The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-10
signincnnce of Tie nread Riots.

Significance of the Bread Riots.
The bread riots of Spain and Italy mean
more to the Powers of Europe than that
the rise in the price of wheat is causing
suffering among the poverty stricken por-
ton of their populations. They mean that
it would not be advisable for them 70
adopt any policy that would cut off their
supply of wheat from the United States
Ever since the battle Of Manila the dip
lomats of continental Europe have been
saying that France, Germany and Rus
STA viii not permit the United States to
retain possession of the Philippines. They
may know what the purposes of their re-
spectivee governments are. but it is more
than probable that no one of the Powers
Of Europe will be In haste to interfere in
our war with Spain, with the view of
assisting Spain, or will dispute our right
TO keep the territory we wrest from
Spain.
We want, Of course, to sell our wheat
and pork to Euroupe, but we are not
bound to do so,and would not do so If the
European Powers should undertake TO CO.
cree us into adopting a policy in respect
to the Philippines, or other territory we
may take from Spain, which they may
regard as hostile to their interests. If we
should keep our wheat and provisions at
home it would not be long before the peo-
pie of nearly every European country
would be demanding bread. Europe could
not feed her own people.
1t may be said that supplies of wheat
could be obtained from India and the Ar
gentine Republic They could get some.
of course, from those sources, but not
nearly enough TO supply their wants.
Wheat is now about $3.50 per bushel. At
that price we see that two of the coun-
tries of Europe are greatly distressed. If
we should shut off the supply which Eu-
rope receives from us, there would soon
be starving thousands in every European
city clamoring for bread, and, perhaps,
threatening to inaugurate revolutions. We
would have only to remain at home and
defend ourselves against attacks. The
stoppage of their wheat supply would,
very quickly, bring them to our terms.
Therefore, the talk that Germany, France
and Russia viii interfere TO prevent us
from keeping what we took from Spain
has very little in it that is alarming.
We did not take the Philippine Islands
with the expectation of retaining posses
sion OF them, but having taken them 1t is
probable that we shall hold on to them
untn we can get what we regard as a fair
equivalent for them.
1t is to be hoped that we will not make
this war with Spain a war of conquest.
We have all the territory we want now.
Possessions off the coast of China and
in the West Indies would be a source
of constant trouble to us. There
fore, it is probable that we shall not hold
any of the territory we have taken, or
may take, from Spain, any longer than
is necessary to enable US to dispose of 1t
to the best advantage. STILL it cannot
be predicted with any degree of certainty
what the policy of our government IN re-
spect to conquered territory win be. But
whatever il may be, it can be stated with
a great deal of poSltiveness that it will
be adhered to. The attitude of the Pow
ers of Europe in respect to the matter will
not cause us to change it. We shall not
play the part of a bully; neither viii we
submit to any dictation from any one of
the Powers, or from all of them. We do
not need the Powers of Europe to tell us
what our rights are. We know them, and
will have no hesitation in maintaining
them.
We occupy position superior to that of
any other nation. We car produce what
we want to live upon and can construct
the ships and guns with which to fight
our enemies We could take
care of ourselves therefore, and
make it extremely unpleasant
for our enemies if the whole of CONT
mental Europe should combine against us.
Deprived of a sufficient wheat supply Eu-
rope would soon begin to feel the effect
OF high prices for bread. Her people
would insist upon their respective govern
ments settling with us upon our own
terms before they would endure the
pangs of hunger for any great length of
time.