The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-08-23

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upon no amicable division of her
colonial domain. -.-2-... .'.~
The Asiatic Equilibrium Upset.
Thus has the so-called equilibrium in
the East been maintained by d.
plomatic "Accessions" and Compensa-
lions" and "Realms of Influence" till
the fateful day when Dewey destroyed
the Spanish fleet in Manila bay.
When the diplomats of Europe woke
on May 4, they confronted the fact
that their eastern mosaic had been
broken into thousand fragments.
Not alone did they find the cherish
ed equilibrium shattered, upon which
they had expended patient generations
of diplomacy. They were further
confronted with a new power in the
East, whose approach had not even
been remotely anticipated. The key to
the situation had not only been taken
from their grasp, but 1t had been
unconsciously taken by a nation
whose latent strength of resistance
rendered useless any return to the
con nditions before existing.
Germany, bitterly disappointed In
her share of the eastern spoils, had for
some time looked upon the Philip
pines for "Compensation." During
the preliminary controversies between
Spain and the United States, Ger
many had ostentatiously and offensive
ly sided with her European neighbor.
She did this with her eye upon the
Philippines. Her fleet was even then
collected in eastern seas ready to back
up Spanish claims if her safety and
self.interest might 80 dicate. AS pru-
dence dictated other wise, Germany
has abstained thus far from anything
more than a display of Ill will and evil
humor.
AS for Russia, she had ardently
desired to be left alone. She had en-
gulfed China in q treaty by which she
was gradually absorbing all Man
churia. Russia only desired undis-
turbed repose during the process of
digestion. BY clever diplomacy she
had gradually aIienated the continental
nations from England and all the
Continent played cats paw at the
behest of st. Petersburgh.
Japan still chewed the cud of bitter
melancholy, because Russia had seiz-
ed all the fruits of the Japanese victory
in 1892. Yet Japan was powerless
without allies to prevent the gradual
absorption of China by her Russian
guest. In the meantime, England
looking vainly for support, was not
vet prepared to beard her Russian rival
In the East. France, in her fond hope
of protection against Germany, was
still tool of Russia and mere pawn
in the game of Russia diplomacy.
It was at this point that English
presti ge reached it's nadir, snd that,
Russian progress seemed destined to
make all China Russian province.
The battle of Manila changed his
tory in q night. An Anglo-Saxon
nation, with strong but undeveloped
ideas as to the duties Of its race, has
seized the key. The projected absorp-
ton and partition of The Chinese
empire became and impossibility at
once.
Strategic Strength OF the Philippines.
While it Is difficult for our people to
realize that the seizure of these islands
involve such vast interests in the East,
q brief glance at the map will show
the point at once.
TIE archipelago of the Philippines
eonfronts the coast of Asia for nearly
800 miles.
It commands the coast of China,
Tonquin, Cochin China and AMMAN,
the Malay peninsula and the Polynes-
ian isles.
Manila is only 700 miles, or thirty
six hours from the English port Of
Hongkong. This Is the port of the
great city of Canton, and the outlet of
the richest portion of the Chinese
empire.
All the vast commerce of the Far
East with Europe passess between
Manila and the port Of our Anglo
Saxon kindred at Hongkong. .
The Philippines are but thousand
miles from Japan, and this Is no
distance in the vast waste of the
Asiatic seas.
The largest portion of the commerce
of America with India, Singapore,
Burmah, passes through these seas,
and is commanded by our new acqui-
sition.
In fact, Manila is the one mid
point in the east where all the great
lines of ocean traffic are held In sure
command. The geometrical center of
vast circle, it is almost equi-distant
from PekiDg, Toxic and Singapore.
It is the only available point In the
east where France, Russia or Ger
many could have obtained desirable
coaling and commercial stations with
out struggle. 1t will be seen, there
fore, that our position in the Philip.
pines Is fraught with possibilities that
We have hardly commenced to grasp.
The DespoiIIng OF China.
Yet another question of the greatest
moment interjects itself. This touch
es upon the future of the Chinese
empire.
Absorbed in our own affairs we have
hitherto remained oblivious to the fact
that we have neglected the greatest
and most profitable markets of the
world. One by one, great fragments
of the East have been torn of by
foreign powers and shut to our legiti-
mate commerce. Without protest
we have seen our commercial treaties
violated, and have been ousted from
our legitimate traffic in the East.
Contented with our own and Euro
pean markets, we have apparently
overlooked the fact that the markets
of 300, 900, 900 people are all but finally
closed to the enterprise and energy of
our people.
Now that Chance or Destiny has
placed us in command of the situa-
fion what do we nropose TO do about