Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1899-05-24
RlTZVILLE, MAY "a. 1899.
EFFECT OF EXPANSION,

ly in the line of our commercial in.
fuence, the future of that archipelago
is of the deepest interest to the people
OF the northwest. Lying as do these
islands, in the trade route of every
European country, both from the
Indian and the Pacific Ocean, unwill-
ingness of France and Germany that
the United States should possess this
new and valuable outlet for trade is
we'll understood.
The people of the Pacific Coast nat
urally look to the far East for the ex-
tension of their commerce, believing
that their harbors will become the
distributing point for teas, silks and
other oriental products. The acquisi
tion Of the PHILIPPINE islands and the
Hawaiian group will afford markets
for agricultural implements, cereals,
manufactured goods, and, indeed, pro-
ducts OF every sort, and labor in the
entire United States will receive the
benefit of this trade stimulus.
1t is urged by some OF the critics Of
the government that the acquisition
OF the island territory will bring the
agricultural labor OF the United States
into direct competition with coolie
labor, but the Hawaiin Commission
has reported for the abolition of con-
tract labor and measures of exclusion
against the Chinese and japanese
similar to those now in force in the
United States, and their recommends
tions will be formulated into laws for
the government of these new acauisi-
tions.
Against this argument those who
have persistently opposed commercial
expansion make the claim that the
acquisition OF new territory implies an
instantaneous acquisition of citizen
ship by all the people of the acquired
territory, and that tarif discrimina-
tion would then be virtually of the
government against its own citizens.
Such persons declare that the consti-
tuition of the United States would pro-
hibit such discrimination.
In point of law this contention is
perfectly groundless. While it has
been the habi. of the United States to
declare in the treaties OF annexation
that all people in acquired territories
may acquire the full rights of citizen
ship by dissolving their former ties
and allegiance and acknowledging
their citizenship before the proper
authorities. There is nothing that
makes it obligatory upon the United
States to create citizens OF their colo
nists.
The federal constitution distinctly
states that "Cons ress shall have power
to make the laws" for the government
of its territories and other belongings,
and with Congress the Whole matter
rests.
OF the commercial products OF the
Philippine islands, coal which is found
in twelve of the twenty islands COM
prising the group, will be the most
important to our navy, as to oul
merchant marine. Vast fields of coal
OF good quality that exist in the archi-
pelago are practically undeveloped
Its mining, export and sale will be a
source OF wealth to the investor and
the machinery necessary for such
ventures will be imported entirely
from the United States. As the Phil
pines lie directly in all the great trade
routes OF the world, the devclopme nj
OF this coal industry will be Of value
to the commerce OF all nations, ant
in time of war our battleships could
be dry docked and coaled in our Phil
pine, as well as supplied and victualled
Copper, silver, kaolin, lead and oil are
among the other valuable mineral re
sources of the PHILIPPINES that are
practically undeveloped.
OF the agricultural products OF the
Philippines, none come into direct
competition with our American labor
except those of the production o
sugar and tobacco, and the contract
and coolie system will probably b,
abolished as in Hawaii. On the othe
hand the great wheat fields of Wash
ington, Oregon and California will
supply the natives of that group will
cereals, the use of which they hav
already learped and for which there i
y growing demapd. Manufacturer
goods Of all kinds, both luxuries an
necessities, will be returned to tn