The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-04

States return the Philippines TO Spain
Aguinado and his fighting followers must
be surrendered 10 death or taken away by
the United States and the American COM
missioners feel that til1nspl4A.'g would
be as severe toward them az II would be
impractcable from the point of view OF the
United States. Territory TO shelter thein
is felt to be necessary In the Philippine.
The entire group might not be necessary
for this purpose. Should the United ) ates
retain the Philippines as their place OF
refuge? To do this would he to take ne
most valuable portion Of the hrchlIelago,
Bn act which might furnish basis for the
dual charge OF greed in taking the best
and of cowardice Din evading responsibility
for the remainder. The American com
missioners have been unwilling to place
the United States In such position.
Again, there arose the pregnant ques-
ton of undesirable neighbors should only
Luzon be taken. An aggresslveiy disposed
power miAI> acquire Minda'o whlcI Is
almost within cannon shot Of Luzon. and
thus create a mos, difficult situation.
Gould, t1en. wiser division OF phs
islands be made? Pursuing this Inquiry
the most feasible division seimej to be
Luzon. Mipiaro and Pindawan. a chain
free OF neigbbois on the western boundary
but so closely tangled on the eastern side
as 10 make impossible line OF geographi-
cal division at once equitable and safe
me American commissioners nave not
been unmindful Of ire fact that clrcum-
stances, partly OF their own shaping. had
imposed upon the United States "A construc-
tive responsibility for the Philippines and
that either this must be forsaken or a
larger one assumed. They have believed.
too that before the nations OF the world
the United States should assume the higher
responsibility the stable government OF
the entire group and with n sense OF speci-
flc and general obligation they felt com
PEELED to propose to take over all.
On the question OF the Spanish debt by
whatever name known the American COM
missioners seem TO take broader ground
tran the mere question OF dollars. They
| sosn inclined TO direct adjustments on
the plain basis OF facts and equities.
Whether the war expenses OF Spain and the
United States are 10 be balanced IN The
present negotiations does not appear. but
the Americans face the situation open eyed
and with minds free 10 any argument based
on Justice TO Spain and fair treatment
OF their own National interests.
1'ha correspondent or tine Associated
Press ascertsns from Spanish sources
beyond question authentic that before the
| Philippine question is settled the Spanish
| commissioners will declare that thsy are
not here solely to save or gain all the
| money possible from the United States
| Sepor Mortsro Rios. president OF the Span
| ism commission and his colleagues. waiy-
| ing for argument any classification Of tins
| Spanish or colonial debt. will point out
| that Spain has borrowed on the collateral
| OF her colonial revenue: they VIII coHo.de
! that the natloral guarantees have been
| added bur that for all the PURPOSES OF this
| concentration the fact Is Irrelevant. Il
viii then be frankly urged by her commits
| slorrs that sp1in has pawnsd the revenue
| Of the Philippines and OF CUBA; that she
| did so In good faith TO her crsditons and.
| this being true that she has no moral
| rieht IN give awae or rehypothecate terri
| tory already pledged.
sennr RIGS wis .rge thai should Sp'fh
i tske tibet course her eieiitors might fairly
| rtsree hsr with defraudine them to We
| for herself The Canar,es. Carolnss end
Balaeric islands and to avoid ross bic a I'M
age 10 the psntnsula. The g. ani7fl rosnmis-
| rscuers will protest that such transact ON
wouJs be iDtolciable to Spain and Il would