The times., 1899-04-13
A Cool Prnnnsitinn.

The proposition to exchange the match
less Philippines for Jamaica, worthless
island in the West Indies seemed, at first.
too absurd for serious consideration. 1t
| is absurd, but the persistence with which
! ii is urged creates a suspicion of a job
| of such magnitude and probably involving
| influences so strong. as to make il ex-
pedient for the press OF the country to
condemn it in specific terms. 1t is like
| killing butterfly with a cannon ball to
| argue against a thing so obviously un-
reasonable; the mere statement of the
scheme should be enough to make it die
of ridicule. To exchange the Capitol for
cabin in Washington Alley would be no
more insane. When a newspaper. espec-
tally the New York Herald" comes back
to it day after day in double loaded lead
ers. the suspicion of job is transformed
into certainty.
There is enough in it to warrant the in
terest of Rothschild syndicate. The Gov
ernment has. within few days. publish
ed statement of our Philippine commerce
which must enlarge the popular concep-
tion of even the present value of the ISL
ands for trade. Yet this statement hardly
| suggests what the future holds in store
! for the country that governs the archi-
pelago. The privileges, municipal and
general. which capital will seek. promise
greater returns than money can obtain at
any other point on the earth's surface
syndicate could well afford TO bear the
cost Of setting the machinery in operation
TO induce this country to transfer its title
10 another II could afford to subsidize
newspapers. buy Senators. secure the
influence of party leaders, hire attorneys of
brain and reputation. to do the enormous
work that must be necessary to effect the
trade.
There is an audacity not only in the gen.
eral proposition. but in its specific provi-
sions. that is almost sublime. The argu-
ment that is least ridiculous is that by
swapping the rich Philippines for poverty
stricken Jamaica, this country would be
relieved Of the painful duty. the expense,
the loss of life, and the severe labor of
subduing the rebels; but this is an error.
1t is coolly proposed that we shall go on
with the work of subjugating and pacify-
ing the nsurgents-continue 10 spend the
lives of our sons and the treasure of the
Goyernment-until we shall have establish
ed absolute peace and secured the good
will and confidence OF the Filipinos. When
this mighty task is completed and there
is no longer any opposition TO an admins
tration, then we shall turn over the gold
and other precious metals that fill the soil.
Z hat taralfe
the pearl fisheries. in exchange for ia
maica
Evidently somebody has a high idea of
our qualities as a pacificatory power The
varied peoples of Jamaica are in a highly
irritable If not inhammable state. 1t is
this that has caused them to turn an ap-
pealing eye toward Washington The
Maroons have not broken loose for some
time and an insurrection is about due. So
when We shall have brought peace to the
Philippines for the benefit of England and
at cost of many lives. We can take up the
same work in Jamaica. 1t is not surpris-
ing that We have late and cold spring,
with this proposition at hand. Aside from
few rural newspapers in the South which
have not discovered that this is after the
Civil War and that New England does
not have a monopoly of manufactures:
which have not learned that their section
has tremendous interest in the extern
sion of American commerce. no journals
except the Herald consider the scheme
imminent enough to deserve even pass
ing mention. When they realize that there
is money and influence back of it, they
will speak in way to discourage even
Rothschild syndicate