The times., 1898-09-05
AMERICAN RECONSTRUCTION.
Let Us Hold the philippines.

To the Editor Of The Times:
| have been thoroughly In sympathy
with the sentiment advocated through
The Times of holding, permanently hold
ing, the Philippine Islands. Any action
on the part of our Government that looks
toward any other disposition CT that con-
quered territory will, in my judgment, be
wrong in principle and fraught with re-
suits greatly to be deplored In the future.
i submit, briefly, reason orstwo:
First-This war began on the basis of
humanity. Injustice and humanity were
perpetuated against our near neighbors.
The world recognized this, and permitted
the conflict TO go on without Intervention.
On this broad principle all the colonies of
Spain were subject TO attack as a means
OF humblins heD and making her acknowl-
edge the supremacy OF the United States
and the independence of Cuba. The
Philippines were captured and subject to
capture under this life-kong principle.
Now they should be held, and perman-
emily endowed with the principles of self
government. Spain did not do this, nor
could she under the circumstances.
Second-If the United States had any
right TO go to the Philippines in the first
place, she has a right TO remain there
and aid in their subsequent develop
ment. This argument applies to the whole
group, consisting of 400 10 1.200 islands.
To hold part of them and not the en-
tire archipelago would involve compli-
cations of the most dangerous character.
If they were parceled out among other
| nations, constant irritations and en-
tanglements would ensue. If a portion
were retained by Spain the same difficult
ties would beset the condition; besides it
would be manifestly unjust to the in
surgents. who have made such heroic ef-
forts to secure f-government.
Third-The possession of the Philippines
will afford constant ground for main
| tanning a navy and building up our mer-
chant marine; it viii enable us. with the
aid of the Hawaiian Islands, to share the
trade of Japan, China and other coun-
| tries of the Orient; it will afford a protec-
| tion to the missionaries who are striving
to enlighten and develop the peoples of
| the Orient; it will give US access to fruits
and other vegetable products greatly
needed in the United States; it will be a
| great means of spreading the principles
of republican institutions in the East.
| Fourth-Let US learn a valuable lesson
| from England ana other countries OF
| Europe. She has been coloniZing ma
| ton. All her territory she has retained
except, of course, the thirteen colonies in
| 1776. They have made her great in all
the elements of national supremacy. Our
| reasons are equally strong. Half dozen
nations will. in a decade, control the des-
/ tiny of the world. They are parceling out
! Africa, Asia and the islands of the sea
| Shall we, with our untold resources, SIT
| idly by and permit ourselves to be out
stripped and degraded in this great con-
test? Shall we repeat, nationally, the
| prayer of the old man:
Bless me and my wife,
| My son and his wife;
Us forever
| And no more.
! We can hardly succumb to that con-
| tracted, commercial spirit. We must not.
| The objection that these possessions are
| so far away is not a valid one. Time ane
| space are obliterated by steam and elec-
tricity. The whole world is DOW neigh
bors. 'God hath made of our blood al
| nations of men for to dwell on all the
face of the earth, and hath determined
the times before appointed, and the
| bounds of their habita ton" (Acts, ,xviii:26)
| Railroads, manufactures, commerce, in
| ternal improvements, public papers ant
| schools churches etc., will assist in soiv
ing the problem.
Shakespeare foresaw all this when HI
said:
I'll put girdle round about the earth in fort
| minutes.
]. FRAISE RICHARD.
Washington, Sept. l. J