Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-03
Instructions to the Peace Commits
sioners Not Complete.
PRODUCTS OF The ISLANDS
Should Not Be Allowed to Come
in Duty Free.
| SIG NIFICANT TALK

WHICH nave gotten into the papers con-
corning the exact il structions with refer
ence to the Philippines given by the Presi-
dent tc the Paris commissioners has been
correct, said e prominent official in speak
ing of this subject
The truth of the matter is that the
secret has been well guarded, and neither
the papers nor any one else outside of the
trusted circle have been able to fathom
their purport. 1t is also a fact that the
instructions are not yet complete. Certain
lines have been laid down by the President
ana SPECIFIC instructions given; the Car
lhDean Sea Islands have been disposed of;
the 1adrones have been disposed of but
row the administration is awaiting Gen.
Merrltts arrival in Paris when he will wire
certain information TO Washington respect
ing the Philippine group, and the President
VIII then be IN position to finally instruct
the American commissioners at Paris The
entire matter has been exhaustively dis
cussed a the cabinet table and the views
OF each member Sc forth to the President
for three consecutive and lengthy meet
lrgs tfis was the sole topic of business
While the cabinet officers very properly re-
fuse to publicly discuss the question OF
indicate what the lines of instruction to
the commissioners have been. it can be
stated on the highest authority that an
extremely vigorous policy will be thair
course. The reports that Spain, through
her commissioners will demand this and
that, it is stated. so for nothing Spain
VIII be clearly given to understand that
the United States controls the situation
and that it is her pleasure to indicate the
disposition to be made of the Philippine
Islands. If necessary a determined naval
display will be made.
But beyond all this beyond the question
as to the probable destination of the
islands comes the f1-ther question as to
the government and !he tariff regulations
to be fixed for the i,lands by the United
States. This is Ibj ct closely related to
the question of annsXt!tion itself.
What do you hea- from statesmen and
prominent people as to the course which
Will be taken in the event the Philippines
are annexed, with reference to allowing
the products of the islands free access TO
the markets of the United States?" was
asked one of the cabinet officials His re-
marks on the subject, by reason of his
Eearly accord with the administration and
his close touch with the people at large
throughout the country, are very signiti-
cant.
The Tariff Question.
Il cannot speak for publicat ation," he said
and cannot allow my name to be men
toned at all in connection with the sub
Jcct, but my answer is that I have heard
nothing 1t Is a subject which has not yet
been discussed. The President, of course
will treat axhaustively of it in his message
to Congress, and Congress will further take
II under consider alton. | have nv own
views on the subject, but | am surprised
that men and magazines have not taken it
up more generally. 1t is question of such
Importance in connection with annexation
as 10 be vitality part of the general sub
Ject. The nti-anneXationists-t small
Americans, as they are called-assume that
the annexation of the islands will see their
products brought free into our markets bl +
L see no necessity for such action.
wv nat Will be done l cannot. of course,
say, but for myself / would annex them
| kEAl hon
| enjoy good government and the same trade
relations with the United States that any
other country has. / have made some re-
| n arks on the subject, but l have heretofore
discussed only one SIDE of the question. l
have said that in the event of annexation
1t Will be the duty of this government to
teach those people improved methods, so
that they may be better able to take care
of themselves and therefore better able to
govern themselves. But further than this
and helping them to get a start in their
government, L would not go. l would all
lew the Islands to stand upon their own
bottoms. l am protectioniSt. and do not
| believe at all in the free admission of their
products into this country If the islands
want to trade with US and send us their
p1 oducts, let them do SO, and pay our tariff
and we Will be glad to buy them if they
can compete with other countries in secur-
ing our trade; and if our people want to go
to the Philippines, let them go and let our
manufacturers send their products there
port the government OF those islands.
The Question of Trade Connection,
"Our northwest can raise from sugar beets
all the sugar we can consume. The Philip
pires raise annually as much sugar as we
consume and, of course, our beet sugar
growers cannot compete with than, but
thai is no reason why we should not an
rex the islands. If our ports We're open
to free Philippine sugar, our beet sugar
| industry, as everybody knows, would not
only stop growing, but what factories are
row started would be compelled to quit
operations. But there is call for US to
admit their products to the detriment of
our own farmers and taxpayers.
by simple annexation we are doing
| great deal for those islands We are re-
| leasing them from Spain's avaricious rule;
We are protecting them from the rest of
| the world and allowing them to pursue
their industries in peace and quiet and
| to develop their great resources; we are
| assuring them good government, and by
that good government, inviting capital and
! brains to assist in their development In
/ doing this we are comforting untold bless
! ings upon them which will give them an
| impetus in a single decade which they
would not acquire in centuries of Spanish
sovereignty. They cannot ask more. They
| do not expect us to ruin our own indus
| tres and burden our own taxpayers to
accomplish their mora rapid development.
| I'VE are living in an age of progress
| and change and development. If it is a
/ wise thing for to depart in degree
| from our former policy and keep these
| islands colonies, l can see nothing un-
| American in our doing So OF course If
| we admit them as territories and eventual
| ly states, we must allow their products
| free access to the remainder of the coun-
try, but | see no reason for such action
| / would let both countries stand on their
| own bottoms and let each one legislate
| and regulate its own affairs after the man.
| per of Canada and Great Britain Let
| Philippine merchants enter the markets
| of the United States side by side with the
| merchants of Great Britain of GERMANY
| of France and of other countries There
| is small sense in saying that We should
favor the products OF those islands by ad-
| mltting them free. thus running some of
! our own industries and at the same time
| requiring free entry into their ports for
| our own manufactures, thus reducing their
| revenues and entailing the expenses of
| running their government upon our own
| taxpayers.
| Give Them an Equal Chance
| IF the Philippine Islands want to sell us
tobacco. if they want TO sell US sugar II
| they want to sell Us rice. If they want to
! sell us tropical fruits, let them SEM those