Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-11
What Shall, We Do With the Philippines?

can fleet in Manila bay new question
has suddenly become OF much proml-
nence in the discussions of our press
and public What shall we do with the
Philippines? The destruction of the
Spanish fleet and forts, placing Manila
at the mercy of our guns has the effect
of giving us possession of this tropl-
cal archipelago, with its hundreds of
islands and it's millions OF inhabitants.
impossible that the problem presented
will be much more difficult one to
lnodore Dewey on that historic Sunday
morning.
While we are at war with Spain any
Spanish territory which we conquer at
once becomes our own, to be kept OF
proclaimed 10 the world that this is
not war of conquest. 1t was begun
tI.u W III bt tOlltfiutI do Il Nsti III W
half Of the cause of humanity to give
Cuba its independence. However, since
and the fortune of war has decreed
that the fall of the Spanish power in
toward Cuban freedom, the response
biity is thrown upon us TO determine
the future of those islands.
Shall we retain possession of the
Philippines as American territory?
Shall we give them back to Spanish
control? Shall we sell them to Japan
or some European power? Shall we
trade them with England for islands in
the West Indies? Shall we assist the
natives TO establish an independent
government under the protection of our
flag? Shall we in any case retain
coaling station there? These alterna-
tives and several others are open to our
government. For the present, at least
until the war is over. our flag must
float over the conquered Philippines as
a part of our territory. Every prepara-
ton is being made to rush at once
thousands of troops to aid Admiral
Dewey in clinching his victory, that he
may take actual possession and assume
the responsibilities of government.
This step the whole country approves
of, however great may be the differ
ences OF opinion regarding the ultimate
disposition of the islands. Dewey
should have all the American troops he
needs to give him secure control.
AS TO the permanent occupation of
the Philippines by the United States,
that is another matter and one already
provoking lively discussion. Some
prominent rapers and leading public
men declare that it is the manifest des-
tiny of our country to control the
Pacific, and that not only Hawaii
should be American territory but the
Philippines as well. They point out
the many material advantages of such
possessions, and deride the principle of
isolation held by the founders of the
republic. Others. more conservative,
urge that it is against our established
policy to acquire territory not adjacent,
ard that it is especially inconsistent
with our purpose in the present war
To give the islands back to Spain,
even upon payment of q war indemnity
or after holding them long enough to
collect their revenues as such an in
demnity, would be an act of inhuman-
| ity on our part toward the oppressed
inha btants. The Philippines deserve
| d better fate than TO be buried in the
| Their inhabitants are fighting bravely
for liberty as are the Cuban insurgents,
! but it is by no means certain they are
fitted for self government. 1t is doubt
| full whether the native insurgents have
| even the form of a government, or are
capable of organizing one. 1t is still
more doubtful whether in that remote
| part of the world, the chief arena just
now of fierce European land-2ra bling,
a Philippine republic could maintain its
identity a single year without the
strong arm of a powerful nation be
hind it.
There have been propositions that
we should either transfer the Philip
pine archipelago to Japan in token
! Of our time-hOnored friendship, or
yield it to Great Britain in return.
perhaps, for British colonial posses
SionS near our Atlantic coast. There
are strong arguments for either of
| these lines of procedure. But as to
the first one we must ask ourselves
whether it is either just or expedient
to urge these islands which have