Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-06-22
PHILIPPINES IMPORTANCE.
SnEiand HAS an Eye Upon the isiand.
tn Case We no Not oc-
cupy Them.

The Spanish rule in the Philippines
Is a very frail thing. and Il would not
take much 10 bring IL TO ruin. Although
the Spaniars.s have held the archipelago
since the end OF the sixteenth century.
~hen IL MAS taken over with The rest
OF the Portuguese dominions. they have
never possessed more than the mere
tringe-iAe coasts OF the great islands
and a few posts among the smaller. Till
the other day the commercial interests
Of Spain were almost nal. Then she he
gan 10 impose protective dutice In or
der 10 draw all the trade into her own
hands. but the bulk OF II still belongs 90
England aud Germany. The native pop
ul<ltion. largely of Malay blood. l. in-
dependent. Around the Spanish settle
ments and on the vast estates belonging
TO various religious orders there il
half-brecd population OF Spanish aud
Malay aud 90 Chinese aud Malay OF the
branch of the race called Tagalo. The
last mace the rebellion. aud they have
apparently been encouraged by the out
break OF the war with the United States
TO begin again. Now we have only TO
look nj this position 20 see that II the
power of Spain Is destroyed another
apple Of diScord viii be rolled on the
table In the far east. To suppose that
the Tagalos-a timid. unwarlikc race
who are hated aud despised by other
tribes. and who are divided IN sympa-
thies between the Spanish and Chinese
strains among ihemselves-- could cSinb.
lish a stable government In the Phllis-
pines. is an absurdity. The expulsion
OF the Spaniards would throw the archl-
pcdago open 10 the enterprise OF all the
powers who are now busy with spheres
of influence. and spheres of interest. IN
China. The Americans assert that they
do net intend 10 occupy the islands. and
they may well he believed. Any such
enterprise on their part is highly i'm.
probable hut IL they destroy what gov
eminent there Is. they will make II nee
cssary for some body else to supply the
loss.
II is In the last degree unlikely that
candidates ready TO undertake the task
viii be wanting. We, 60 begin with
have very real interest in the fate of
The islands. We handle 20 per cent. OF
ihc import and So per cent. OF the eN-
port trade. Then come the Germans.
who have nearly the whole Of what does
not belong 90 Us. The commercial In.
teresis OF other nations are tritinr: but
i' does not therefore follow that none
Of them viii be found TO look with the
eyes of desire ON the Philippines. There
Is Japan. with iis ambition 10 found a
great island empire. which would be
| perfectly ready TO step into the vacant
place; aud 10 doubt Others could be in
duced 20 try he same adventure. In
short. here is another element OF dis.
cord, thrown into the far eastern scram-
bic, u the rule Of Spain does indeed col.
lapse. We say nothing Of the chance
that the sight OF her weakness may
tempt some one 10 strike in be fore the
actual collapse s. come. II Is. in fact.
most probable that the rest OF the world
| viii Ice dragged into ,he Spanish and
American conflict. Every commercial
motive which compcls ms 90 be on the
/ alert IN China is a. hand to force as ia
/ keep watch on tho Philippines. An.
/ archy IN thu; region would rive The
mailed hsi a. Gcrmany an admirable
excuse FOR doscguding on a desirable
| possession IN eastern seas. II is not 80
| many years since she quarroled with
Spain over the Sooloo islands. which are
close to the Philippine. As for the
| japanese, they are "a; Formosn nlrrady.
aud have bu1a step 10 make Co The Phil
! ippines--with what likelihood OF Ger.
man good viii we an know. Take fl al
! together. there H. good reason 10 watch
! the Philippines Pail Mall gazeffe