Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-05-12
EI-MInister John Barrett on the Pres
ent Duty Of the United States.

ent Duty Of the United States.
"The Philippine Islands and Americas
Interests in the Far East is the title of
pamphlet whose subject matter is of pc
culiar interest and value at the present mo-
ment. The title of the pamphlet is also
the title of the address which it contains,
delivered by Hon. John Barrett before the
chamber of commerce in Shanghai, China,
on the 18th day of January last. AL
though he has been long voluntary exile,
Mr. Barrett still counts himself resident
of our WiDdham county town Of Grafton.
He was the minister from this country to
Siam under the last Cleveland administra-
ton He has long been painstaking stu
dent of Oriental peoples and conditions,
and as soon as relieved from duty in Siam
last May he went to Manila and remained
in the Philippines until November, observ-
ing the situation for himself and forming
his own independent conclusions.
After leaving Manila Mr.. Barrett made
a journey through China and Japan before
starting on his return to the United States.
This address was made by invitation
during his stay in Shanghai. Mr.. Barrett
is an enthusiastic believer in the import
ance of the Philippines in their natural re-
sources, and commercially and strategical-
ly. OF the 1000 to 1900 islands in the
group, he says, % are large and promi-
nent. Their area is not less than l15, ,000,
600 square miles. 81 am prepared to
state and prove" he adds, "that a richer
isolated land, or group of Islands, viewed
comparatively as to area and population,
variety of agricultural. mineral and forest
resources undeveloped, as well as those al
ready improved, cannot be found on this
globe" Elsewhere Mr. Barrett compares
the Philippines to the empire of Japan in
importance and commercial possibilities.
Their foreign trade ought soon to grow
to total of 500, ,O0O, 900 year,
But the real point of significance in Mr..
Barrett's address is his belief, emphati-
cally and repeatedly expressed, that the
United States has responsibilities in the
Philippines which it cannot honorably
avoid and ought not to try to avoid. To
have been "arrant cowardice." Not only
is this country morally bound to carry the
matter to a conclusion, but from a material
point of view "the United States must now
adopt policy of decision and progress, or
forever be left behind in the great unpty-
ing race for supremacy in the Pacific"
From his own extended study and OBJ
servation of the islands and their people
Mr.. Barrett is convinced that the best form
of government for them would be semi
independent protectorate, under American
guidance and control, "until, and provided
| that, the people of the islands shall prove
their quality and ability to stand alone"
| But the islands can never be deserted, sur
rendered to native control, or sold TO an
other power, until time and experience
have proved such course wise and neces-
sary. In case of eventual independence
we must possess there a naval station, and
"extra-territorial rights" such as are now
possessed by other nations in countries
like Japan, China, Siam, Persia and Tur-
key.
These, in brief are the views of an in
telligent, broad minded American, who has
studied this difficult problem on the spot
and who in matters of ordinary party poll
tics is opposed to the present administra
ton. These views will weigh heavily il
the balance as against fulminations OF th'
professional anti-imperialists, who having
taken a cue are determined to follow it il
spite of everything.
At the time this address was delivered
hostilities had not begun and Mr.. Barret
was strong in the hope that by wise anC
conservative management a conflict anC
bloodshed might be avoided.
In the same pamphlet are also portion
of addresses delivered by Mr.. Barrett il
Hong Kong, China, and in Toxic, Japan
with editorial comment by the newspaper
of those cities and of Shanghai.
|