The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-29
SPANS COMPLIANCE
WITH OUR DEMANDS
Very Generally Discussed Yesterday by
Citizens Of Birmingham.
ARE GLAD THE WAR Is OVER
Most Of Them Think the $2O,OOO,OOO
Offer Mas a Fair One.
DON'T APPREHEHD MUCH TR0uB. E
Many of Them Doubt Governments Wis
dom in Insisting on Holding the
Philippines, Though They Do
Not Fear Any Trouble.
DON'T APPREHEnD MUCH TR0uB. E

| The most interesting topic OF general
conversation in Birmingham yesterday
barring, of course the Warnock tragedy
was the news received in the afternoon that
Spain had accepted Americas demands in
regard to the Philippine islands, that the
peace commission had practically finished
its labors, and consequently that the war
was almost thing of history.
Everybody seemed to think that this was
the only course that Spain could accept, as
it is absolutely in no condition to renew
/ hostilities. Most of the people agreed that
the United States had done right in paying
the $40 900, 900 for the islands, for the peace
improvements" as they are called on the
islands. Whether the government had done
wise thing in insisting taking the
Philippines was a question on which the
citizens seemed to be very much divided
| Everybody agreed that they were hearth
! ly glad the war was over, and the signing
of the treaty SO near at hand. The follow
ing are among the opinions heard on the
subject yesterday;
! COLONEL w. A. DENSON-"The ac-
ceptance on Spain's part of the demands
made by the American peace commissioners
is, in my mind, an epoch making date in
in insisting on holding the Philippines. We
conquered them in the war, we have con-
troll of them now, and we must keep them.
| If we can't govern that little group of
islands we certainly are not fit to govern
this great country we already have.
st think that the acquisition of the
Philippines and the Suu islands will be the
| first and most important step in the break
| ing down and overthrowing of the high
protective tariff and other evils of the great
trusts which now are burdened on this
country. Our trade facilities with the
| Orient will be wonderfully increased,
which is a great factor in destroying the
protective tariff idea. Admitting for the
sake of argument that do not need the
Philippines at the present time, there will
be a time in the next few decades when
we will need Them and need them badly.
The United States is a growing and ex-
panding nation, and at the present increase
of population will have all of it's territory
in the western hemisphere. very well filled
within the next hundred years or so. The
United States will then need more territory
than the Philippines. We ought to keep
those islands even IL don't sell a pound
of cotton or iron in them for the next fifty
years. The Americans are the best of the
Anglo-Saxon peoples and 1t is our duty to
ead-not England's. If we don't hold the
Philippines some of the Latin races of
Europe will seize them. Then where will we
be when the great ACKNOWLEDGMENT of China
and others of the eastern countries takes
place"
CAPTAIN REUBEN F. KOLB-"I am
OILS hat no cir
to an understanding, but I regret that our
people ever insisted on holding the Philip
pines.'
REPRESENTATIVE ]. B. GIBSON-"T
think we made good bargain out of the
thing, and ought to be satisfied to give
the foe whom we have whipped so badly
the comparatively small sum of 500 900 900.
1t may take little larger standing army
than we usually keep to properly govern
them, that is until the natives become
more civilized. After that time If for any
reason it becomes advisable for the United
States to give them up and make them in
dependent the experiment will have been
well worth the money it has cost us, just
for the sake of humanity, civilization and
Christianity.
JUDGE A. A. COLEMAN-'T am glad the
conference is about over and peace prac-
tically declared. I don't apprehend the
slightest trouble with other foreign powers
over the taking of the Philippines by the
United States, but do fear that our pos
session of those islands may not prove as
satisfactory as some of believe 1t will
be. I am now and have been since the
beginning of the war strongly In favor of
holding Cuba and all of the Caribbean
islands, but 1 doubt the wisdom of keep
ing the Philippines"
| SOL HAAS-I am glad it's over, and I
think the United States got a bargain.
Whether the taking of the Philippines was
wise step not, depends entirely on
what use is made of them now that they
are ours. I think that the United States
| should establish protectorate without an
| nexing the islands. We don't want the
| Philippines as part of the United States
| until they are more civilized and until they
| want to be annexed of their own accord.
| Then will be the time for us to decide
| whether we shall take them in not.
| ROBERT JEMISON-I think the payment
| of s20,000000 for the Philippines was a
very fair trade, considering the American
victories in those islands. don't see what
| else the United States could have done,
| however, for under the circumstances we
| could hardly let them go. In after years
| If we find that they are not profitable or
| desirable, then 1t will be easy matter.
| to sell them to some other country.
| COLONEL Il. H. PEARSON-It was the
test thing for the Spaniards that they ac-
| cepted the American offer of $20.000,000. in
fact, there was nothing else left for them
| to do. I think the United States did right
| In holding the islands, for there IL not use
| In going into an expensive war without
| coming out Of 1t with all you can get, and
| this is the course that the United States
! IL pursuing. Spain has no money to pay
any indemnity, so we must consequently
| tnke land instead. Neither Germany,
! France, Russia nor any of the other for
| eign countries will have anything to say
| about our taking the islands, and In my
| opinion they will let the matter drop.
| .OHN PT.GT1-I favor merely n prOtec-