The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-22
PHILIPPINE ANNEXATION
MIR. ANDREW CARNEGIE ARGUES
STRONGLY ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE,
Declaring that Commercial Expan-
sion Depends on Peace, while An
nexatiOn VIII Lead to War.
.ndrew carnegie. in New York world.

members of the Cabinet have at last told
us where they stand. 1t is most desirable
that the other members speak out. even
if they take the side of Imperialism.
If the people to-day knew that Presi-
dent Mckinley has convictions on the
subject to which he would stand, half the
danger would be over. Secretary Gage has
not only told us that he has changed his
views and is a convert to Imperialism, but
he has fortunately given us the reason. All
that is necessary is that our public men
should give reasons for the Republic aban-
doning the policy which has made her great.
He accepts the dangers and cost of imper-
ialism against his own wishes for the sake
of commercial expansion.
Now, Secretary Gage has never manu-
featured anything nor exported anything.
Our concern is, to-day, the largest manu-
facturer in the world in its line. and I
believe it is also to-day the largest ex-
porter of manufactures in the United
States. We have within two years begun
to send our steel to all parts of the world.
Our sales reach into the millions Of dollars.
We have our London house now, as we have
in New York. The foreign business is grow
ing by leaps and bounds. Now, one OF the
reasons why oppose imperlialism-the ac-
QUESTION Of the Philippines, for instances
commercial expansion.
The reason that Secretary Gage gives for
acquiring the Philippines is the reason why
/ would not. He believes it would be favor
able to commercial expansion. know that
1t would be detrimental. The secretary gives
no reason for thinking the acquisition Of
distant possessions would increase our for
eign trade. Permit me to state reasons why
1t would not increase, but decrease it.
Foreign trade rests upon peace and Sc
curlty. The waters must be calm, disturb
ing influences absent, to foster trade in for
eign ports. Two weeks ago British consols
fell 29s. There was a rumor of war with
france, and money, needed by manufactur-
erS ana exporters, rose to double what 1t
had been. Our financial operations in Lon
aon covering our foreign trade We're i'm
mediately transferred to New York, which,
for the time, became the financial center of
the world. Money exchange was furnished
us cheaper here than London could give.
The CULVER that went through the com
mercial world in Britain arrested commerce
at many points. New York was secure be-
yond the zone of disturbance. There was no
war rumor which affected the Republic.
Great Britain was within the zone and her
business was disturbed.
should we undertake to hold the Philip
pines we Immediately place the whole Re
public within the zone Of wars and rumorS
of wars, and the rumor of war, it must be
remembered, is in itself destructive to COM
merce. 1t was only rumors of war that
threw us from London back to New York.
the commercial expansion which this coun-
try is enjoying, what will satisfy this man?
l have seen nothing. like 1t in my lifetime,
nor have l read of anything comparable
to it.
WORLDS MARKETS NOW OURS.
Without distant possessions, the Republic
solid, compact safe from the zone of war
disturbances, has captured the worlds mar
kets for many products, and only needs a
continuance of peaceful conditions to have
the industrial world at its feet. Our exports
now exceed the exports of Great Britain.
What does Secretary Gage mean by talk-
ing of commercial expansion to come when
the question to-day is, how shall we meet
the commercial expansion crowding upon
us?
If the secretary of the treasury has time
to spare, let me suggest that he can use
1t to better advantage studying how to give
to our exporters suitable steamship lines to
carry away the traffic that is offered. This
is the one great want of the United States
in the way of commercial expansion, not the
management of barbarOuS regions involving
race troubles far exceeding those we have
at home
There is another point that Secretary
Gage fortunately has to consider. l should
like to ask the administration one ques-
ton which the President and Cabinet must
soon think of: Are the Philippines to be
considered part of the American Republic,
as Porto Rico is; and are we to keep them
for ourselves as we have Porto Rico exclud-
Suppose President Mckinley says, Eyes,
/ have always stood for American labor;
! am its great champion; am protec-
ZIONIST TO the core" L begin to grow doubt
full about the President having convictions
upon any subject; but If he has CONVECTION
It is this that it is the duty of an Amer
lean President to take care OF American
labor Well, he will have done so when he
announces that he is going to obey the Con-
stitution of the United States, although in
these days the Constitution seems to De, as
Tim Campbell once said to President CleVe-
land e. small thing to stand between
friends
POLICY THAT MEANS WAR.
But suppose the President is true to the
Constitution and his oath to support it.
Then there is free trade between all parts
of the United States and the Philippines,
as there will be with Porto Rico-he has
stood true there-but there is high tariff
between trade Of all other nations and the
Philippines. 1 believe the President will be
driven to hold this position. What ensues?
War! Britain is our best friend to-day,
but only upon condition that we keep the
'open door for her in the Philippines and
in all other of our distant possessions. Inc
London Times has already given q strong
hint ON this subject in referring to the Pres
idents "bottling up Porto Rico. Let the
President listen to this from the London
Tmes's editorial:
''Fnglishmen have seen with ungrudging
satisfaction the entrance of America on the
path of imperial expansion which they nave
themselves trodden with such conspicuous
success, but it must be confessed that a
considerable strain is put upon our SYM
patty by such plumbers as the order regu-
lating the trade of Porto Rico, which our
correspondent cites and which was made as
If it were borrowed from our own naVlga-
ton acts which the Americans themselves
found so oppressive.
The most sensitive chord of Britain is
its foreign trade. Upon that It depends.
show that the American system is to be
extended to the Philippines and that Score
tary Gage had some foundation for his idea
of Commercial expansion for the adVan-
tage of American labor and it will not be
necessary for Britain openly to intervene.
France Germany and Russia, as is well
known, are opposed to America entering
nations combined drove Japan out of Corea.
and they viii drive the United States out
of the Philippines, always provided Britain
agrees to do what she did with Japan
occupy neutral position. But 1 go further
than this. She will require the United
States to agree to keep the open door,
as she required Germany to do
OF course Germany has agreed to keep
the open door in her eastern possessions.
She wouldn't have any if she had not.
Neither will the United States; for, let
it be noted, 20 per cent. of the total trade
of the Philippines is to-day British.
have spoken of European nations but
there is a nation quite near the Philip,
pines with which the United States would
find it most difficult to deal at so great
distance for, remember, it is a question OF
naval strength. Here is what the minis
ter of Japan said the other day:
Every year it's trade with the Philip