The times., 1899-04-10
MONDAY, APRIL 10. 1899.
The Philippines nnd Jamnica

There can be no question about the in
sanity of the proposition TO exchange the
endless resources OF the matchless Philip
pines and the superlative advantages their
possession gives over the future destiny of
Asia for a worn-out island in the West
Indies which England may have wearied
of for its utter uselessness and the pow
erty and pugnacity OF its black population.
The reasons why such an exchange is
urged upon US are that Jamaica is nearer,
its people speak our language, know our
strength, and could soon become desirable
American citizens; that the Philippines
can never be of much commercial value to
us. but might be to Great Britain, while
Jamaica, which is of no value TO that coun-
try, might be TO us.
In the name of common sense. why? II
England cannot make Jamaica blossom.
fructify. and prosper, how can We? With
all her experience with colonies she has
failed 10 do anything for this island. AZ
this moment its people are as unhappy as
at any time in the two hundred years oc
English control. and eager to cut the tie
that binds. There is positively nothing we
can do for them that could not be done by
England. This country and Great Britain
are both industrial nations. rivals for ex-
actly the same prize-just now the in
creasing markets of Asia. Both produce
the wants of the same people. Nobody will
deny that the reasonable object of ambi-
tion for both is that field that promises
the largest results in the future, the
Asiatic continent. What nonsense then
10 say that Great Britain can make a bet
ter use of the Philippines than America
can. The mere assertion is made not only
by the hysterical lunatics who babble about
Imperialism, but by United States Senators
who have not heretofore seemed TO be af-
fiicted by the microbe of provincialism.
They do not argue, but only affirm. Sem
ator Mcbride. for one offers no reason
presents no fact, but with the idea that
The American people are 10 be swayed by
unsupported opinion, tells US that We can
do nothing with the Philippines, while
England can do much Is England more
capable, industrially, after sixty years OF
free trade, than America after nearly forty
years of protection? Some Republican
statesmen seem TO think so.
As matter of fact. in spite of the long
policy OF protection, we are forging ahead
of our rival. Her statesmen admit our
coming commercial supremacy in the Far
East. The people who are capable of
wrestling the worlds markets from two
such competitors as England and Germany
can do in the Philippines anything any
other nation can do. There is hardly a
limit to what we can do there-and We can
do il better than anybody in the world.
There is no other spot on the globe today
with such undeveloped, but easily devel-
oped. resources as this archipelago. The
volunteers from Senator McBride's own
State who are now there have appealed 10
the Government TO be mustered out on the
spot. because they want to stay. Il is the
place Of places for American eolonists.
The proposition to make an exchange of
the Philippine Islands in order TO become
responsible for the dissatisfied Maroons OF
Jamaica is too absurd to be discussed. But
If Senator Seweil and others will talk about
1t. for the credit OF the Senate they should
try to appear like rational creatures. II
they have a single honest reason in favor
Of swapping diamond for a dead animal
they should give IL. II they know of any
reason why England can gain much from
the Philippines and this country nothing
why we can inject vigor into u moribund
island which England gives up as hopeless
let them be specific. Their object is not
apparent but il can hardly be doubted that
they are as ignorant Of Jamaica as they are
of the Philippines. and deeper Ignorance
there is not greater crime against the
future America could not be perpetrated
than the sale or exchange of the Philip
pines To eede all New England TO Can
ada would be yirtuous and productive act
by comparison.