The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-10-18
THOBURN On THE FAR EAST.
Thinks the United States Wise Ii
Selling the PHILIPPINES.

thinks the united states Wise In
Selling the Philippines.
Bishop Thoburn of India, who for
over 20 years has served the Meth
odist church in that country, was at
the Mortified conference couple of
weeks ago, and the News inter-
viewed him on the PHILIPPINE ques-
ton. The News says that the Bish-
op has seen the work of the church
grow from nothing to cover that vast
empire spread beyond it's confines
to Borneo, China, and lastly to our
new possession, the Philipineislands.
In the latter country he is most
warmly interested. On his way from
India to America he stopped there
to investigate the geld for mission
work and in an experimental way,
for the board of missions has not yet
adopted its formal policy in relation
to work there, sowed the seed which
is destined to be great movement.
He spent about two months there
acquainting himself with the situa-
ton as it exists.
'SThe bishop is an avowed imper-
ialist. He believes in expansion with
all his heart, and he knows whereof
he speaks, as very few of those who
so fluently discuss the question
know better. His opinion carries
weight, and it is noteworthy that
his views on the eastern question
are desired by those high in author
ity. Thursday when reporter call
ed at the home of DR. Greaves to in
terview Bishop Thoburn, there was
present Rev. Thomas Hambley, of
St. Paul, who on request of Senator
G. K. Davis, chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign affairs, was trying
to arrange meeting at Washington
between the bishop and senator, for
full discussion of the many phases
of the question. The bishop, after a
topical survey of the country in a
conversational way, declared that the
PHILIPPINES would be among the rich
est of the American possessions,
and prove a prize for our land
That the Islands abound in mineral
wealth. Gold and silver, iron and tin
are there in wonderful abundance.
Montana volunteers, with their
knowledge of mining, declared that
there are abundance of all kinds of
ore and other mineral only waiting
for energy and capital to wrest it
from the earth aud that even
within forty miles of Manila gold
could be found in great abundance
Specimens are already in the hands
of mining experts and assayists and
it is no longer theory that mineral
wealth exists there buta positive re-
atty. American men of wealth have
organized for development of these
industries and mining can be expect
ed to 60 forward by leaps and
bounds.
Bishop was asked by the re-
porter, do YOU think that the Unit
ed States was justified in Selling
the Philippines2''
''Most certainly I do. The United
States was certainly right, and in
the light of modern civilization she
could do nothing else. Time will
reveal the wisdom and diplomacy of
the American people in securing
these possessions.
Bishop, in your estimation are
the people of the Philippines capa-
BILE of self government"
''They certainly are not ca
pable said he g They are not so
intelligent as the natives of India
nor as much as the Chinese. The
Filipino does not love work any to
well, and the Spanish inhabitants are
net given to industry. The Filipino
will not work in the mines, but the
Chinese will and just here I think
General Otis has made mistake in
expelling the Chinese from the coun-
try. The labor necessary for devel-
opment of the country would be per-
formed by Cinnamon were they per-
mitted to come in with the new open
ing of industry. These Chinese
would inter-marry the Filipinos and
the result would be the predomin-
ance of the stronger intellect in their
issue. The future Filipinos would
be stronger class intellectually.
In the light of future growth the