The herald., 1898-06-05
A KNOTTY QUESTION
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE
PHILIPPINES 2
NEW YORK MERCHANTS VIEWS
Hc Knows the Islands Well and, Talk
Ing Advisedly, Thinks They Are
Not Good Possessions

NEW YORK, May 30.-(Special Corrc-
spondence to The Herald.) When we shall
have permanently relieved Spain Of the
burden of ruling the Philippines, the ques-
ton will arise: What is the best thing to
do with them?" 1t will be an easy matter
to dispose of the conquered possessions at
o good price to any one of the foreign ma
tions that are already looking with covet-
Gus eyes Manilaward, but first it must be
decided whether or not we want the group
ourselves. 1t will be Uncle Sans first at
tempt at establishing a state outside the
home territory, and warning voices are
saying. ''go slow!" with motive purely
patriotic.
It Is not an easy matter to find New
York merchant who is engaged directly
In the trade with Manila, and it is conse-
quently difficult to get expert advice on the
usefulness or otherwise of the Philippines
to this country. The United States is,
however, the largest consumer of the
products of the islands. These exports In
clude hemp, sugar, sapan wood, cordage,
indigo, leaf tobacco, mother of pearl shells,
hide cuttings, gum almaciga and copra.
The most important exports are hemp,
sugar and tobacco. The hemp grown in
the Philippines is the best in the world.
California alone in 1897 imported 3,210.16O
pounds of hemp over and above the guam
tity imported by the whole continent of
Europe. The tobacco business is quite ex-
tensive, and the brand is good one. The
sugar is poor stuff.
AS to the possibilities of making the
islands of great commercial Importance to
this country, A. Mendy of New York, who
has been engaged for many years in the
Philippine trade, is entitled to speak with
authority. When the writer called on Mr..
Mendy recently, the latter mournfuily
drew from a drawer huge packet of let
tiers officially Endorsed, Return to sender;
cannot be delivered on account of block
ade"
I'VE can neither get letters to nor from
Manila" said Mr.. Mendy, until the war
is over, so that my business with the is
lands is at standstill. l am not inclined
to think that the United States would
make a success of attempting to COLOMBO
the Philippines. 1t is different with Cuba.
That island is near us, and Americans will
flock there when their flag floats over
Haavna. The Philippines are on the other
side of the world and the people of this
own to want to leave the United States
for a distant possession whose prospects
are problematical. think the islands I'M
der American rule would be speedily over
run with the wanderers of other nationali-
ties. and would never attain a distinctly
American standing. To establish an
American government there, in my opin-
ion, would be to undertake the protection
-I@ L.
interest.
"There are unlimited possibilities for i'm
proving the islands. The Spanish are Ia
mentally behind the age. Improved mod
ern machinery is unknown there, and man.
ufactures and field industries are conduct
ed in the most primitive manner. Under
new and up-to-date regime the Philip
pines could be made important wealth.
producing possessions, but the Americans
would not, in my opinion, reap the great
est benefit, unless, perhaps, the fact of the
Stars and Stripes floating there would
lead to the building of steamships and so
result in the improvement Of the merchant
marine of this country. think, however,
the experiment of establishing a state in
the orient would prove failure.
1.-THE climate is not healthful one to
Europeans or Americans. The newcomers
are speedily enervated by the heat and
their constitutions weakened by the ma
larial conditions. To great extent, these
evil conditions can be remedied. The Span
iards have neglected the islands, and
much can be done in the way of drainage
and the introduction of sanitary improve
ments to make the place more habitable
and healthy. Even under the best of gov
ernments, however, I am afraid the Phil
ippinese will not be particularly whole
some spot for Europeans or Americans.
1.-THE resources of the islands have not
been developed to anything like they might
be- There are vast areas that could be
cultivated by the tobacco and coffee plant
tiers. The tobacco grown there compares
favorably with the Cuban article. There
can be no doubt about the richness of the
Islands under American rule, but would
Americans go there? We are not seeking
to enrich other nationalities, I take it, and
this is what we shall be doing, in my judg-
men, if we retain the Philippines"
So it looks as though the picture may
soon be presented of Uncle Sam with
group of oriental islands on his hands,
considering with knit brows what on earth
to do with them. HARRY D. JONES.
HArTranHrrA nnrHrvA1r