The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-29

nRrAs's STRANGE VIEWS.
Col. Bryan says he Is opposed &c ex-
ransion, because IL viii bring tbs prod
uc; OF the cheap labor Of the Philip
zines in competition with tie cane aud
beet sugar growers OF the United States
This IL . strange argument 70 come
from 30 ardent free trader As Col
Bryan. No voice IN congress was so
loud or pleading as his in urging upon
the country policy OF absolute tree
trade. In vain the wool growers OK
Nebraska pleaded with him TO give
them some measure Of protection. His
answer was an eloquent plea for free
wool. Al that time neither the laooring
men nor the industries OF the United
States needed protection from the cheap
labor of any country, in the eyes OF NJ.
Bryan II liz different now. The annual
convention Of federated labor has just
adjourned, after adopting resolutions
strongly opposing expansion. because IL
feared the cheap labor Of the Orient
would come In active competition with
federated labor. True 10 q strong In
sfinct Of denagogism which faithfully
nanifests itself at all opportune mo-
rrents in Mr.. Bryan's character. he at
cace throws bouquet to federated la
bor, another 10 the beat sugar growers.
still another 10 the Louisiana cane
planter. while a fourth. but unseen one.
lands sauareiy in the lap OF the sugar
trust
time In investigating he might not be
SO certain OF the effect which annexa-
ton Of the Philippines will have upon
our beet and cane sugar growers. The
latest reliable statistics Of sugar produc-
ton of the Philippines obtainasse are
given BY Maihail who estimates the
production OF the islands for the fiscal
year is3s-94 at 265, 900 tons. Singulariy
enough, he gives the production of cane
sugar In the United States for the same
year at exactly the same amount--265.-
600 tons. As this country produced In
1886 So. 900 tons Of beet and cane sugar.
while We consumed over 2.23s. 900 tons
the same year. 1t does not look as II
there was much to fear from the Philip
pines for some years to come.
In the meantime. shall We admit the
waiian islands without a protest? In
their desire to defeat the annexation Of
the Philippines the anti-expansionists
are advancing some very un,enable ar
guments and this alleged fear OF the
cheap labor OF the tropics coming into
competition with the American work
ingman Ia the most untenahIe OF all
The fact In. this country can absorb the
entire sugar product of the philippines
as we'll as Porto Rico and Hawaii In
1896 we imported over 60o. 900. geo pounds
Of beet sugar. besides more than $780,
utn,WVo POUNDS OF cane sugar. VIII not
the people OF the United States be fully
as well of II this sugar is produced In
their own territory? The experiment
ought to be worth trying.
The anti-expanslonists can no more
stop the progress of this country than
they can stop the bud from swelling un-
der the influence Of the spring sunshine.
No one knows the source Of the I'M
pulse. but IL is here, thrilling through
the veins OF the American people. bid
ding them TO go forward. and the i'm
pulse must be obeyed. for 1t is as ire
sistihle as Il is mysterious. 1t may be
for good or for evil. but the step for
ward must be taken, and neither Col.
Bryan, In search Of an issue, nor Car
negie. who seems to have gone suddenly
daft. nor the Brahmans Of BOSTON. lost
In self-con:emrlation. can hold II back
Il.