Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22

mercial worth of the islands as incalcula-
BILE. especially to a nation like the United
States, which is striving with such perse-
verance and energy to build up eastern
trade. Some of The European peoples
would, no doubt, be willing to pay an enor-
nous sum fer the islands, for they consti-
tute base from which great advantages
can be derived in the contest which is yet in
prospect for the bulk of the oriental com
merce.
Value of the Philippines.
''The people of Spain. France and Eng
land realize, however, that the United
States has hard nut to crack in the mat
ter of the subjugation of the F'ilipnos The
Filipino people are probably unlike any
other nationality on earth, and consequent
~ distinct and peculiar manner of treat
ment is necessary in any negotiations be-
tween them and a foreign people for the
Accomplishment of their sovereignty to a
nation so dssimilar to them in every char
acterstic Perhaps if the people of the
United States had the Spanish war to fight
over again they would hesitate in d deter
mination to hold these islands as an indem-
nifty with the purpose of subduing the Fill
pines, for, as every one knows, the struggle
there has cost many valuable lives and
many thousands of dollars. But now that
they are in the conflict with the intention
OF conquerinS the natives, it would never
do for the government to desst The prize
Is many times worth the pain. and I am
convinced that when peace shall have been
completely established the prodigious value
OF the Islands, both in a commercial sense
and in respects too numerous TO mention
Will be fully appreciated by the American
nation.
Appropriate Laws Must He Adopted.
1t must be borne in mind. however that
in order to retain the islands without To-
menting a repetition of the frequent dis
turbances which marked the sovereignty of
Spain in the Philippines the legislative and
tive
eminent must enact and enforce a code of
laws which Will be in conformity with the
manners, customs and temperament of the
Filipino people 1t would be impossible
ity for the United States to extend its own
statutes to the F'ilipinos as they now stand
and maintain peaceful and happy condi-
ton there. Every locality has it's character
and of course the nature of the Filipino is
widely divergent from that of the Ameri-
can Laws must be enacted by the Aneri-
can Congress to apply to the Filipinos ex-
clusively; laws which suitable and ap-
plicable even to u shade to the natives. 1t
will be impossible for the people of the
United States to proclaim their own laws
and then attempt to make the Filpinos
conform to them. They must gather the
natives, study their habits and disposition
and then frame laws to conform to the pop
ulace. That, in substance, is an economic
axiom which Is beyond controversy. Dur
ing my residence in China l have come in
contact with great many of the Fiipinos
who have journeyed to the Chinese ports
on commercial business. They are. as a
rule. well educated, thrifty and gifted with
natural intelligence. Under conservative
and liberal treatment they will, 1 believe,
prove to be good citizens, worthy of ad-
mission to the United States.
Chinese of the Philippines.
"a wholesome proportion of the people
there are Chinese. The Chinese of the
Philippines, however are unlike those
which inhabit the United States In and
around Manila there are subjects of the
emperor engaged in every channel of bust
ness and in every walk of life. There are
merchants. expert artisans, professional
men, business men and others following diff
ferent pursuits from that of manual labor
There are many Chinese millionaires there
men from the most renowned, accomplished
and arStocratic families of my native
country. They have proved a considerable
factor in the prosperity and richness of the
islands, which was greatly appreciated
by the Spanish government, and they will
continue to enhance the good commercial
name of the islands under American control
For this reason l entertain the hope that
the Chinese exclusion law now in operation
in the United States will not be extended to
the Philippines when the American govern
ment abolishes military law and provides a
civil code for governing the islands. Our
countrymen win be done a great Injustice If
It does so. The most casual observation to
any one interested will convince him that
the Chinese are a necessity TO the Philip
pines and that their presence there in num-
berS unlimited will be a boon rather than
a bane to the future of the archipelago.
They are so dissmilar to the impression
of the Chinese race which obtains in this
country that a comparison is difficult.
AngIO-American Alliance.
"While abroad l heard quite a good deal
of talk regarding the much-discussed inter-
national alliance between the United States
and Great Britain which has been proposed.
l found that the sentiment in favor of such
a coalition of interests is much stronger
in England than it is in America. In fact.
an overwhelming majority of the English
ana even those who are opposed to 1t seem
somewhat apathetic in their objections. A
great many of the people of China are,
am informed in favor of a triple alliance
between China, Japan and England. They
allege that the advantages which could be
derived by all three countries in such an
agreement obvious, especially in the
case of England and China, and that Japan
would likewise be materially benefited
. " hile at the same time her people and those
of my country would be reunited by an
agreement which would not only conduce to
great commercial energy and profit to both,
but would encourage the feeling of brother
hood between the nations which was to a
great extent torn asunder by the recent
conflict between the two peoples. 1 do not
however. wish to express my opinion on
the subject.