The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-05-13
The Philippines.

iilSt uIdkS uId'IB 10 d saying uduuCA uOWu
FROM the ancients. Spain appears to ap-
prove it true. If ever a nation acted the
part of crazy people Spain has demon
strated the part of lunatic nation in her
treatment of Cuba and her course in deal
ing with the United States. The final
outcome is likely to prove more far
reaching in its results than the most pro-
phetic mind anticipated. All at once the
fact breaks upon, not merely the Anleri-
can people, but the world, that the Phil
! ippine Islands, the great archipelago of
of the Pacific, with population of s, ooo-
600 people, have been brought under the
United States flag. The Islands can meyer
again revert to Spain, who has not gov
erned but tyrannized over and robbed
them as she has all of her colonies. The
Spanish West Indias will share the same
fate, Spain be driven out OF them and her
misrule abolished forever Cuba will be
governed by her own people as an indie
pendent nation but the case of Porto
Rico is different. What the future of
Porto Rico is 10 be is just now not easy to
determine.
The Philippines will be less easy to let
go than they were to capture. The first
thought was to hand them over, or sell
them to some other nation-Japan or
great Britain. But a little reflection
makes it plain that other nations would
make serious objections to this. Japan is
simply out of the question.
The solution of the problem seems to be
that the United States will be compelled
to keep the Islands and give them gov
eminent such as the people have never
known under Spanish rule. 1t will be
the policy of Great Britain to exclude all
continental nations of Europe and insist
OH the United States keeping the Islands
if she cannot have them. England has
been uncommonly partial and friendly to
the United States since the difficulties
with Spain developed, while all CONT
mental nations as strongly opposed this
nation and sided with Spain. England
prevented an alliance of the powers to
interfere and in every way manifested her
Partially for this country, and was no
doubt ready to interfere with her power
full navy on the side Of the United States,
If any movement had been made by the
continental powers to give Spain material
aid. There is jealousy springing up
/ hot nrtN a,,l .,
mental nations which has set the English
to assiduously cultivating policy of an
alliance of the English speaking peoples
All these conditions have developed,
not from any desire or effort on the part
Of the United States, but by the uucon.
trolable course of events. The Philippines
constitute an immensely rich and unde-
velopod country, and are populated
largely by peaceful industrious people
who would be glad to exchange the tyran-
uical rule of Spain for mild and just
government such as they would enjoy
under the United States flag.
But whether we will or no, destiny
seems to make it a duty which the United
State cannot avoid in justice, to see that
the people Of the Islands shall be provided
with stable government and have the
benefits of western civilization conferred
upon them. Under the United States flag
the wealth of the virgin country, rich in
minerals-among which are tin mines
and tropical products, would attract a
white population in thousands and abund-
ant capital to develop the wealth, civ
ilize and educate the people. The church
aud the common school would follow the
/ dag aud create a new life for the people
| who have known only oppression and
wrong from the brutal Spanish civiliza
ton, which Is part Of the civilization Of
the middle ages.
| The growing power and importance of
/ the American people are forcing US from
/ our isolation. Oar commercial growth is
demanding preparation for its necessities
As Il develops iu the East and one Of
those necessities is coaling stations and
naval accommodations in the Pacific
Hawaii aud the Philippines appear to
/ DC thrust under our flag whether we will
or no, and place us under the moral ohl.
/ cation Of hestowiug on their people the
/ blessings Of republican government aud
/ lifting them from the nighs Of ages Of
/ oriental desp0tism There i a divinity
shapes our ends rough hew them as we
will, and that divinity appears to be
shaping the future Of the American
government aud institutions without our
will or design
European nations are Jealous aud
vnvious of this manifest destiny of Amer.
/ lean aud her Institutions and are letting
/ no opportunity escape 90 show Il. while
/ England. more clear sighted than our
selves. i shaping hef coarse o. reap
whatever advantage her tisndiy oilicrs
NAV bring 30 her iu the future.
The Eew developments that are open
ing ont are destined ta work 4 great
change Ia political questions 10 the im-
mediate iuture. AMI ga no economic
question all they have a gFeatef iuhnenee
/ than on the MONEY qassiiuu ard the
very central pnint 81 that question Is ths
silver question. More uioufy sili be re-
auired 30 develop lhe nsw expire. and
/ there Is no utomHt iH the kass equsi 10
silver uaoney Al the silver 81 TIE Rorks
Mountains wll BE- wanlel % develop the
industries 81 the Philippines unaier the
United States asg
The var with spasn u hnusi % hoii
/ ihe silver quesaAau in the ifaHf wtfh a.
irresistible force e4Hasel amtN hv Ebs
power displayed Psi lsseF wb@a he ief
upon the sirepsuE SFaulafis ia she hsrla4
of Maniia. uaF stosk "a munes masi he
increased % suwNlY che temam& of q Hea
.s,tslr.. ia ss4fNssrsfs aHatassa ssssaffslsss