The San Francisco call., 1898-09-03
,FAVoRS A FOOTHOLD
 IN THE. PHILIPPINES
Ex-CoNsUL GENERAL McIVoR
 RETURNING TO JAPAN.
Discusses the Fruits of the War and
 Pays High Tribute to Sec -~ = retary Days Ability.

The steamer Belgic when she sails for the Orient to-day will carry among "th CT pasSengGrs N: w.. .McIvor, former Con- sul :General to Japan, who is returning to the Island Empire after less than years absence to argue a civil case be- fore the high court of Japan on ben1lf of an: American corporation, involving a land grant .of large. proportions. Accom- panEing AIr.. .McIwor are John T. Ham, nton and wife, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who go to Japan merely as tourists, and will return with the former Consul Gen. eral.three months hence MT. Hamilton was at one time Speaker of the House Of the Iowa: Legislature, and served two terms in Congress from 1890 to 1894. He is now one of the leading bankers Of his State. :
 Mir McT1or, who, though only 3S years of age; is one of the best known lawyers of. the Middte West; and was appointed to the Japanese Consul Generalship by President Cleveland in September, 1893, !; serving four years. and returning home lasttOctober During his incumbency Mr. McIVor saw his post grow in importance ;; in: The American list of Consul General ships. from. eleventh to fifth, ranking at the present time next lower than that , of the Brussels post. During his resi- dence in Japan Mir McIvor became thor oughly familiar with the Japanese code, and it. was because of this knowledge that the State Department was prompt ed to recommend him to his present . clients. The gentleman is adverse to dis cusing the details of his present mission because of possible harm to his client s : cause, but he stated last evening that he hoped to arrange the matter, which is purely. a private affair, without the necessity of a trial.
 He. talked freely on the growing trade relations between the United States and the far East, asserting that It was there America must look for an outlet for its Us manufactures. MT. McIvor is strongly of the opinion that this Government must retain a firm foothold in the Philippines, though how much of that territory, or whether any more than the harbor and port of Manila, he was not prepared to say.
 Tt all depends upon Americas capacity for governing the islands" he said, whether we retain them all or merely portion. and 1 am glau to say that Secre- tary Day fully understands and appreci- ates the difficulties attending our acqul- sition of that territory. I believe the peo- pie or. this country, practically without g exception. ana certainly. without regard to political lines, are in favor of retaining possession of all the territory that is now under: the stars and stripes. But hey Qo. not appreciate the dancers of such a course. All of the Americans ideas of HoNetsliiHetl are based. on the civil equal ity or; the people, and everything depends pp9n the .canacity of the natives of the Philippines for self-government. The United states is absolutely without a colonial policy, and with her present sys- tenn t would be next to impossible to es- tablish such -"olicy as England for in- stance maintains. With e each i1'ii change 1 of of national adninistration would follow a which would be anything but satisfac, tory, for 1t Is not likely that the natives their government, at least for many years.
 'Were the Americans able to adont some. system of government for those isl- ands that would not pc subject to neriod- ical changes 1t might be well to take them all. for they are wonderfully rich in. mineral and agricultural resources However, Secretary Day has a thorough knowledge of the whole situation He is most conservative, and no better man than he could be appointed to the Peace Commission. I have every confidence in his. ability to follow. out a course that will be for the best interests of the peo- ple."