, 1898-12-28
THE UNITED STATES AND THE
PHILIPPINES.
(The Times, Monday Novbr. LAY

(Lhe Times, Monday N0VOr. LAY
1t is evident that Tie Cabinet OF Washing
ton is becoming impatient Of the delay IN
settling the quesl ions referred to Che Peace
Commissioners in Paris. Instructions haze
been sent to the American representatives to
the effect that he discussion of the, cession of
the Philippines must ID brought to al cad
this week, although the mode dmd terms cf
cesSion may afterwards he GcDateG with some
latitude for arrangement. Tho Spani7h Co.
vernmen cannot be surprised at this intimN-
ton, for which, however, it may very we'll
have considered itself bound 30 Wait.......".
The American Government. and people are
the sole Judges of what it is fitting to exact
from q vanquisl They have carefully
weighed all IT. is to said for and against
taking the Philippines, ,~ey fully recognize
the Importance the step as It Affects their
position in the W1rld, and lie" accept II
responsibility. There y nO.hin more to De
said. In comi'% TO decis' they hh g
doubtless been mhue""eu in ,."H 90
by the knowledge that t. do not take "a
whole archipelago, som o her cnan6e
ownership is practically certain to occI
Spain, If left III possession, would be III
position to resist the solicitations of powell
full neighbours, who are known tc desire whe-
Their by purchase or otherwise, The acquisi-
Won VI u FhIudDlc SlIdl6StCHI bHSc' h0 sAb-
lands can in no case return to the neutral
condition which they occupied prior to the
war, and the United States Government Con.r
sidefsthat the Inconvenience Of taking them
over is less formidable taau the disadyan-
tages likely to follow from the establishments
upon thea. Of one or more Continental
Powers. . !
1t is hardly necessary to repeat that this
country, while fully recognizing that the
I'm 'dStates were bound 10 degide the ques-
tior ION sober business principles, finds to
lctual 'ecision satisfactory. I'VE would =
Their Sc the Philippiie4Si il the hands of lr
Americ, I friends TIN" in those of any ' ~.
pean Pow u. But here as in Amoric it is
fully unIe. God that much more is nlPS- 4,
ton than sin4. = Nc n of tn 'ands'
Their acquisition marks tie Of the
United States from The isolNt" position they
have hitherto ooo"pie and places hem in
IL =" CT EngI )h-sr king comm~.
les as import { to- Il The politics Of
the. world. ne arpea' nee of a new force
is, of co Sc, ways t DO watched h
some al .lety, since y in1 we .nreL
Of .exi ing relations. { III a"read jHstmemC
NAV osslbIy lead to rstur6ance, or, as Lord
salisbury PIT it, ! y not conduce to peace
at the mOmen'. ut it m6y also take place
lout my Il; urbance of tranquility, and
thk, we believe, will be the case OH this 90
c'|on. More than one european Power
] fartil NdisIikes the transfer Of the Philip
pines IoVle Uniled States, ard dislikes still
more the. %ulterior Consequences Of the step.
But THERE'S no rraS"ls to think that, in view
of the attitude of the greatest OF maritime
Powers, the dissatisfaction plainly felt will
find expression in anything but words. Count
Cassini, the Russian Ambassador to Wash
ington, has protested against the idea that
his Government ever harboured any intention
of interfering with American action. Gov
1grnAenis are never 50 foolish as to avow a II
i~%emtion which it has not been found con-
vqient to act upon; but thu AM ans are
rPbabi.V aware that, had tbe emf Prise
Seemed \ ore safe, the intentions of X siai
and some ,ther Powers might have cove
interfe&e, . with the Engagements follow
ing the ' r. However, we may take it tIiat
DO such ,AterfereIfe is any longer contem-
plated, a., that the. coveted station in the
Pacific " III pass qketly into the posseo:
sionoof, ke United States. I To Spain the
loss { tne. islands cannoJ be considered