New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-28
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
WHAT MIGHT BE DONE WITH THEM SHOULD
THEY BE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR
A REIMBURSEMENT OF &C


the outbreak Of with Spain have plunged
the country beyond doubt into unfortunate
| even II necessary struggle. Among the many pos
| sble moves on the naval chessboard there has al
| ready been suggested an attack on the Philippine
| Islands Such a suggestion. which has come from
| many quarters renders timely n suggestion or the
| problem. What should do with the Philippines
| II We should capture them? There Is to be sure.
| an old proverb about catching a rabbit before
cooking II. but there is also old proverb about
| catching Tartar.
The Philippine Islands large tropical group
| rich In their natural resources and opportunities.
| and very valuable for an enlightened government
| wishing to own distant colonies. The area OF the
| group is about hundred and fifteen thousand
square miles. with population conservatively esu-
mated Mt seven millions. The greater part or ms
population is Aslatic and Malayan. and even the
small European element is far from being Anglo
| Saxon. The geographic situation Of these Islands
moreover. has no connection with America, ana
policy OF permanently annexing them 70 the United
States would he attended by serious difhculties.
The writer believes in annexing Hawaii as group
naturally dependent North America. but tho
writer docs not believe In making the Philippines an
American colony. since they naturally depen-
dent Asia. Nevertheless. there are certain con-
sidcrations wherefore 1t might be wise to seize
these islands and demand them part OF the
terms OF peace n Spain should viciously and unduy
proong tho contest beyond the time necessary to
renquish cuba and Port Rico gracefully. or
course. that the is II will be our policy
drive Spain out OF Porto Rico. and establish that
islands Independence or even annex IT, for 1t would
bo idoiic TO leave "A chance for another Spanish
arise from Porto Rican rebellion.
We may then turn our attention 10 the Philippine
Islands. OF course fl is possible that we might
not be able 10 capture them may not oven try hut
it seems TO hc expected among many both at home
and abroad that - should make the attempt What
then should do with them? The writer ventures
to believe that. since tho islands hav" been grcv-
ousy mismanagod ~ Spain. the best thing that
could happen them from n material point OF
view would he 10 10 captured by America and
transferred Tor a valuable consideration to one Of
tho great Powers as magnificent colony for
which a good price would be paid. and this would
be kinder 20 Spain than 70 exact n war Indemnity
from her Impoverished treasury. Among the great
Powers tho ones which would be most apt 10 bid
for tho Islands would bc Germany France and ia
pan but % appears 70 the writer that the most adj
vantagcous terms could be arranged with France.
first. because tho islands are so conveniently SIT
uat-i with regard 10 tho French possessions in
Tonqlin second because ~ considerations which
will - discussed.
lot u- turn our eyes n tho Caribbean Sea.
Around tho shores ~ that sea. IN tho West Indies
and Guiana. colonial possessions Of four govern
mcnis besides Spain. These four governments arc
Great Britain. France Denmark and the Neither
lands Tho first Of these. namely. Great Britain.
Is today recognized Inquestonably our friend.
but. oven n she were not tho British West Indies
are go extensive rs 20 form problem by them-
selees Thcy may therefore be- laid entirely aside
al present. France on the other hand. appears al
tho present moment 70 ," N" one neutral Power
which is most friendly 10 Spain II. now. France
could get u INTO her head that In case % victory
by America France would have n chance To arqI lire
the Philippines easy terms. she would not be
So likely 70 work against rs among Tho Powers
Of Europe one ~ no items in the consideration
for Tho Philippines which tie writer would susses;
- r'Lice -, I, ne .,iJ rirn, rer. ana in 10
mos. emphaii' manner that tie prime motive in
asLIne s..h ccsson il not FOR The sake OF an
ncxing territory l. may 10 admitted that these
sloas 10 %. comparatively lttlc value The purpose
of rurh move would Doe - remove peaceaoly from
our ur. shhorlOoI a powerful nation whose proK-
unity 10 ~ might somehow involve Us in serious
The writer would no, 'or one moment suggest
that France Is capable o. such atrocities as Spain
mas committed In cuba. or that either OF the
French colonies Is large enough TO carry on such
rebellion as a." Clhans have done. but other
things might happen suppose for instance. that
France and Germany should become involved IN
these colonies. Su'l event would shock Us. be
sd"' inirol .lng new element into the balance
co. power ~ tn" western Continent In fact. the
mere presence ~ tn" colonies Of powerful Euro
p"ar nation 90 '0rrlgu speech and civilization. az
lfanc" is is in r-"lf % some degre" an element OF
dang even when tle colonies are excel emily
mont ~ danger can be eliminated peacefully IL
should certainly ae done. even n considerable nnan-
i~' rs now cr,mne ~" comparative values OF
"sr ,or 'I Wc ,nG r., IL. o2 ,s tTencn
hs" thousand fquare miles In area. with less than
haI' million Inhabitants. The Philippines
~ . ms laIgc ia area ana fourteen tines in popl-
lat.uu "" might reason hly. therefore. ask France
- piv n considerable sum OF money I'm addition
10 the colonies. and even then she would be get
ting an client bargain.
TIE same desire o, eliminating powerful Euro
hood should apply also 10 The Danish and Neither
land,A possessions, around the caribbean: not.
however be .t4f" Denmark AMI IA" Netherlands
whlrNgig % European politics might one or
hotn of these nations TO sell their colonies 70 some
great Power. as Germany or Russia. and thus cause
us serious complications Senator Lodge has re-
peateily called attention 10 this consideration in
Ing applies with equal or oven greater force to the
Nefhcrand, colonies. for II is not AZ all impossible
i'Se ~ ~" |.''i l." ~ ' an pill msi' m
Triple Alliance and thcn n member OF the Ger
The Danish Islands arc known to he in the mar
ke' The Netherlands colonies require financial as
ssiancc every year from tho mother country and
II iS not a. all onabie 10 suppose that com
parlftvcly moderate price woTlI purchase them
The writer believes. therefore, lat II IN the pres
ont war it should l- deemed wise 10 attack the
Philippines. and II W" should capture them. It would
be the wsest policy To take them in lieu OF war
indemnify. and seek 10 transfer them to France in
exchange for the French West Indies and French
Guiana and comparatively moderate sum OF
p" G tho panish and N-thrrlandS colonisI
What should be- don" WITH these various colones'
this country would be the Danish West indies very
small. although valuable French Guiana might
properly bc transferred to Brazil. Catholic and
Latin country. Ike France Martinique and
Giadrloupe might DO organized separate repub-
lies under American protection. burden that would
be FAR preferable to tho danger Of European com
plicaiions. The Netherlands islands Curacao
Aruba and Bonaire. lying right of tho Of
Venezuela. might J." Transferred to that country.
nj the other small Netherlands islands and Surf
might we'll he handed over to England. to In
crease British Guiana. I'm return for Great Britt
aims fricndliness In this crisis Tho considerations
FOR the other transfers might he soma valuable
commercial privileges in the respective countries
Boston. April %. 1888 BOSTONrAN.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE
To tho Editor OF The Tribune