The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-09
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY Q. 1899.


Strange. but true we are owners Of
the Philippine Islands so far ass tho pun
chase or land and human beings can
make as so. and We soon will be owners
Of them by such title as the sword can
give. The complete overthrow their arm
ed forces received last Saturday night
and Sunday will soon end an organized
opposition. Tine military contest will
dwindle down into desultory guerilla war
fare conducted from the Businesses OF the
interior. and that win soon end when
the natives find ont. as they soon Will,
that the Americans have no purpose TO
rob them and mutllate them as the Span
iards did. so that we have no doubt
our complete occupation of the islands
will soon take place. 70 what extent
that occupation Will go IN developing
actual settlement OF the lands by Ameri-
cans it IS difficult 10 foreten AS we
t-zve crowded the Indians off of their
lands. Americans nave proceeded 20 oc-
cupy those lands and settle the country
up. But those were desirable lands where
Americans could dwell under conditions
that suited them. But a torrid climate
is not suited 20 the activities Of the An
glo-Saxons. Long as the English have
occupied India there IS very little actual
settlement of the country by English
men. A tropical climate is unsuited TO an
active lie and the Englishman prefers
To enjoy his ease in his bungalow. while
the natives do the sort OF perfunctory
services that 20 for labor.
We doubt very much whether Ameri-
cans viii push the Filipinos on Of their
lands as they have pushed the Indians off
Of theirs The greater probability is that
the Finpinos viii be left in possession.
Just as the English leave the Hindoos in
possession. while the Americans take
possession Of AN the strategical positions
in life that yield revenue without labor.
What sort OF u civilization win be de-
veloped there 81 IS impossible TO foresee.
but that # Will be one utterly incon-
sistent with our Republican ideas is TOO
plain for argument However this is
another Of those cases where replnings
arc vain. We have acquired the Philip
pines. That IS a fixed fact, which only
the law can change and the thing for
an Of as TO do now IS TO set ourselves
20 work 70 make tho best Of a bad bar
gain
To what uses arc We TO put our new
possessions? The imperialists hope and
think that a division OF China is at
hand and that the Philippines will con-
stltute pedis positio. from which we
can step out when the spoils are about
20 be distributed TO claim 10 ratabie
share in the plumber
II was most gratifying 20 have IL an
nounced on Tuesday night I'm the Queens
speech 10 Parliament that England had no
thought OF taking part i'm partiuoning
China. II this Government joins her upon
that proposition. an announcement 70
the world that England and America will
not look with a friendly eve upon such
a project will be the most o9ectual guar
antee Of the integrity of China that could
be made. Russia and Germany will be
very slow in pushing their schemes in
face or such an announcement So that
the probabilities are the expanslonists
viii be thwartcd IA their most cherished
hopes And n ne 80 the question arises
again. Of what use VIII the Philippines
De 10 U.s. For ourselves we would not
give the forty-nine Americans who lost
their lives in last Sundays battle for
ali Of che islands.
But the discussion OF these questions
shows that we are embarked upon the
seas Of foreign politics. and whittier VIII
our voyage lead as?