the question by senators who interest themselves in international affairs. It is argued that it will be easier for the United States to hold the islands than to dispose of them to any other nation It is quite certain that no treaty of peace could command the two-thirds vote necessary for ratifica- tion, which proposed to give the Phil ippines back to Spain unless Spain guaranteed very large indemnity, and it is realized that if the islands are disposed of to Great Britain or any other European power, the com plication likely to arise might disturb the peace of the world It is true that the war between the United States and Spain was not commenced as a war of conquest, and it is not now intended that it shall be, but leading senators say that the Philippine islands having come to us through the fortunes o1 war, they must be regarded as Amerd- can property, and can certainly be utilized for the future development o1 the United States.