The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-22
Philippine Facts and Figures.

its suburbs" have capitulated, accord
ing to the dispatch from Gen. Merritt
to our war department, printed in yes
terday's G l o b e. The phrase meas
ures the extent Of the territory in the
Philippines of which we have possess
sion. 1t is sufficient for coaling sta
ton, dry docks. and an American col
ony, such as Senator Davis has de-
scribed, and let US hope that it will Ill
timately be conceded to cover all that
properly belongs to us to protect. We
shall undoubtedly be compelled to lis
ten to much discussion over the sig
nificance of the word Suburbs" if, in
deed, that is the proper word. and not
Subig, which is the name of the bay
in that part of the Philippines.
Your land-grabbing expansionist who
conceals his real motives behind the
flag may be expected to declare that
the entire Philippine group is compre-
hended in this simple Latin compound.
No matter if the photographer does
declare that "a suburb is an outlying
part of city or town; part without
the city boundaries but in the neigh
bor'hood Of a city, he will not desist
from his contention. Nor will he cult
even though he may be staggered to
learn that the states of New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland
combined just about represent the area
Of the Philippines. He might, perhaps,
admit that even the most exaggerated
American humor would not stand for
any such statement as that Chicago.
st. Louis and Omaha are suburbs Of
st. Paul. or that Pittsburg, Baltimore.
Philadelphia and Buffalo are suburbs
OF New York city But, in his con-
suming zeal for Philippine soil, he will
certainly insist that the entire group
constitutes the suburbs of "the city
and Gefenses Of Manila
The concern Of the administration as
to what actually occurred in the Phil
ippines may well be understood. 1t un-
doubtedly feels relieved that neither
Dewey nor Merritt has acted sentiment
tally, and therefore foolishly, at Ma
Mia. The demands Of diplomacy were
unquestionably considered by both
these officers. They crossed no line
which will need to be abandoned, took
no step which will require a retreat
and hoisted no flag that must be low
cred. All in all, they have anticipated
the requirements of our government
from diplomatic point of view, and
have satisfied that conservative senti-
ment Of this country which they were
brought up to respect. The hungry
Joes Of Imperialism may not be alto
gether happy, but the people who
would be taxed to maintain the Phil
ippine elephant will give a sigh Of re-
lief
1t has been estimated that the mill
tary force required to hold and control
the Philippines will be not less than
10000 men. The annual expense of such
body of troops would be ST., 0O0. 900
for pay and 100000 more for the
commissary, quartermaster, medical
and ordnance departments. Figure as
an additional item of expense the cost
Of the naval establishment necessary
to cooperate with the land force.
which will be about $4,000, 600, and we
have total expenditure of $50 900, 900
per year for which the people Of the
United States must be taxed. These
exist AFTER the Philippines have been
conquered and their savage inhabitants
have been reduced to subsection; when,
in a word, security to life and trade
has once been established
Meanwhile, an enormous expense will
have been incurred in subduipg the ma
| tlves and in reaching that peaceful.
3e-million per year period This is estl-
mated by Harper's Weekly as not less
than $60,000000 per year. if, as Gen
Merritt insists, $4,000 soldiers are need
ed. IL larger military force should
| prove necessary, then the increase in
expense will be proportional.
| Look at the other side of the ledger
and see what would be gained by our
occupying the islands. SPANS net an
nual revenue has been 100000, out Of
| a total taxation Of $13,500,OO0. The ap-
| phcation OF honest methods to the col
| iectlon or revenues, 1t Is estimated by
this same high authority, ought to re-
suit in the United States netting an
nl2ally about $4,000, 900 over the cost of
governmental administration, in peace
ful times. Deducting this from the
cost CT military service already refer
ned to- there would still be an an
nual expense of s20,OOo,OOO to he pro
vided for by the American taxpayers.
for the trade figures give no hope for
relief from that quarter.
The total value of all the exports of
the Philippines for 1896 was only $780,
756,250, sum nearly twice as large
as the imports for the same year, for
these amounted to only SIC, 937, 800.
One more step makes the reasoning
complete that from the trade point Of
view the Philippines are likely to pr5ye
Oh little value to the United States.