The times., 1898-08-04

alarming extent If we We're in the
position of the Franciscan and Angus
tinian orders in the Philippines, and
had any human nature at all, it is
presumable that we would hesitate a
little about giving up immunity from
taxation, civil procedure aud other
good things. and finally, if We were
Judge Day, fear of the Ohio beet raiser
might be great enough to account for
any condition of panic. or desire to
concede everything to Spain.
Having thus done justice to the mo-
tiyes of those who are striving to pre-
vent the retention by the United States
Of the Philippine Islands, we viii ven
ture to say a word for the sailors and
soldiers, and also for the plain people
of the Republic. Our navy and army,
backed by the resources of the nation,
are certainly able TO hold the conquer
ed territory, considering that Spain has
managed TO do the same thing for CEN
turies, and under conditions of hideous
robbery and oppression. The greatest
insurrection in Philippine history was
recently crushed out at a time when
the sovereign state was nearly at the
end of its resources. But for the Amer
ioan invasion and the assistance given
Aguinaldo by our admiral it would
have been dead for long time to
come
Admitting that there are obstacles
to overcome, that is exactly what the
American people like. If the Philip
pines were populated by members of
the Peace Society and did not do a
thing but sing Watts's Number Three
Collection and hold clam bakes. they
might go back to Spain and be con-
demned. Without anybody to rescue
or convert, or any sugar or bond syn
dicates to eyiscerate, the game of con-
troll and development might not be
worth the candle. Under existing cir
cumstances it is different.
Outside, possibly. of the Upper Yukon
River region, it is believed that the
Philippine gold field is as rich as any in
the world. We will not now stop to
mention the pearl fisheries, the wealth
of decorative and dye woods, nor a
whole book full of rich virgin resources
in the archipelago, calling aloud to
American capital and love of CONNER.
cial and industrial adventure. We will
only remark that there is not such an
other chance on the planet for profit
able development of every sort: no
land where wood and stone" in the
shape of ebony, rosewood and gems of
radiant loVeliness wait to be bowed
down TO as they do in the Philippines.
Material results hitherto undreamed OF
seem TO await American colonization.
Some Of the remote interior tribes are
still Mohammedans and poiygamists.
Think what employment for mission,
aries they offer!
No. there is something in the Philip
pines TO excite every American senti-
ment, whether of acquisitiveness. phil
anthrOpy or religion. There is not a
consideration which does not demand
that we should keep and defend the
whole business. Yes, there is one
small exceptional thing which we
should have TO depiore, and il furnishes
the only sane argument we have heard
against Philippine annexation. The
islands grow logwood, and everybody
knows that logwood is the principal
ingredient in the light red wines of
France which we import so freely from
Cette to the destruction of our souls.
Perhaps, if we Were to exploit the for
est resources of the possession, colon
lists might get in the way of making
their own claret. This is a danger, of
course, but one which possibly may be
not too serious for the w. c. T. u. TO
combat successfully.
To sum up the situation, any abate-
ment on the part Of the Government of
our claim to the Philippine Islands. ana
ali and every foot of them. would be
a free and not incorrupt gift to some
body. Admiral Dewey took over the
archipelago for the American people.
and the American people want il.