The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-05-21
WOULD HOLD rHI ISLANDS.
Leading Statesmen Favor 1eteattea
az the philippi0oa

WVVAU 0V4U T66 11AA00 -.
Leading Statesmen Favor 1stsatis
Of the PhilippinsA
While the whole country 10 echo
ing with the cheers over Dewey
great victory At Manila, the presi
dent and congress are confronte'
with . perplexing problem. Tn
i United States has . possession il
the far east and statesmen are ask
ing each other the question, "Wha
shall be done with it?" The Phil
} ippine Islands have passed from
the control of Spain, and no doub
forever. The flag of the Unitet
States now floats over Manila bar
Dor and the guns of Admira
Dewey's feet control the city o
Manila. It is such a triumph fol
the American navy that our govern
ment is not inclined to put it aside
with the assertion that the Monrot
doctrine confined the influence o.
the United States to the American
continent. The administration also
favors the retention of the islands
by our government.
Senator Foraker of Ohio says
TN my opinion there is but one
course to pursue, and that is very
simple one-raise the stars and
stripes over the islands and keep
them there. We have come by
them fairly and honestly enough,
and, now that we have them, il
would be foolish to give them away.
They are worth far more to US than
we could ever get for them and the
sooner this country realizes that it
is a power among the nations Of
the world and wants colonial pos
sessions the BETTER"
Representative Walker of Massa.
chusetts said 1.-The taking of the
Philippines means that our day of
isolation has passed, and that we
have taken our place as a world
power. We ought not to talk Of
peace until we have taken every pos.
session of Spain outside the PENN
sula. We should hold them until
we know our own minds, and until
we know what the other nations of
the world have to say; not that we
would allow any of them to dictate
to us, but that we would let them
say all they had to say before max
ing up our minds as to the course
we would pursue"
Other senator's and representa-.
tives express themselves personally
as in favor of keeping the Philip
pines. rather than returning them
to Spain tor the elimination of her
misrule, unless she is able to pay
the indemnity demanded in cash,
and no-one expects her to do that.
AS the disposing of these islands
to other European powers, it is re-
garded as out Of the question, be-
cause of the jealousies in Europe.
Any extension of the influences of
one European nation in the Orient
is regarded SO jealouly by all the
other powers that it may p. ose i'm
practicable for the United States to |
turn the islands ever to any Euro
pean power without endangering q |
worldwide war. Less friction would
be caused if this country should
permanently hold the islands.
Authorities here understand very
we'll that Great Britain and Japan
would welcome the United States in
he Philippines. Japan is particu-
arly anxious to have the United |
States retain the islands. The Jap-
anese government has taken veryl
strong ground against any Euro.
oeap nation obtaining foothold in
chinese territory opposite the hew-
y acquired japanese possessions of
formosa, and it is believed that
With the United States in possession
# the Philippines, just to the south
# Formosa, the japanese position
would be greatly strengthened.ys@ 4
President Mckinley has probably
bought of this question. but he is
flowing events ~ follow their nat
lral course just now. The first duty
# the administration is to sustain
admiral Dewey and.send troops to
he island. That will be done this
'eek, and in few days soldiers will
e on their way across the Pacific
0 take possession Of Manila. They
ill take possession and hold it |,
ntil the end of the war, and then
ill be time enough to consider the
lture policy of the government
oward them aad Spain.
In this connection the report of
onsul Williams just received at the
late department shows that the
|nited States already has larger
.ade with the Philippines than any I