Evening star., 1898-11-23
Grave Questions Of State in Connec-
tion With It,
STATEMENT OF ISSUES INVOLVED
Suggestion Touching American
Sovereignty Over Philippines.
POINTS IN SION

If there is no mistake about the "open
| made by the American commissioners al
Paris, very interesting question is raised
as to the policy of the administration upon
the acquisition of the Philippines.
The statement of this open door propo-
sition in the Paris dispatches was that
Spain should for term of years enjoy the
same privileges for her ships and merchan-
disc at the Philippine ports as is enjoyed
by ships and merchandise of the United
States.
1t is pointed out by those who have been
looking into this subject with care that if
such proposition has been made it could
have been suggested only with an under
standing that the sovereignty of he.Phil-
ippnes in passing away frem Spain would
lot rest with the United States
Some of the Arguments,
If the sovereignty passed to the United
States it would not be possible to extend to
Spain such privileges except, perhaps, dur
ing the period of military government pend
ing the formal annexation of the islands.
Under such conditions If the islands become
a part Of the territory of the Union there
can be no tariff duties on goods shipped
from the United States to the Philippines
nor here from those islands. The giving to
Spain OF equal privileges with the United
States in the natter of shipping and mer-
chandlse would mean free trade for Span
1sh goods, and there could be no discrimi-
nation between goods landed at Manila and
at New York.
The inference drawn. therefore, from the
alleged proposition is that a plan Is in con-
temptation which does not go az far as to
annex the Philippine gronp of islands to
the United States, but which vests the SOW
ereignity OF those islands noninally with
their inhabitants, while the government
would be under the actual direction of the
federal authorities of the United States
The Consequences.
If such plan is in cont enpla ton, as is
surmised, very heated controversy may
be expected and lively political issue may
grow out of it. The effect of such a course
would be to enable the enforcement of tar
III duties upon products brought to this
country from the Philippines, and would
meet one of the serious objections of the
home Market Club to the expansion" pol
icy.
1t would also admit of duties being col
iected on merchandise from the United
States landed at Manila or any other port
of the Philippines
In other words. it is asserted that the
..Alted states would have the responsible
ity Tor the government of the islands with
out their possession, which would be sac
rlllCed in order to maintain a practical |
tlTiH against Philippine products.
Inc pubic assumption has been that the
poilcy OF expansion contemplated the es-
tablfshment of American sovereignty over
the philippines, as it is over Haw ali, but
thls open-door' suggestion is thought to
point to different course.
Evasion of Constitution
1t is intimated that the objection TO such
plan, If proposed, will be that it is an
evasion of the constitutional provision
which lnsures equality of taxation, etc,
ard that it would burden this government
with responsibilities and expense without
aooing to its possessions.
1t Is said that it will be insisted that the
Islands be either annexed or else given ab-
solute independence, without responsibiljtv
upon this government through a federuI
protectocate.
II a currency and tariff system distinct
from that of the United States could be
adopted tor the Philippines, and Congress
nave no authority in the matter of the
government OF the islands, while the main
It.Anhg ol a federal protectorate made the
ohlted states responsible to the rest of the
"orld Tor the conduct and credit Of the
neutrality-suspicious. government, it is pointed
out that infinite embarrassment would be
pfousht upon the United States, without
nucn compensatory advantage, except to
the industrial interests which enjoyed the
continuance of protection or might control
lhe financial affairs of the islands.