The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-24
The Philippines
and Trade Effects
New York Commercial Advertiser.

New York Commercial Advertiser.
E@HERE is a most pregnant hint in
the comment of the London Speak
er on the relation of the annexa-
ton of the Philippine Islands to
the DEVELOPMENT of our trade with
the East. our ocean commerce, IL says
cannot compete with that of Great Brl-
tain without protection. "ln the coast
wise trade there is this protection since
all foreign ships are excluded, anu by
taking the Philippines and treating lhem
as a territory OF the Union all trade pc
tween them and any American port
comes under the same condltiohs as
Coastwisc trade ipse facto.' Ihat Is 10
say, all direct trade between the Pmllp-
pines and American ports would have TO
90 in American ships, the same as traue
between New York and the Gult or Mex
leo. San Francisco and Alaska, NO lor-
eign lines could compete. The same VIII
be true Of Hawaii when the islands are
annexed.
This is a fact with wide bearings.
Trade between the Philippines and this
country is large already. ACCORDING
to a late consular report, We take .Ol per
cent of the exports of the islands. This
will increase in volume, If not in propor-
tion, with annexation and removal OF du-
ties Now the largest importation IS
henp. But the islands have unlimited
capacity to produce sugar. Nheh IL can
come in on the same terms with the Ha-
Waian, we shall require no German peet
sugar. Our own islands in the Atlantc
and Pacific will send us all we heed'
Then there is tobacco. The Havana sup
plies are running short. The best cigars
smoked on the Pacific coast are smuS-
glcd ManilaS, on which there Is pro-
hibitory duty, though they cost only
few cents apiece at home Removal OF
the duty would make an immense trade
In these. Probably the sugar and tobac-
co interest would oppose annexation, but
that is rot worth considering. Nobody
wants annexation anyway, and nobody
! will favor 1t. If It comes, II VIII De
through operation of resistless forces
| But observe the tremendous effect on
| our Pacific trade if it does come. All our
| commerce with the Philippines now goes
| in British ships and balances are settled
! through London. Then il will have to go
! in American ships and exchange VIII be
! direct. This is what we have been struS-
| cling for for years. We have been trying
| to sustain a lsnsuid merchant marine IN
| the Pacific with subsidies. When IT has
/ the monopoly Of the trade between this
| country and 10 600 900 people, with a COM
| mcrcial capital Of 1000, Pacific shippns
| will grow like a mushroom over night
! Steamship lines to Manila will appear by
magic and tramp steamers ana sailing
ships will keep down rates by compe-
| tition. In n few years we shall have an
! ocean-carrying trade with the East
| rivalng the China trade of fifty years
ago, and direct exchange with Manila will
| give banking as well as freight and in
| suranCe profits
| This is not all. Nobody can suppose
| that American steamship lines to Manila
| would stop there, only GOO miles from
| Hong Kong /, 500 from Yokohama, India
| and Australia, and i'm the very thick OF
| the East Indian Islands. From this CEN
tral station we should reach out for trade
| in every direction. Our own ships, in
| stead of British, would carry wheat, cot
ton, petroleum and manufactures to ia
pan and China, India and the islands, and
| bring back tea and fabrics hemp and
iute, rice and coffee from Ceylon and coal
from Australia. with the tremendous adj
vantage of the Philippine and Hawaiian
| monopoly we should soon take the
lions share Of the trade between the
! United States and Asia, a trade of which
| the present sees only the paltry begin
| ming. These considerations should not
| tempt us upon the unknown and perilous
! sea Of colonial enterprise, but they will
| reconcile us 10 our fate when clashing
| European nations shall push MS reluc-
| tant upon H.