Arizona silver belt., 1898-05-19
A GRAND OPPORTUNITY.

hcuieNenient, inNoiNes tne perpiexing problem: What will the United States
 do with the Philippine islands The determination of this question is not urgent and will probably not be ss- riously considered at Washington until after the close of the war. One of the results of our conflict with Spain will undoubtedly be the growth of strong public sentiment in favor of the United States adopting colonial policy, and it is certain that excellent reasons can be given, at least for the retention of the Philippines and the annexation of
 Hawaii.
 The orient presents the richest and
 most slluring opportunities of any DOT
 tion of the world for commercial ana territorial aggrandizement, and all the powers of Europe are eontending for supremacy, or a division of the rich prizes to be won in Asiatic waters. The United States by reason of her pre-, eminence in industrial and commer- cial enterprise, and her advantageous position geographically, has succeeded in building up large and profitable trade with the orient and Australasia, and which should grow to enormous proportions if promoted by spirit of Aggressive enterprise and policy com. porting with our greatness as a nation. In order to do this and protect our vast commercial interests in the Pacific 1t Is not only desirable but essential that we should acqnire territory in those waters, and it would appear prov idential that the opportunity is now offered us to acquire, without any con ditions to seriously deter us, two of the most important possessions in the whole Paci6c-Hawaii and the Philip pines. The sentiment in favor of ac quiring the former is said to be growing at Washington and aided by the pow erful influence of the administration, the Hawaiian islands will in all proba- bility be annexed to the United States before the close of the present session of congress.
 The Philippine problem is more com. plex, not because it should be, but from the fact that the sticklers for pre- eedent insist that the United States is bound by the Monroe doctrine to con- line itself to the Western hemisphere and avoid any interference or entang- ling alliances with the rest of the world. This conservative element conte nds with some show of plausability that as we have thrown protecting arm over the two Americas and have tentatively agreed to relinquish any right or dis position to territorial acquisition out side of our own continent we should abide by that policy. It may be said, however, that conditions and the relation of the powers to one another have changed materially since Presi- dent Monroe issued his famous procla- nation. Civilization has advanced with rapid strides, and the jealosies and greed of rival powers have changed our relations to other governments. The world is not half so big as it was sev- enty years ago and the United States finds itself uncomfortably circum- scrIbed, with foreign nations controll. ing all the insular possessions around | us which by every consideration should | belong to her. The manifest destiny of the United States to be the domin- ant power of the universe makes it in- eunibent that she should assert her rights and maintain her exalted posi-. tiop among the nations.
 No such prize as the Philippine arch ipelago has fallen into the bands of any nation since England acquired Burmab. To sell 1t with all its vast opportunities aud incomparable locs- tion for commerce to any other nation, or even to release it for cash indem- nityS would be an act of gross folly. A glance at the map of Asia will con. vince any careful observer of the won- derful natural position of these islands for attracting and controlling large share of the commerce of the east. We can not restore them to Spain, and the bitter jeslosies of the other powers for bid our transferring them to any friend ly nation. It's admitted that the na- tive population of the islands is incap- able of self-government, and, conse- quently, there seems to be no other course open to the United States but to retain the Philippines and establish some form of stable government there.
 The United States exercising & pro- tsctorate over Cuba and in possession of Puerto Rico; the Nicaragua canal constructed and controlled by our gov ernment, and owning Hawaii and the Philippines--what splendid scheme is presented for commercial expansion and national development. It is one of the grandest opportunities ever off, Sered tc any nation slthough inyclv