The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-21
A MENACE TO THE SOUTH.

The imperlalIst stands forth costumed
in his own gorgeous conceit declaring
every man rossback who refuses to
subscribe to the loose doctrine Of the en-
! tension Of empire in any old way.
Business is business" he vulgarly
shouts.
n We can not extend our commerce In An
honorable way. why let us extend It in
dishoncrable way. We will shoot, muir
der. invade steal lie or do anything else
Ia accomplish "business,' and II any
citizen dare protest against the advance
Of our Nag Of plumber we will squelch him
with the freebootcr's cry of-"copper-
head" These swashbucllers have not yet
ncen taught that dishonest commerce
like The hishwayman's trade, is trousht
! with grave danger in the nation that in
/ dulges IT,
/ Now, mark you. Tho Post has not spoken
as above Of good citzens whom It believes
1 to he misguided on this question Of terri
! toriai extension, but Of a small class Of
/ ciamorous imperlalss who are constantly
! appearing in the public arena with the
blatant yell that business is business"
and that every fellow citizen who docs not
| bow down in humble homage to them Is
an enemy to progress
The Post agrees that business is busi-
ness but not IN the sense in which these
claquers utilize the phrase. IL Is neither
sound business nor good politics. so far
as the South Ia particularly concerned. to
open up new countries the productions OF
which VIII send tho agricultural products
OF the south tumnliug to price that VIII
impoverish our farmers.
Suhjoined are a few facts that will come
homo to every understanding In Texas.
Let these self righteous imperlalists chew
on them, II ever the moment arrives when
recovered from the jingoism of war. they
can look Mt the problem soberly.
| These facts are taken from Congressman
! slayden's (Texas representatiye), inter-
view given out to the prass after an ex-
! haustive study OF Mr.. Worcester's book
on tho resources OF che Philippine islands
ana a personal talk with the author on
that subject.
Gut what Interested me most was what
he said about the possibilities or produc-
ton In the Philippines he says that even
now atme cotton is produced and made into
cloth in the islands. He also says that years
nen d great deal of cotton was produced IN
Luzon. but that tho exactlons OF the tobacco
monopoly were such that the Spanish gov
ernn ont forced the people 10 Abandon ths
prcdl iioE OF cotton and grow tobacco IA
stead With this control removed as soon
as peace and order again obtain 1t Is Thought
that tho People will once more engage IN tue
cultivation OF cotton.
ION how merry ISLANDS does MI. Worcester
think cotton can be grownY
II asked him that direct question:, said
Mr. Slayden and he said that so far MS
no know the climate and soil on all OF them
were highly suitable for the growth OF cot
ton. \ suggested that with the cheap labor
OF those Islands. whore wages vary from
TO 10 cents a day, as the workman is more
cotton at q great profit He said he thought
1t very likely, Now, there is n problem for
tho people OF Texas--indeed for tho people
OF the whole South-to consider-Tho rapid
increase OF cotton spndlas In China and
Japan indicate what our manufacturers may
expect In tho way OF competition from the
than 20 cents day. even for the. skilled
sort, Tho Philippine islanders will work
for the same rate OF wages. Can American
manufacturers compete?
Professor Worcester says that the Philip
pine islands are nearly all suited for the
growth OF cotton and that In the main they
are not liable 10 nave killing frosts Mt any
time. Farm labor there can and does live
on a handful OF rice day.
Can Texas farmers compete successfully
against any such conditions and are they
willing to nut cudgel Into the hands or II
few trusts and speculative syndlcates to beat
out their own brainsr This Philippine prob
lem is q business AS well as a political ques-
ton.
"There can he no doubt about IT, the
islands OF Hawaii. Porto Rico aud Cuba
should the government abandon the path OF
honor and fail TO keep It's pledge for free
Cuba--will soon drive Louisiana and Texas
rice and sugar growers out OF business. II
Is also becoming evident that competing
cotton. growing region may be developed in
the Philippines"
Here are facts that should be maturely
studied by the agricultural and labor
classes OF Texas and OF the entire South.
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General Kitchener Ia a great soldier. His