Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-07-07
PAolElo COAST SENTIMENT.

PACIFIC COAST SENTIMENT.
zen. Harrison Gray Otis's visit to the
president is presumably to give informa-
tion concerning Pacific coast sentiment,
which has lately shown more signs than
ever of varying moods. 1t is curious
fact that no section has been more tickle
on this question than the Pacific coast,
which many suppose would be the chief
beneficiary of expansion in the Orient.
John Barrett has repeatedly said that
1his was the coasts great opportunity,
and that the rest of the country should
be willing to do something to help that
sections commercial prospects. Gov.
Roosevelt, too, in his western Journey
ings, has expressed similar ideas
If oriental expansion is TO benefit the
coast so greatly how can one explain the
hostile. critical or lukewarm attitude
now displayed by so many of its news
oapers. OF the San Francisco press the
Republican Call is openly in antagonism
TO holding the Philippines, and the Re
publican Bulletin never says word IN
favor of expansion ideas. The Chronicle,
perhaps the leading Republican news
Daper of the state, and owned, we be-
lieve. by that well.known Republican
politician. Mr.. DeI Dung, has lately
turned into severe critic of the whole
Philippine business. The following ex-
tract is but fair sample of what it is
telling Its readers:
If the wal is to 20 on with an active army
strength of 81, 600 men, the daily bill, saying
nothing of naval costs, will be S300,OOO BE
fore congress can meet in regular session anu
decide whether or not we are to keep the
philippines, l64 days must elapse. Assuming
that il will take 80 days to reach a decision
in so important matter, we have l9i days TO
consider which, at 100000 apiece, would
mean ga total military expenditure OF $685.
100000. OF course if large army IL EN-
ploved, 50 much more money Will nave 10 De
laid out on it. Is not this paying rather
high premium on S2OOOO,OoO investment
which congress may see dt to discontinue:
Putting the conservative totals together, the
500, 100000 and the S5s,200,0OO, and the product
is no less a sum than Sl2l 100000 for piece
of property we have ourselves rated al less
than onetenth that amount. Then there are
the pensions to come. What these may be
nobody knows, but an army ofhcer mas MADE
the astounding statement that so per cent OF
the soldiers in the Philippines will get pen
sions for dysentery and other intestinal com
plants. If 10000 men receive IS per month
each on this account, we shall have to pay
out annually for no one knows how many
years, a sum which at the beginning will ag
gregate 81, 800 900, or nearly 10 pei cent OF the
market value of the Philippines.
Would it not be good policy, before we go
any farther in this business, to find out what
congress means to do with our newly &C
ouired possessions? Would it not be simple
common sense to hold an textra session now?
Suppose it should happen next December or
January that congress should decide against
keeping the Philippines; is it not true that
the American people would have III, 600
reasons and more to regret that the national
lawmakers did not meet earlier and save the
cost of six or seven months of fruitless war:
1t seems TO us square business proposition
that congress should come together at once
and adopt program
An answer to Chronicles square bus
mess proposition" would be very peril.
nent to the situation. Assistant Secre-
tary Allen said ar Amherst that the
future disposition of the Philippine
islands was to be left to congress. In
the name of common sense, then, why
shouldn't it be decided by congress what
the country is to do with the Islands
whether to hold them or set them free
before going OH with this expensive war
The Chronicle strikes fair blow when
it points out that the administration is
asking the country to spend millions of
dollars and waste hundreds of lives in
fighting for something which, by its own
admission, the country may not want,
after all.
Like the Chronicle, the Weekly Argo-
nauth has also radically changed its attitude
since the war began in February, and
now makes no secret of its disgust for the
whole Philippine business. The Argo-
naut is by all odds the ablest and most
widely-read weekly publication on the
coast. OF the monthly magazine publ
cations In California, the Land of Sun
shine, edited by Charles F. Lummis, who
is well known for his studies of Mexican
civilization, Is squarely in opposition to
the present Philippine policy. The fol-
lowing extracts from Mr.. Lummis' g
editorials in the June number show what
Pacific coast sentiment is, so far as his
popular magazine is concerned
The organized effort of the administration
papers to scare out of discussing the
Philippine question Is as foolish as II will be
fruitless. To yell "traitors" to every Ameri.
| can who dares TO think without asking Mr..
| Hanna's permission shows that the yellers
know as little OF business as of morals. For
| this Is not a nation OF slaves. We like fair