The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-13
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lailn - Eagle
NJ Nj. MURDOCH. Editor.
GIVE THEM TO JAPAN.

All Europe seems very much concern
ed over the assumed possibility of tn
government Of the United States fail
ing down in any attempt it may max
to acquire or govern the Philippine:
One statesman thinks that Uncle Sar
has made a fatal blunder in inculcatin
the idea that the Aalayanese may fac
Europeans in war. German and Rus
sian statesmen cannot see now it woul'
be possible for a western republic L
take care of and administer any sat
isfactory government for an Orienta
people.
over and above all these comes the
voice Of the Vatican at Rome, backed
by that of Leo, begging that tht
rights and property of the Catholic
church be held and maintained inviola-
bic in the Philippines. As the Catholic
church owns about everything worth
owning in these islands, and as it has
practically governed them for a hun
dred years, and as the Pope has left
his blessing and encouragement with
the Spanish side in this conflict, we
cannot see that the Pope has any more
right to step in after defeat with claims
for fruits Of the victory than have any
Of the temporal powers of Europe, who
are now so free with their advice. We
have been inclined tc, and the Eagle
% So of ha
Philippine Islands as whole; but we
would rather take the chances and re-
sponsibility Of governing them than to
permit Spain to retain them, or that
Russia or Germany or France, who are
all seeking to destroy the Chinese en-
pire in their own selfish interest, to
have any say in their disposition. AS
for the Pope, his archbishop, priests
and church in the Philippines, having
arrayed themselves against the United
States, under advice from Rome, he
and his church must take their chances
in the fairness and uprightness of the
people of the United States and with
the Mckinley administration, when it
comes to church interests in the Phil
ippines. America is a Protestant, not a
Catholic country; but America is al
ways fair and honorable. Pope Leo
alone held the power to force Spain to
evacuate and acknowledge the indie
pendence of Cuba, without war. It was
beyond the power Of the queen regent,
her ministry or the cortez to prevent
war. The Pope was willing, and even
urged that the United States prevent
the war. by lying down, but he would |
not restrain Spain from fighting to hold |
Catholic Cuba, When Santiago fell |
the only concession asked by the Span |
ish army was permission to carry away |
church treasures and church property. |
Spain nor the Vatican longer having |
any right to advise the American gov
eminent as to the disposition of the
Philippine Islands, and as Germany,
France and Russia could or would only
hold them to the disadvantage Of
American commerce and as a menace
to China, why, in the event of it not
being desirable to retain them, would
It not be wisdom to turn them over to
the Oriental Yankee? The little Jap on
his little island is destined to be to the
Orient what England has been to Eu-
rope. The Jap is against a partition
Of China by the Triple Alliance or by
anybody else. The Jap in understand
Ing the Filipinos ard how to satisfac-
torily govern them, is a friend to the
United States. For a half century the
Japs have been patterning after the
United States in many things Her peo-
pie believe in and trust us. Why not
turn the Philippines, after making such
as would be desirable, over
10 the japanese government. making
he transaction the foundation Of an
Observation-Disclosures alliance, in the in
crest pf American commerce and 7
against any further menacing of Ger .
many and France and Russia in the
Yellow sea With the United States
holding Hawaii and ports and stations
n Luzon and in the Carolines and La +
irones, with the Philippines in the {
lands of the japanese as our ally and 9
riend, America could more than hold |
Ter own in the trade Of the Orient and
nectually estop the effort Of the pow I
rs TO destroy the Chinese dynasty and $
o divide its territory among them 2
elves. &