The Irish standard., 1898-12-10
From Spain, Is per cent ...... 2S4,310
From all other nations, % per
cent ...... ................... s4o,sso

e HTOm all OLQGT naLlOnS, " per
cent 5000. Observation-Disclosures. S4O,S90
N Total imports GO, 1S6 900
or, say, $1O5O0,O00. The United States
sent only $4,000 worth, sum too
small for the statesmans year book to
specify separately.
Under the presidents concession of the
'open door" such will be about the
United States proportion in future. Con-
ditions are not changed, except as to
SPANS paltry 10 per cent.
The trade of the Philippines cannot be
American, but let no one blame the
president because if his Imperialism was
not to suffer shipwreck he had to throw
away the markets of his new possessions.
1t is interesting to consider whether
4 the president or secretary Of state or
any member of his cabinet knew that
landing American products, either of the
farm or Of the mine, in Manila upon
/ equal terms with the agricultural pro-
ducts of Australia, India Argentina, or
of the manufactures Of Europe, simply
meant that American grain, flour, provis
ions, American cotton and woolen
goods, American iron and steel, were at
80 serious disadvantage owing to the
greater distance that they were prac-
tically excluded from the new possess
sions for which the American people are
to pay.
Al
that one of then. ever thought of this
fatal fact OF distance.
The men in Washington today are SO
Immersed in problems which have moth
ing whatever to do with the prosperity
Of their own country that they have no
time to consider subjects bearing upon it.
They have eaten of the Insane root OF
territorial expansion in distant coun-
tries.
They are dreaming dreams, chasing
phantoms, and in one stroke of the pen
the president Of the United States has
e.socently given over the trade of the
Philippines to foreign nations. do not
believe that he ever thought of distance.
. AlueilCd III lSSulu W llC IittuC
of the Philippines exactly as she stood
when they were under the dominion of
Spain, except that the 10 per cent %
Spain was favored. She was then on an
equality with other foreign nations, but
what has the republic now to shoulder
by this hasty act of the president which
she had not before?
First-She pays 500, 100000 for the
privilege of getting what she had better
have paid a thousand millions to be
without.
Second-Thc president is to ask con-
gress for an addition to the army one
and one-half times bigger than the en-
tire army that was necessary before he
left the path of the fathers and plunged
the ship of state into this sea of troubles
Third--The president is to ask con-
gress for tremendous addition to our
navy, which will cost more than $780,
100000 every year. The increased army
will cost probably as much.
The president will get his ships of war;
but he will not get his regular soldiers
The work which he wishes them to do is
not that which the regular soldier of the
United States has hitherto agreed to do
leave his country to suppress the aspira-
lions of people for independence.
Perhaps the president Of the United
States will order the American soldier
to shoot down men whose only crime is
that they fight for the independence of
their country. which the American has
been brought up to believe prize
worthy Of all sacrifice
Recruits cannot be had for the regular
army today. The pay of the army must
be raised. 1t is safe to say that the ad-
ditional burdens which the president
must finally place upon the American
people will not amount to less than $780,
900 ,OGn per annum, all Of this required
because the country will have to main
tain great army and a navy equal to
those Of European powers, in order to
defend worthless foreign possessions
from which no benefit can now be
reaped American products having been
effectually excluded.
Now, as to how this hundred millions
is to be raised Fortunately we are not
left in doubt. The presidents spokcs-
man and manager, Senator Hanna, has
declared that the tea and coffee Of the
working man. now free are to be taxed.
There is not dinner pail that is not to
be laid under contribution; labor is to
bear the burden.
There is scarcely farmer. nor Il farm
hand employed by farmer, nor a wage
Garner of any kind who does not use tea
or coffee. these necessarics of life. and
there is not one upon whose hard-worn
earnings the president of the United
States, through Senator Hanna, does
not propose to levy a tax to support his
wild, un-American schemes.
The question now is, what is to be the
response of the farmers and the farm
laborers and the workngmcn. the men
of the dinner pals, to this extraordinary
program? If the president or any of his
supporters can show that he is going to
promote their interests in any way by
1j Il for hn LAT NJ,