The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-27

Of q people paraiysed b. the march OF
events. a~bdicating its ancient right ~
discussion ana opposition. accepting
without scrutiny a nnai the decision
Of those at the head Of its military es-
tabl,shment-is not this the spectacle
which we really 'cannot afford TO snow
to the world?'
The merits OF OF Philippine annexa-
ton will be very fully discussed in con-
gress this winter. and II IL certain tina
many strong protests will be present.
ed. especially from the Isbor:ng classes.
The question resolves itself into this:
VIII not the disadvantages of such pos
- ssion far o than counterbaiance
the benefits? The Boston Herald pre-
sents the case In this light:
What We realise here. but What possi-
bly, In not AZ clearly understood elsewhere,
In that tropical possessions are not pop
ular possessions: that the Philippine is
lands car never be the center OF an
American civilization: that n we take
possession Of them. I'm ten or twenty
years from this time there viii not b
among their 10. 900. 900 or more Inhabitants
5000 Americans who had been born and
raised I'm this country. The islands. II they
are ours. win be the scene OF Industrial
undertakings carried on by great syndi-
cates OF capitalists. who will employ
the cheap labor Of the natives In the up
building Of tropical productive enter
prises. These undertakings may prove Of
advantage to these wealthy capitaiists-to
the Brices. the Elkinses. the wideners,
the Rockefeller n others Of that class
but the advantages which these gentle
men exploit viii not add q single cent a
month TO the wages of American work.
men. or TO the income OF the average
American citisen.
American workmen will not 20 to the
P~hilippines. because they annot pass
there a healthy existence: their families
cannot by any possibility I've there and
except for a certain few skilled porkmen,
there would be no demand for their ser
vices. But what the great mass Of the
American people has to take into account
II the obligation they would then be un-
der OF maintaining the peace in an arch
ipelago Inhabited by millions of Maiays.
who there. a. elsewhere. will be found
In q chronic state of insurrection. This
would involve the maintenance by us Of
a great army in the Philippines. costing
each year tens OF millions of dollars to
sustain. and annually sacrificing. through
Its operations. the lives Of hundreds, IL
not thousands of our citizens.
And for whatf To aid In the amassing
of wealth by a few individuals, a gain
commendable II Il did not involve national
sacrifices. but ms serviceless. when the
great mass Of the American people is con-
sidered. as the profits that will come to
the few investors from the railroad
which ex-senator Brice and his friends
are proposing to build in him We have
no objection to our rich men becoming
richer by distant exploitations. but we do
object to the United States. as a nation,
sacrificing the welfare OF an innumera-
BILE number OF Its common. everyday citi-
Gems in order TO clear the way and pre-
pare the path for these great financial
undertakings. I'm the success of which
neither the people as a whole nor any
considerable number OF them can have
the least interest.
Another serious objection that the
Boston Herald overlooks is the fact that
should the Philippines be annexed the
native Filipfnos would be free to come
to the states In hordes. They would be,
like the Chinese. only in a much great
err degree than h Chinese,
a menace to American workingmen.
The notion that the Philippines are a
prize that is cheap at $40. 600. 900 is a
monstrous delusfon. They would be an
unmitigated nuisance even with $40, 0Oo.-
900 thrown in.