Evening star., 1898-08-18
KEEP UP THE FLAG"
Ex-Representative McOreary on the
Possession Of the Philippines.
WOULD NOT LOWER OUR COLORS
Mentioned as a Possible Member
Of the Peace Commission.
SAW THE PRESIDENT TODAY

Ex-Representative McCreary of Ken
lucky excited g. great deal of comment to-
day by a call he made on President Nc
Kinley at the White House. He is dem
ocrat Of conservative views. He served a
number of years in the House when Presi-
dent Mckinley was a member OF that
body They knew and liked each other.
Mr.. McCreary was for several terms
leading member of the foreign affairs COM
mittee Of the House. Two years ago he
declined denomination to Congress, but
is still active In Kentucky politics.
Mentioned for Peace Commissioner.
When he went to see the President this
morning a story was at once put in circu-
lation that he had been called here to be
offered place on the peace commission.
Mr.. McCreary denied this story saying
that he had not been spoken to on TIE SUBJ
ject. II was simply passing through the
city, said the ex-governor of the blue
grass state. land merely desired TO pay
my respects" Notwithstanding this, it is
said that Mr.. McCreary's name may yet
figure in the composition of the peace COM
mission. Mr. McCreary said to a Star re-
porter on the situation:
THE provisions of the peace protocol
seem to be unanimously indorsed by the
people Of the United States. The people
are also unanimous and enthusiastic in
their admiration for the bravery and splen-
did achievements of our army and navy.
1T was expected that Spain would be re-
quired to relinquish all claim to Cuba, and
it is logical result of the war that Porto
Rico and other islands in the West Indies
should be ceded to the United States
Should Not Give Up Any Place.
Il am not in favor of giving up any place
over which our flag floats 1t is wisely pro-
vided in the protocol that the United States
shall occupy and hold the city, bay and
harbor of Manila pending the determination
of the control, disposition and government
of the Philippines. We must preserve and
hold forever that which Dewey and his
brave men so gallantly won. The commits
sion to be appointed by the President will
after proper investigation, report as to
what part of the Philippine Islands the
United States shall occupy and govern per-
manently.
Not Difficult Problem.
The problem of the Philippines is not
diihcuit II we consider it from a purely
patriotic and American standpoint. Prog
ress, wealth, population and the demands
of agriculture, industries and manufacture
change the situation. While it was proper
for our people to oppose territorial expan-
sion for many years, except where the
territory was contiguous conditions have
changed. The days of our isolation are
over To preserve our leadership among
nations we must be controlled by grea:
vents and the demands of the times
China and Japan and the southeastern
provinces of Asia constitute the great COM
mercial theater of the future, and present
attractive markets for our agriculture in
dustrial and mechanical products. They
are logically our customers and allies in
trade, for they are nearer to US than to
England, Germany or France.
Demands of Commerce..
The war and the demands of commerce
have give1 us the Hawaiian Islands by an
nexation 1t remains to be seen how we
will utilize and appreciate these important
acquisitions. Our great navy will have to
be supplied with coaiing stations, and Ha-
waii and the Philippines will have to BE-
used.
For the benefit of our navy and for the
great benefit of commerce and trade the
Nicaragua canal should be built, but the
United States should buy the land through
which 1t is built, ard own and operate the
canal independently and exclusively. AL
trade routes from our country for steam
vessels pass Cuba and Porto Rico in going
to the Nicaragua canal. The construction
Of the Suez canal destroyed the eauilib-
rum of commerce and benefited England
aid remote nations. The United States
can adjust this equilibrium and benefit our
people by the construction of the Mica
ragua canal