Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-06-08
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
Interesting Address BY b.MlHi,lcf 10 Siam
Hon. lohn Barrett
says We Can Lead or Follow In the
Far East IiesPonsibiiity OF the
United states.

Chicago. June Tho Hon. John Bar
rott, minister 90 Slam during the Cicvc-
land administration. and who hna trnv-
cled extensively In the East. was given
a complimentary dinner at the unlon
League club tonight. and By request
spoke about the Philippines and their
Importance. commercially and utratc-
Fically. to the United statcs. Mr.. Bar-
rctt said In part.
u am deeply sensible Of the great re-
aponHlhlliiy resting upon me 10 tell you
the truth an actually seen and learned
By me about tho Philippine Islands.
their possibilities. their people and
their bearing upon our commercial and
political standing In tho Pacific and
far East.
I'VE arc face to face In the Pacific
ana FAR East with situation Of Inn
measurable possibilities. Upon our
policy depends our position iu that
great ocean. where, by the hand of
0ud, by destiny and by fortune II Dr.
Intended that We should BE- nrHt. but
whore, " We fnll 90 Hrizn and develop
our opportunity, We may not only be-
come forever second. but come trailing
along behind Great Britain. Russia.
Japan and Germany and oven France.
u o. uu issue uf tho hour II ~ now
orr never n We weaken one iutu we
El,c un entrance Tor the wedge that
viii destroy tho unity of policy and In
trulty Of principle which alone can
hUnr uH success.
m ] may b. called hn cKpanHlonlHt I
am not Ho radical that DO not respect
the nrgumenta of those who hold other
views, and / have the highest respect
Tor many N the distinguished and good
mon ln our country who hold that our
policy On wrong, They are doubtless
sincere and moan only wcll Tor our
country, hut might I not ada that if
they arr, IN the opinion M some, DOING
any harm, II n not that they arc Crr-
atlnH a dlacurdnnt influence ut home.
but that they nru, and possibly with
out their intention giving comfort and
AID 60 our onrmlrH1
In the Philippines ana IA Hongkong.
and moreover, IN Europe. wherever any
auti.Amcrlcnn HymputhixufH are gath.
crcd. every word ana every uttcranco
~ those who oppose our policy In tho
Philippines o. repeated. emphasized
and sent broadcast To encourage not
only those who are lighting uH. but
those who would secretly assist thom,
I say this with an fmnkncaf because {
could not help seeing and noting it
only TOO plainly ln my recent trip home
from Manila hy way ~ Europe.
m I were asked what was the great
signal result VI the late war with
spain. I would say Il has suddenly ana
unexpectedly made uH the FIRST power
0f Tho Pacific, Formerly. nH ! travelled
up ana down tho coast, visiting both
political and commercial capitals. ! was
always depressed hy the Indications NJ
our seeming lnHlEnlncnnco, When !
made my llft Journey In December 60
these same points ! WIS nHinulahed 90
motto the mlghty change that had boon
worked since Dewey fHllDd into Manila
and destroyed tho spanish neGt
found America, American influence and
American trade everywhere the nrnt
consideration whether dlEruHHlug
matters with native ftatcamon or FORE
clgn diplomats ur leading business mon
or devoted missionaries, ut dinner par
ties or In the club. or IN the street With
common, everyday natives and cnolle1,
] found the one rHnsihln. tangible
thought that had a. do with flrclguerr
to DO. what rs America going % dpf
What win Dee her p1llcy1 Which way
win her Influence Doe throWnT
"Tho United Sintor have assumed
mighty and unavoidable responsibility,
not only 10 themselves and The natives.
but 10 The world. in occupying tho
Philippine Islands. They could not roe
turn them 10 their former HovcrcIgnty,
sell Thorn t0 another noWor nr Yield
thcm 90 native rule without shrinking
such responsibility and tahlng hack-
ward stop from which the nation
would never recover"