Smyrna times., 1898-08-17
THE SPANISH ISLANDS AS PAYMENT.

now Is LllS NablOu TO De rel alu IOr
war which, certain officials estimate,
will have cost about $3.50, 900, 900. how
ever soon it terminates? Were Spain
a nation able to pay, international law
would justify a demand for indemnity
covering the entire expenditures aris-
ing from the war. But Spain cannot
pay, unless in territory, and those who
oppose the taking of Porto Rico and
the Philippines in effect propose that
the country shall get no payment.
Cuba is not worth $500, 100000, un-
less American enterprise, the ex-
penditure of American capital and the
costly establishment of a wise, honest
and stable government give it that
value, and if her people set up such a
government this country has proposed
that the island shall belong to them.
Porto Rico is valuable possession, but
as it stands, worth nothing like the
cost of war.
There remain islands in the Pacific.
Manila Bay would be a most costly
possession if it had to be constantly
defended against any government or
insurrection covering the rest of that
island. Moreover, the island of Luzon
itself would probably be costly pos
session if savage insurgents were to
control other islands and ports all
around it, while Germany and France
and other Powers would be seizing
upon the islands having the richer de-
posits of gold, of coal and other min.
erals. A perpetual state of defense
against those other nations would be
unavoidable, and so costly that Luxor
alone would be of questionable value
The whole body of Pacific islands, i
taken from Spain as part payment fol
the expenditures of war, would be held
by title which no other Power coulC
rightly question or would care to as
sail.
Under such conditions these islands
would become of great value, and coulC
be defended with comparative ease
The natives are brave, and with Amer
ican organization and officers woulC
probably make better troops than tn
Egyptian, and perhaps better than tn
Indian troops organized by great Brit
ain. Though such organization tn
maintenance of order in the island
and their defense against invasion b!
any land force would be easier and les
costly, while the development of tn
resources and trade of the island
would be more rapid because of the re
lations established with the natives
What their value is no one knows
The trade with Spain cannot be accu1
ately stated, although about 10 pc
cent. of the imports come from tina
country. No record shows with accul
acy the trade by the way of other is
ands or Hong Kong, but the direct e1
ports of the Philippines in 1896 wer
about $50, 175, 000-to Great Britai
81, ,467, 500, to the United States 81, 992
S57, to France, 81, 800, 200, to Japan i
1897, 81, SS7, 900 and to Germany 1928
700. The imports, on the other hant
were valued at $40, ,631, ,25O-from Gret
Britain 81, ,467, 900, from Germany $744
92S, from France $3.50, 700 and from th
United States direct only $162, 446, nC
including the larger movement by wa
of Hong Kong.
When it is considered that thei
islands, even without decent govern
ment or order, or modern organizatio
or methods of industry. have in te
years exported 914, ,O55 tons of hem
Al per cent. of which went to the Un
ted States, and 1, ,5s2, ,9O4 tons of suga
50 per cent. to the United State
though profits are unsatisfactOl
owing to the ignorance of planters al
their lack of resources, and that t
bacco, coffee, cocoa and indigo can
produced in great quantities, it will
: realized that under American directiC
. the islands might be made largely pre-
i table. The certainty that the rich d
9 posits of minerals, though as yet lit
known, and of coal which is repTese
ted as the best yet obtained in Asiasi
I waters, though the mines are almo
wholly undeveloped, indicates that {
n real value of the property in Americ
). hands might be greater than any nC
: imagine. But these various resourC
o are scattered over many islands, as y
: but partially explored, and the attem
to hold only one or a few of the
8 would involve the risk of perpetu
II conflicts between American and fC
!, eign explorers, each seeking the su
q port of his government in claims
II value. The possession of the islands
e body might soon, with Porto RiC
u repay to the United States all the &C
of the war, but that is the only W
that can now be counted upon
which this nation can recover Il
cost.-N. y. Tribune.
- The Best Remedy for Flux.