The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-29
ga1iD eagle
NJ NJ. MURDOCH Editor.
WHEN THE FUN WILL BEGIN.


oniaI possessions and the question
shall come, as it must, of who shall
have the Philippines, then will come
the strain which will be felt from Pc
kin to St Petersburg. In discussing
the future Of the Philippines the aver
age editor and politician takes into his
account Russia, Germany and France
and occasionally England. But there Is
a country, there is a power, more inter
ested in the ultimate destiny of those
islands than the ones named. The
Oriental Yankee, the ambitious. ada
cent little Jap, who hopes to be as
great in the western Pacific as Great
Britain is in the eastern Atlantic, has
long had his eye on those wonderful
tropical islands, whose productiveness
is unequalled. When the time comes
for the disposal of the Philippines by
the United States, whether it be to
hold them or otherwise dispose of
them, this newly rejuvenated land Of
the rising sun, which boasts a more
powerful navy than all the combined
foreign fleets in the Pacific, is going to
have something to say. Any attempt
Of the United States TO retain them or
to dispose Of them to Great Britain
will be the signal of trouble. Japan's
relation to the Philippines is exactly
that of the United States to Cuba. This
group Of magnificent possessions lies
right at the door of Japan, and Japan
will not allow them to pass into any
other possession, no more than would
the United States permit any other ma
ton to take possession Of Cuba. Ever
since the Mikado was forced by Russia
to sacrifice the fruits of his victory
over China the press and politicians of
Japan have been peremptOry in their
demand for compensation by means of
possession Of the Philippine Islands.
And so back of the insurrection against
Spanish rule in those islands have been
the japanese. The revolutionists of
the Philippines have had their head
quarters in Japan. Japan has fur
nished the rebels arms and ammuni- |
ton. This went on in the most unblush |
ing manner until very recently, when |
our troubles with Spain on the one |
hand over Cuba, and with Japan on /
the other over the Sandwich Islands, |
brought Japan and Spain together.
This was followed by a japanese prince
and the Marquis of Ito going to see the
queen regent of Spain for the purpose
Of forming an anti-American alliance.
This all happened but few months
ago. What was promised or agreed to
was never made public. 1t is only
known that an open alliance failed.
The japanese are sore over Russias
action, but no less sore over the United
States threat to take possession of the
Hawaiian group, which are filed with
Japanese subjects. 1t is known in Off
cial circles at Washington that Japan
was on the eve of declaring war
against the United States only a few
months ago. Then, whenever Spain, by
force or voluntary action, relinquishes
her possession of the Philippines there
wiz come the crucial incident of Amer
ica's declaration of war in favor Of
Cuba, and not till then. Germany wants
The islands, but Germany has not the
navy which can force things so far
away from home. Besides, or notwith-
her new possessions or base
Trenched from China, the new navy $
or which the reichstag has recently Z
voted the money, is yet to be built, and /
Germany cannot enforce anything ON
his country. :
But, as we assert in the first para ?
;Taph Of this screed, fun will begin f
when it comes to a final disposition of I
he Philippines, and Japan will have ,
o be reckoned with, more than Ger
many, France, Russia or England. for 7
apan is on the ground with a magnih- g
ent modern navy and plenty of money q
nd more pluck, and still more ambi-
ion to be the England of the Pacific E
nd the Yankee of the Orient COM +
ined. The purple islands" are the $
ichest in the world. and Japan will not 7
onsent to their occupation by any =
over than herself if Spain is forced to y
t so. As to the matter Of Japan's r
ghting ability. she has in the Pacific +
fleet second to none that can be read G
y sent there. Of up-to-date battleships.
ruisers and torpedo boats; in short. a -
uperior squadron. superior to the COM y
ined fleets now in those waters. More o.
yer. the Jap possesses in the Western n
acific unrivalled advantages over all n
theirs by being within a few hours o,
Ill of his home station and chief base Il
supplies. Their late battle with f,
hina afforded proof enough of their v
sill and valor. a,
There has been little or no talk of :,
lie Japs in connection with the Philip 81
ines. but if the fun doesn't begin whom II
pain shall have been whipped and it
'mes to the question of the Philippines OF
nd with the Japanese. then the present ic
ritter is badly mistaken. q,
CONGRESS AND REVENUE.
Probably congress little appreciaras