The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-01-25

burst like a flaming comet out of the
eastern sky in September, that gave
England new empire, and made the
conquerer Lord of Knartoun. Kitch-
ener and his associate Anglo-Slxons
had spent this period in the most ex-
citing labors, under the most trying
conditions, and their victory was SIM
ply the logical issue of work directed
by brains that, there as elsewhere, for
centuries past, have triumphantly with
stood the adverse conditions of trop-
ical and barbarous environment.
In Mexico, in the nations of South
America, the men who are at this head
of industrial enterprises, who are the
leaders in the physical development
of those ountries-building railroads,
constructing public works, opening
mines-are from the north, and in very
many instances they are apt to be
Americans.
On this subject of climatic influences,
writer in the Outlook, competent
through practical experience, to ex-
press an opinion and entitled to full
credence, "blushes at the arguments
advanced" against the retention of the
newly acquired possessions of this gov
eminent. He says:
IL spent some five consecutive years in
fba nd A L.. \
ira, while in the service of the Dutch gov
eminent, and in the light of my experience
and of personal observations cannot for
the life Of me understand how it 10 possible
for a sensible, go-ahead American to sug-
gest that the climate in the Philippines is
unfit for an American to live in and exer-
else his brain, intellect and physical powers,
or that we have not within ourselves the
qualities needed to rule over or guide race
or races such as inhabit these islands. 1
have had much to do with the Malaga races,
and, feeling quite at home in the Mslsyan
language, think that 1 am justified in
claiming more than superficial knowledge of
their habits, character, etc.. and say with
out qualification that If they are kindly and
yet firmly treated they are really lovable
people. AS to the climate, it need have no
terrors for a white man possessing selfcon-
troll. Excuses Of any kind will probably
tell sooner in that climate than here; but If
one will take care Of ones self, by which 1
mean to leave drink excessive smoking,
and other over-indulgence alone. there is no
danger. A level-hesded American can do
as we'll in the Philippines as ditto Hol-
lander can in Java, or ditto Englishman
can in British India"
And this is nquestionably the con-
clusion of this whole matter of the res
idence and occupation of the countries
in question by Americans. The late
Mr.. Horr's famous tree-toad story has
often done effective service in other
causes than that in which it was origi-
nally enlisted. Like the cry of the
greenbackers in the great national can
vass of 1880, this lamentation over the
acquisition of tropical territory is very
largely "a damned noise"
If history and experience prove any
thing in this matter of tropical climates
and the white races, its practical teach
ing appears to sustain the diverse of
the claims of the anti-expansionists.
AS strong writer and intelligent OBJ
server of things recently said: "When-
ever the physical conditions of any I'M
certain section of the Orient require
the introduction of strong man, the
Anglo Saxon is the one who, by sheer
dint of that quality called grit, takes
command and runs things" And this
has been 80 from the times of Give
down to the day of Kitchener and
Dewey.