Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-28
TguRsDAY EVENING. DEC. % 1899
Mr. Clark HOWELL, editor of the

MR.. CLARK HOWELL, editor OF the
Atlanta Constitution, In his iale speect
al Buffalo, makes some just observe
fions and yet falls into some very serious
Mistakes. He says the time has come
when VIC can say There Is the East
there are the Philippines. The gateway
otAs;an The idea of all this undoubt-
div ia that to take and hold the Phil
;nnines will help to give us the com
merce of Asia. How, where and wheu!
What have the Philippines to do With
Asia? How are they connected with
Asiatic commerce? Nine hundred
miles away from Asia, in a tropical
climate very near the equator, anc
with a population wholly different from
Asia or our own, requiring little food or
clothing, having hardly any OF the
wants of a civilized people, they pro-
dnce very little that We desire ard
have no use for our products. But II
thew did, what have the Philippines 10
do with Asiaiic commerce? They are
not the gateway" TO Asia. Vessels
sailing for HoHg Kong and Japan 90
not touch at Manila or 60 anywhere
near it. They exert no influence over
A.is-noue whatever. Suppose We
owned Ireland or we're to acquire the
islands of Guernsey or jersey, or the
Azores, or even Portugal-how would
that neip Us Co tide trade OF Great 6rit-
ain, or Germany, or France. or Italy !
It is said that ''trade follows the flag"
Does it? Our flag does not fly on Brit
ish soil. we have no dominion there,
and vet We export there products val
ued at six hundred million dollars in 8
single year. 10 fact the Philippines
today are exhausting energies and re-
sources which if applied to u own
country would develop it 20 a far great
er extent, improve our rivers, ports
and greatly augment u commerce.
The Philippines are a burden and Will
continue to be q burden till we abandon
a wholly pro6tless conquest. MIR.
Clark Howell says he is opposed to i'm
perialism, a centralized government
and a great standing army. Why, we
nave all this on US today. We have a
President making war without the con
sem of Congress, sending $4,000 men to
conquer q country on the other side OF
the globe, concentrating power in his
own hands, buying up Coogressmen
and editors with his vast patronage,
and spending some seven or eight hun
bred millions of dollars per annum?
Can any imperialism &C beyond this ex.
hibition? How much further is Mr..
Howell willing to see the President 20
before he calls u halt? "Imperialism"!
Why it was only the other day that The
Senate laid on the table a respectful
resolution calling on one Of the depart
ments for information OF what this gov
eminent had been doing 10 the Philip.
pines! Imperialism has come already,
and the only question IS has it come to
stay aud 5 there enough Of publip VII
tue aud manhood left to drive it ffpn
our midst? Folio wipg. the counselS-
perhaps we ought to say the orders, Oh
the London press, we have a vulgar
imitation of British imperia ism in AS
attic waters. 1t is claimed that the bust
ness OF conquest and killing is going On
merrily and successfully. Perhaps SO.
England did the same thing for long
years ia South Africa, but her rule is
now contested and she finds her mission
anything but a Christmas frolic. Bet
ter take warning in time.