The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03

Same day that thirty Of his former followers
voted for It, and ono Of the leaders OF the Demo
cratic party assured me a few days ago that IL
ever tho nation were committed to II, he would
retire from public life. Mr.. ClevelRod was just
" described by q friend who returned. from visit
ing him as passing his time in Fishing and
growing" Tho newspapers are similarly
divided, without the usual party allegiance.
New York, 1 should say, IL divided in opinion.
Boston, Of course. is against 1t, but tho Boston
line of argument is calculated rather to help 1t
along. = =
Two other facts arc full of significance. First,
a moderate tariff, not at all tho Dingley one,
has been framed for Manila. Second, Mr.. Day,
the Secretary OF State. has applied to Congress
for $4,000 to pay tho expenses of a commercial
mission to China and has drawn special atten.
tion to the fact that American manufacturing
productivity has reached the point of large ex-
cess above the demand of homo consumption"
These facts signify that America, with her as.
founding growth Of exports, Is turning toward
the markets OF the Far East.
Which. policy will prevaili In exact Ian.
guago. will America retain the Philippinesl 1t
Is rash, and possibly reckless, to answer such
a question now, but so far as l can SEQ / think
she will. Some Of the grounds for this opinion
may DO easily given. First, what else can
America do with themi Cede them TO England,
to Japani Neither would take them at such a
critical moment. Put them up to auction
among the European powers, to secure a cash
indemnity from Spaini Inconceivable. Hand
them back to Spaini Public opinion would
never tolerate it. Retain Il coaling station and
cede the rest piecemeal among the powersi
Such q course hos been limited at, but 1t would
be a fatal course, the worst mistake possible, q
policy fraught with every kind Of peril. Allow
the insurgents, under Gen" Aguinaldo, to set
up a republican Government under American
protectioni The idea is laughable to every
body who knows the Philippine native and has
seen for himself how East Is East and West is
West. There seems for America no safe and
sensible course except the old and simple one OF
keeping what she has taken.
Besides this negative argument there are
positive ones to tho same effect. Some are
metaphysical. such as tho argument that the
Western course of empire is inherent with the
nature of things. Some are sentimental. such
as the strange magnetism OF the Orient, that has
now begun to draw Americans as 1t has so long
drawn Englishmen, and will never let them
go. This is my favorite argument, for l know
how the East can
Draw men onward. as q moon OF spring.
High.wheeling, vast and bosomful.
Half hid in clouds and white as wool,
Draws all the strong seas following.
Some are economical. such as tho
necessity of securing for America suporabun-
dant manufactures. markets not to be lost by
any action of other nations. Some, again, are
political, such as the desirability in American
commercial interests in having q strong foot
hold from which to help England, with both
right and might, to keep China open to trade
against the ambitions OF Russia. Germany, and
France to close her markets in their own protec-
ZIONIST interests. Some arguments are severely
practical, such as the inquiry h yAmerica should
throw AWAY n good thing. Finally, all these
metaphysical, sentimental. ecco-
nomical. political. and practical, arc summed up
and swallowed in ono view, which Ehave heard
from every side, expressed colloquially in these
words: I'm for keeping all that we've got"
Therefore, SO far as my visit has enabled me
to judge, l think that the islands OF Magellan,
with their orchids and hemp, their tobacco and
flame flowers, their unexplored forests and un.
touched mines, where tropical nature hides her
wealth as Intellectually under a growth of gor-
geous colors as the olive-skinned Mestiza, her
cataract of jet-black hair pouring from her I'M
covered head, conceals her beauty beneath the
transparent woven dbres OF the pine, will stand
ere long as a monument over the grave of the
Monroe Doctrine. The Philippines may not
be annexed at a single blow, but to hold them as
security for an indemnity which will never be
paid will be annexation in all but name and
the disquieting authority Of Congress over them.