The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-09

CONDEMNSlETTER
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie Writes on
Imperialism.
SECRETARY GAGE is CHALLENGED
A Solid, Compact Republic Desir-
ed-Safe From Zone of War
Disturbance Trade.

NEW YORK, November 19.-Mr. An
paper denounces the tendency toward
imperialism. He is especially severe
on Secretary Gage, who, in recent
speech, stated that he had been con-
it presaged commercial expansion"
Mr.. Carnegie twits Mr.. Gage with being
neither in manufacturing or commerce,
and theoretically not qualified to speak
for either He then says:
One of the reasons why | oppose i'm
perialism-the acquisition of the Phil
ippines, for instances because it
would not result in CONNER
cial expansion The secretary gave
no reason for thinking that the
acquisition of distant possessions would
increase our foreign trade. Permit me
to state the reasons why it would not
increase, but decrease it. Foreign trade
rests upon peace and security. Should
we undertake TO hold the Philippines,
we Immediately place the whole repub-
lie within the zone Of wars and rumors
of wars, and the rumor of war, it must
be remembered, is in itself destructive
to commerce.
If Secretary Gage is not satisfied with
commercial expansion, which this
country is enjoying, what will satisfy
this man? / have seen nothing like it
in my lifetime, nor have l read of any
thing comparable to it. Without dis
tant possessions this republic, solid,
compact, safe from the zone of war
disturbance, has captured the worlds
markets for many products, and only
needs a continuance of peaceful condi-
tons to have the industrial world at its
feet. Our exports now exceed the ex-
ports of Great Britain.
If the ecretary OF the Treasury has
time to spare let me suggest that he
can use it to better advantage studying
how to give to our exporters suitable
steamship lines to carry away the ira
ffic 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, in
volving race troubles far exceeding
those we have at home.
/ should like to ask the Administra-
ton one question which the President
and Cabinet must soon think of. Are
the Philippines to be considered a part
hi 10 orb
Rico is, and are we to keep them for
ourselves as we have Porto Rico, ex-
Guiding the world from equal trade
rights with them?
Suppose President Mckinley says:
Yes. l have always stood for Amer
lean labor; / am its great champion; L
am a protectionist to the core" l be-
gin to grow doubtful about the Presi-
dent having convictions upon any sub
iect; but if he has convictions, it is
this, that it is the duty of an Ameri-
can President to take care OF American
labor. If the President is true to his
oath, then there is as free trade be-
tween all parts of the United States
and the Philippines as there is to Porto
Rico-but there is a high tariff between
the trade of all other nations and the
Philippines.
/ believe the President will be driven
to hold this position? What ensues
Wari Britain is our best friend today,
but only upon condition that We keep
an "open door" for her in the Philip
pines and in all other of our distant
possessions France, Germany and
Russia, as is we'll known, are opposed
to America entering upon possessions
in the Far East Those nations com
bined drove Japan out of Korea; they
will drive the United States out Of the
Philippines, always provided Britain
agrees to do what she did with Japan
occupy a neutral position.
But 1 will go further than this. She
will require the United States to agree
TO keep an open door, as she requir-
ed Germany to do.
| Mr.. Carnegie points out that JapaT
would also be an ugly customer TO dea
with if the Philippine door was not lief
Iopen. He refers to an offer of $4,000
tons OF steel plates received by his firm
from Western Australia which, unit
the Philippine tariff matter is settled
cannot be accepted, and hints that i
Mr.. Cages theory of commercial eX
pansion prevails. this steel may not b'
made by American labor. But if the
I"open door" be the policy as to the
Philippines, asks Mr.. Carnegie, wha
will labor in the United States say tt
the recreant President?
Let the President take either horn o.
the dilemma, and his policy Of what
he has himself called criminal aggres
SION fails. Let him open the door tc
the world and he antagonizes American