Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1899-08-31
TROPICAL EXPANSION.
Caucasian Cannot Thrive in Sea
Level Tropics.
THE FOLEY OF EXPANSION
In the Tropics by Caucasians, Ably Set
Forth by John j. Valentine, Presi-
dent OF Wells, Fargo Eek. Co.

In dutch Colonizers in Malaysia" and
the Annexation OF the Philippines" a
pamphlet published six months ago. set
forth some OF the conditions of tropical
Oriental countries dominated by Euro
peans, specially referring to Java, and
the state of the subjugated natives there
who, after long period of exaction and
oppression, are gradually coming to a
realization of some OF their rights, and
are therefore no longer fully submitting
to the tyranny OF their foreign masters,
bnt are slowly emancipating themselves
from the despotism OF their alien rulers,
and thereby making the exploitation Of
their lands and people source of less
yearly profit to European owners.
AS one reason for my opposition to the
policy OF colonial expansion pursued by
the present administration OF the United
States government, quoted very liber-
ally from statistics gathered from English,
Dutch and French records OF co,oniza.
ton, and now present an epitome Of
these in a condensed form, to.wit:
The Caucasian cannot thrive, physical
ly. nor perform manual labor of any kind
for any considerable period in the sea
level tropics. 1t is said that in colonizing
the Congo Free State nine out OF every
ten Europeans going there we're either
buried or returned home invaded within
three years. The largest OF the one hum
bred and twenty Belgian trading COM
panies maintains service OF only seven
months out of every twenty-fonr. In
constructing the Panama railroad across
the Isthmus OF Darien, human life was
sacrificed for every lie that lies in the
road. The outcome of our own exporta-
ton Of troops to the Philippines bears out
the statement that our people cannot en-
dure the sea level tropical climate. "The
strength OF Anglo-Saxon civilization lies
in the mental and physical activity OF
men, and where activity is fatal to life,
the Anglo-Saxon decays, mentally, NOR
ally, physically" Even by shielding
himself from every exposure he cannot
many years remain in tropical countries,
and no third generation survives him
there. Civilians and soldiers alike sue
cumb to the baleful effects OF the ener-
waiting climate, and both yield to the
unfavorable influences Of eastern customs
and conditions.
In Oriental colonies the Caucasian is
outclassed by the hordes OF skilled native
artisans, mechanics, and laborers labor
ers work for wages that the white man
could not live on. Ten or fifteen cents a
day is not free mans scale OF wages.
'sThere is no room for free laborers, no
welcome for them, and no pay. There is
no chance for the American workman,
but for the syndicates they offer great
opportunities-for the syndicates who
handle politics as an incident in bust
ness"
"For cur extirmination of the Indian,
there is, in general, no moral justification.
There is good political excuse in it
that we could and did use their land in
better wav than was possible to them
We have no such excuse in Luzon; we
cannot use the land except as we use the
lives of the people. Should we eXtcrml'
nate these people we could only replace
them with Malay, Chinese OF Japanese
not with our own" The maintenance Of
law and order at home, respect Tor man
hood. of industrial wisdom and enterprise
and commercial integrity is the true
"White Mans Burden" while as now
considered and illustrated in practice, II
seems to be a desperate effort to force the
black man to support himself and the
white man too.
The Oriental tropical "colonies" ESQ.,
cal,.dD an merely military posts exercls
inc d.spo.ic control over the natives iol
the benefit of the exploiters-the capital
;sts Of the home country or government
The exploitations OF Europeans colonlx
inc nations have always been, and will
continue to be, for the benefit OF the fe"
the high civil and military officials
cont ont by the home government ano
Tho plantation owners and rich traders
where never was a tropical country gov
erned with any degree Of success without
system of contract labor, vide Hawaiian
Is,onds. One OF the commissioners ap
no;nted by this government to investigate
,he labor and other questions at the time
.ho islands were annexed, called atten
tion to the fact that the sugar and co1ee
interests of the islands cannot get along
without the cheap contract labor.