The evening times., 1898-12-13
Mr.. THURSTON'S VIEWS
ON THE ISLAND POLICY
TAKES IssuF WITH CARNEGIE
IL the Philippines Reeomc IA Burden
Instead of "a Blessing "a Remedy
VIII He Found.

In discussing eAadrew Carnegie's pcsi-
tion concerning the proposed "opea-door'
policy of the Administration as to the
Philippine Islands, Senator John NJ
Thurston, of Nebraska, referring TO n re-
Gently published letter from Mr. Carne-
gle on this question, said last night:
81 notice Mr. Carnegie says that tn 5
open-trade policy will be of no especal
commercial benefit to the United S ates
more accessible to European nat ons
than they are to the United States Eng
land has always maintainer her trade
with all parts of the world without ar Y
regard To distance. OF course distarc
is factor, but on the high seas it is not
the factor that ii Is upon land
81 realize thai whatever poicy We are
To pursue toward the Phillip nes the
situation will be very difficult one. q. Il
II is utterly impossible for any one n
advance To compare the advantages a Il
the disadvantages ard arrive at a Cecis-
ion as to which preponderates.
1T was seriously declared by some of
our greatest and best lawyers and 5 ates-
men that new territory and its res pon 81
pilities could not be acquired by the
General Government without the consent
OF all the existing States. to b. evide nc
ed by an amendment 10 the Cons itut on
But our Constitution proved broad
enough, as constructed by the courts to
permit The acquisition of a vast area #
territory through the Louisiana pun cha 81.
the annexation of Texas ana the ext n
SION bl discovery or occupation you'd
the Rocky Mountains
Mr. Carnegie is simply carrying the
same argument of opposition to annexa-
tl"h another step by insisting that the
same constitutional rights now possess d
hy the citizens of the United States will
extend to the peoples of any and all new
possessions that we may acquire by con-
quest or otherwise
Il agree with Mr. Carnegie that If we
are To admit sugar free from Hawaii
Porto Rico, and ultimately Cuba il will
Destroy the beet-sugar industry of the
nlted States. But these new posses-
Sions are not being taken by treaty. and
we are not entering into any treaty stip-
uiations for the free entry of their pro-
ducts into our ports, and | believe that
we can pursue toward them whatever
policy Congress sees fit TO prescribe Leg
islation on this subject VIII necessarily
be flexible and subject To change
II here Is every reason to believe the
Philippines can be made self-sustain!ng
ana this would b" true of Cuba if the
time should come for lis annexation.
i think II is reasonably wei settled to
the entire Satisfaction of the American
people that our-abeing peace may largely
depend upon the maintenance of a large
naNy-one that will al least he held in
me respect by the great powers
Neither do ! agree with Mr.. Carnegie
that the regular army should not be in
creased. The present regular army Of the
United States Is not strong enough to pa
troll one Of our. seacoasts.
My idea is that whatever military
force il may be necessary to maintain in
the Philippines could be largely recruited
from the native population of the islands.
and the same would be true of Porto Rico
and Cuba.
Beyond all these questions the situa-
lion is this: Having taken possession of
the Philippines. not by choice, but as one
of the steps that led 10 speedy and de-
cisiye yictnry over Spain. can We. in ma
tioHIl justice. turn the islands back to
Spain? We must either do the one thing
or the other. ] am satisfied to trust their
future destiny to the good sense OF the
American people If they become bur
den rather than i blessing. the same pa
triotic spirit which now demands their
surrender by Spain would then set them
Of them. without sacrificing the liberties
Of other peoples and without doing dis
credit To the American name