The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-11
ABBEVILLE'S SENTIMENT
The Literary Club Discusses the Phil.
ippine Islands.

| The Abbevllle Literary Club met last Fri
day night at the home Of Mr.. Aug. w. Smith.
There were present lawyers doctors, judges,
| preachers, teachers, editors merchants, and
other promine ept citizens.
In the discussion of the essay on ex expansion,
| there were all sorts Of varying expressions,
but no man expressed a desire or q willing
ness TO part with the Philippines.
One gentleman thought the assertion that
we went TO war with Spain for humanitarian
reasons was the merest hypocrisy: While he
lieved firmly In holding to all the territory
which had been acquired.
Another gentleman was little afraid that
the acquisition of the Philippine islands
might lead to the building OF q great navy,
which might, for the want of something bet
tes to do, start out TO seize anything in sight
making wars Of conquest.
1t was suggested by member or the CLUB
that the Philippines might open market for
the manufactured goods Of this country, and
thus be OF benefit to US.
Another member was equally divided In
opinion as to the advisability Of annexing
| the Islands, or not annexing them, and had
lost no sleep on account OF the issue.
| II was suggested by another member, that
| II the Republicans and the Democrats went
before the country next year on the question
| of giving up the islands, that Mckinley
would be reelected by nine.tenths of the pop
ular vote-and the speaker was true blue
| Democrat.
| A distinguished visitor had given the mat
ter but little investigation. If the estimate
OF their value as presented by the essaylst
was at all correct, the islands would be worth
much to us In many ways.
Another speaker seemed to be under the
impression that the Filipinos we're all saw
ages, and feared that we might be under the
necessity OF killing them In order to give
It was then suggested that true progress In
civilization followed the sword, and that as
our form Of government and our religion
were the best the sword and the Bible should
be sent to the Philippines. In the hands Of
missionaries big cannon carried conviction,
and the religion OF our Saviour purified and
swIetened the life OF converts.
| On this line Of thought 1t was suggested
that the moral effect OF the government did
much to foster religion; therefore, all Chris
tian missionaries should be expanslonists.
scholarly gentleman present urged that It
because the citizens OF former acquired terri
tory became good and loyal Americans, the
people Of the Philippines would therefore be-
come reconclled to the change OF govern
ment.
Another speaker thought the job Of con-
queripg the Filipinos might prove very ex-
pensiye one. He had no doubt, however,
| that the United States would finally over
come them, and rule the islands.
| Another thought that while we did not set
out to capture the Phiippi nes, yet he did not
see how we could rid ourselves OF them now.
| If we leave them to themselves. other govern
ments would Immediately find a pretext for
taking charge Of them. II we undertake to
transfer them to any one OF the foreign pow
ers other Jealous governments might 90 10
war with us for any attempt to give neigh
boring nation such immense advantage as
would be conveyed and held by the posses
sion Of the islands.
Not single word was said during the eve
ming which led to the belief that any man
present was in favor OF disposing of the
| islands In any way.
It would have been worth the trip II the
Hon. j. L. McLaurin had been present.
"Reasonipg by analogy" he would have felt
assured that the people Of South Carolina en-.
dorse his action in voting for the Paris treaty
of peace.