Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-01-20
CANTON. SOUTH DAKOTA. FRIDAY JANUARY 20. 1899

FRIDAY. JANUARY 20. 1899.
was drawing money from them.
The cost Of transportation is AN inn
portant factor and has more influence
than sovereignty in directing the course
of trade.
Canada does not refuse to deal with
us merely because she flies the British
Jack; in fact, I have been told that she
sometimes buys even her British Jacls
in the United States Our foreign trade
is increasing and that increase is not
due to an expanding sovereignty.
The insignifcance OF the trade argu.
ment will be manifest to any one who
will compare the consuming capacity Of
the Filipinos with that Of like number
of Americans The inhabitants of the
torrid zone can never equal, or even
approach, the inhabitants of the tenn
perate zone as customers. England's
commerce with the United States is
greater than her commerce with India
and yet India has population of neare
ly three hundred millions and the Eng
:lish flag floats over them
tits yet to be decided whether tho
'.open door, policy will be adopted in
tho Orient or tariff wall built around
our subjects there, but neither plan will
be found satisfactory. Our people.
however, should not expect colonial
policyato prove acceptable either to the
governed or to the governing. If we
attempt to run our country upon the
European plan we must prepare our
selves for continual complaint. History
has thus far failed to furnish single
example of nation selfish enough to
desire colony and yet unselfish enough
to govern it wisely at Ions range.
It has been argued that annexation
would furnish new field for the in
vestment of American capital. If there
is surplus money seeking investment
why is it not employed in the purchase
of farm lands. in developing domestic
enterprises or in replacing foreign
capital. In 1896 we were told that We
were depenent upon foreign capital and
must 80 legislate as to keep what We
had and invite more. Strange that 1t
should b necessary to have an English
financial system in order to bring Eur-
opean capital into the States, and also
an English colonial policy for the pur-
pose Of taking American capital out.
Every dollar sent to the hilippines
must be withdrawn from present in
vestments and we must either suffer to
the extent Of the amount withdrawn ol
borrow abroad and increase our bondage
to foreign money lenders.
It is sometimes suggested that the
Philippines would furnish homes fol
those who are crowded out Of this coun,
try. This argument, too, is without
foundation. The population of the
United States amounts to only twenty
one persons to the square mile, while
the Philippine Islands already contain
about sixty to the square mile. If will
be several generations before the popu.
lation of the United States will be AZ
dense % it is now in the Philippines.
Our people will not flock to Manila
climatic conditions will be . great an
obstacle as r-population. English
supremacy in India has continued for
nearly hundred and fifty years. yet in
1891 the British-born population Of
India was only 100, ,551-less than the
total number Of prisoners confined in
the jails of India at the end Of 1895.
Jamaica has had all the advantages
which could be, derived from an Epelish
colonial policy, yet the white pcpula.
lation in 1891 numbered less than Is, 900
out Of total of 639, 900.
Java has been under the dominion of
the Netherlands for nearly three hum
dred years, yet in 1894 the Europeans
upon the island numbered less than co.
600 out of total population of more
than rs, ,OOO, 900.
0H6Au Ado bo0A 0OA0 " AuUuCO Uut
small number of her people to settle in
the Philippines and, if we can judge
from the reports sent back by our vol
unteers, we shall not succeed any better.
But while the Philippines will not
prove inviting to Americans, we shall
probably draw considerable number
from the islands to he United States.
The emigation will be Eastward rather
than Westward. During the six years
from 1889 to 1894 more than inety
thousand coolies left India and we may
expect an influx of Malays.
1t is not strange that the laboring
men should look with undisguised
alarm upon the prospect of Oriental
competitor upon the farms and in the
factories of the United States: Our
people have legislated against Chinese
immigration, but to exclude few
Chinese and admit many Fiipinos is
like straining at gnat and swallowing a
camel.
The farmers and laboring men con-
stitute large majority Of the people;