The record-union., 1899-11-02
lDEnEoORATro ExPANsIoN1sr.
What the Philippines Trade Means
to the South.

20 the 0OOy0s
cTrom the Louisville ier-Journaf)
Another Democratic United States
Senator has come out fatty for expan-
sion and the retention of the Philip
pines.
Senator McLaurin of South Carolina
has written letter, in which he says
that at the time of our acquisition OF
the Philippines he knew nothing about
the new questions suddenly projected
by this unexpected event upon the at
tention and consideration of the Amer
ican people," but that since then he has
honestly and earnestly studied them,
50 that he might act in his official ca
pacity for the best interests Of the
country"
He says that our victory at Manila
placed the key of the Eastern open
door" policy in the hands. of the United
States.
"The archipelago OF the Philippines
lies along the coast of Asia for SUI
miles and commands it. Manila is the
point in the East which is the center
Of ocean traffic. It is the only point
where foreign nations could have OBJ
ta1ned commercial stations without a
|
fortune Of a war with Spain and with
out any intention of doing so, the
United States has acquired the posses
sion of the Philippines, which gives to
her paramount political and CONNER
cial advantages.
My Judgment is that the control Of
them, or at least some portions, is the
only safeguard for our trade interests
in the East. The abandonment of them
means the dismemberment Of China,
it's partition among the European Pow
ers and the inevitable loss of our China
| trade.
AT present Hongkong, under British
influence, is the great distributing point
OF the Orient. Manila, under American
influence, will occupy better strategic
and geographical position, and should
become commercial center of that
portion Of the world.
Commercial supremacy Is the goal OF
every civilized nation. 1t is only at
tanned through commercial progress
and commercial expansion. In this
great battle among the nations, without
designs of our own, while they were
haggling among themselves, Dewey
sails into Manila Bay, and we find
foothold within two days Journey CT
this land of consumers, where half Of
the population of the world is congre-
gated within an area no larger than the
United States
when he comes to speak Of the politi-
clans who have started of full cry on
the anise-seed trail of imperialism. =
There is much political rot," he says.
''in the constant parading of the term
imperialism It is misnomer, In
tended to confuse and deceive.
1 think the dictates of common sense
will govern the American people, and
the ghost, imperialism sprung for po-
litical effect, will not prevent them
gathering the full fruits Of the victory
so easily won and treading the path
so plainly blazed out by an overruling
Providence"
AS the "Courier-Journal' has pointed
out, Senator McLaurin finds that ex-
pansion will benefit especially the
South. He adds:
'It will be observed, therefore, that
the Philippine question involves both
political and commercial consequences.
Upon its settlement, in my Judgment,
depends the future welfare of our peo.
pie in maintaining equality Of oppor-
tunity in the Eastern markets. A mere
superficial view will not reveal its
transcendent Importance.
ITO the Southern people it is fraught
with momentous consequences. Cotton
manufacturing in the South has grown
in a few years with phenomenal ra-
pi6ifu Nfi11iopc of do11orc ,,ovx, m i.
vested in mills The products of these
have found remunerative markets in
| China and other countries in the East,
our cotton goods being peculiarly
adapted for clothing the teeming MILL
ions of that warm climate. Their trade
| is the hope of this great manufacturing
industry of the South. If it is cut or
! by other nations, not only the manu-
| facturer, but the producer Of raw cot
ton, Will suffer.
| "The present advance in spot cotton
which our planters are enjoying is
| largely due to the mills of the South.
They have forced the local markets
above New York. With active compe-
tition in local markets, Liverpool and
New York exchanges no longer arbi-
trarily fix the price of raw cotton. Can
the Southern people afford to sacrifice
their commercial and Industrial inter-
ests for mere political sentiment?"
! Senator McLaurin concludes by ex-
pressing his purpose to govern his
course on this question in accordance
with the interests Of his constituents.
without any regard to the antics OF
those short-sighted leaders and would
be leaders who are trying to make po-
litical capital out of it in their own be-
half. In that respect he will stand
with such able Democratic colleagues
in the Senate as Morgan and Lindsay
and with a great majority of the Aher-
lean people Of all parties.
Heroic Treatment for Drunkenness.