Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-12-14
THE PHILIPPINES.
Exchange For the British West Indies
Possible.

Possible.
Special Cablegram to The Globe-Democrat.
LONDON, December 2.-The an
nouncement today of the ridiculously
inadequate sums granted by the imper-
ial government for the relief of the
West Indian colonies is looked upon
here as tending to confirm the persist
ent reports current, according to which
there rs some kind of an agreement
in existence with the United States
government for the exchange of the
West Indian islands for the Philip
pines. 1t is argued here in political
and official circles that although the
United States government has secured
from Spain the cession of the Philip
pines, it has officially admitted that it
has no plan for the future administra-
ton of the group and no experience in
the difficult art of governing fierce and
fanatic Asiatic races, such as the Ma
LAYS and the other tribes that infest
rather than inhabit the archipelago.
This absence of any plan is held to
indicate that the Urited States does
not propose to keep the Philippines,
the retention of which would involve
the expenditure of much life and
treasure, while if they were held by
England, the latter's free trade policy
would afford to American commerce
identically the same advantages as if
they were owned by the United States.
On the other hand, England is taking
no steps to preserve her West Indian
colonies from the economic ruin which
is overtaking these islands. The mon
ey just granted is a mere drop in the
bucket, and lamentably insufficient
even to repair the damage caused by
the recent hurricane, much less ade.
quate, therefore, to afford relief for the
present disastrous condition of affairs.
In fact, it is recognized here that there
are only two ways of restoring pros
perity to the West Indian Islands.
The one is.union to the United States,
a course which would be popular with
both the white and the colored popula-
ton of the ancient colonies of Great
Britain the other is in the imperial
government compelling France to abol.
ish the sugar bounties. Sugar has
been the staple industry of the West
Indies, and its only source of prosperi-
ty; but it is impossible to revive the
sugar industry as long as France per-
sists in her policy of sugar bounties.
1t is admitted that Lord Salisbury
could, if he desired, force France to
abandon these bounties by threatening
her with countervailing duties. Lord
Salisbury, however, hesitates to make
use of this weapon, which would
quickly prove eficacious. His failure
to avail himself thereof, and his refusal
to take any step in this direction to.
ward the relief of the West Indian
colonies, goes to further strengthen the
conviction that the West Indies are
about to pass out of English posses
sion, and that the real reason why the
premier abstains from approaching
France again on the subject of the
sugar bounties is because he thinks
that it is not worth while to waste any
powder upon France for
the sake of the islands in which
English interest is about to cease.
1t is urged that the West Indian
islands ought to belong to the United
States by reason of their geographical
and stragetic position, and that they
would be infinitely easier and less cost
ly for the United States to administer
than the Philippines. The exchange
would certainly be popular here, and
1t is believed that it is the existence
of an agreement for this exchange
which led the American peace COM
missioners at Paris so unexpectedly at
the last moment to make demand for
the entire group of the Philippines.