Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-13
The Philippines Might Be Sold

The Philippines Might Be Sold.
! The insular commission having decided
that the islands in possession of the Unit
ed States as a result of the late war with
Spain are not a part of the United States
territory proper and that they differ from
territory in any part of the United States
in that they can be sold the controversy
over tho disposition of the Philippines is
likely to take new direction. That ar
chipelago could readily be sold for more
than the $50, 900 we paid for its posses
sion, but variety of considerations will
be brought to bear on the problem.
/ Len the first place a controversy is likely
TO arise over the question of the difference
IN the relation of the Philippines to the
United States as compared with that OF
other territory acquired by u.s. for a con
siderable portion of the present territory
of this nation was also bough. by our
government at one time or another. In tie
second place the excellent character of the
investment made by the United States in
each preceding territorial purchase will
naturally lead many of our people to as
same that the Philippines will also prove
TO be a bargain. Both of these coUsidera-
tons will be better understood If we re-
cite the conditions under which our chief
previous purchases of territory we.e made
and the results obtained thorcfrom.
BY the Louisiana purchase in 1903 we
acquired from France the vast territory
comprising nearly all of the present States
of Louisiana. Arkansas, Missouri. Iowa,
Minnesota the two Dakotas, Nebraska,
most Of Kansas and the Indian Territory,
part Of Colorado. most of Wyoming, the
whole of Montana, Idaho, Oregon and
Washington. 1t had been Napoleon
dream to found a new France in America,
but he was induced TO sell the territory
TO the United States for the sum of Sll,25o,-
600 and the assumption by the United
States of the claims of certain citizens of
this country against France, known as
the French spolation claims. These were
assumed to be about So, 900. so that the
contract price for the Louisiana purchase
may he said to have been a round sl50o),-
COCOA paltry sum as compared with the
present enormous wealth of the States
and territories included in the purchase
The territory which we acquired direct
| from Mexico was gained under ciroum-
stances and conditions not materially diff
ferent from those which marked our ac-
QUESTION of Spain's valuable island pos
Sc sions al the close of the recent war
We defeated Mexico in the war which be-
gan in 1916 as a result of her resentment
over our annexation of Texas, and con-
cluded the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
By which Mexico coded California, Utah,
Arizona, and New Mexico to the United
States in consideration of a payment of
Sl50O,000 by the latter and our assumption
of s30oo,0o0 of unsettled claims against
McXico-a ridculously small cons Iteration
in comparison with the actual value CT
the territory transferred.
When we purchased Alaska from Rus
STA in 1867 We gained a territory whose To-
tai area is nearly one-siXth tina. of the
United States. The price paid for Alaska,
was S,2O0,000, a sum which was consider
9 ed exorbitant by many Americaus at the
, time of the purchase, but it has proved II
be ar enormously prontaby investment. In
Alaska Commercial company lar-twenty
years the exclusive privilege of taking seal
on the Pribilof Islands, the company pays
Ing the government about $6C0o,OiO IN gold
> coin for this concession The total value
OF scalskins taken in Alaska from 1867 to
: 1890 is estimated at S53, 0O0, 600, and the CON-
biued value of all other products at near
$780, 900 900, The recent discovery of gold
in the Klondike region opens up an entire.
- ~ Eow source of revenue the extent OF
which cannot be estimated, but the vau,
of the products of the Alaskan gold mines
promise to be fabulous The total value
, of the products of all kinds obtained from
: Alaska from the time of its purchase tC
date Is placed at the enormous sum Of
= sll3, Cox. 900.
I The experiencing OF these gratifying re-
suits in connection with QUE previous pur
chascs of territory has undoubtedly done
[ more than any other one influence to leat
many of the American people 10 desir,
l. the permanent acquisition of the Philip
a pines by the United States. They poin
: TO the vast extent OF the Philippine archi
e pelaGo and enumerate its varied products
< they urge that 1t affords a wonderful ficlC
t for the development of natural resources
g through the application of American CAP
/, ital by American energy and thrift, ant
5 argue that 1t will open up an unsurpassed
= market for American products
e Opposed to this picture of the future o
o our relations with the Philippines is GU,
present experience. We are realizing tina
the first and great difference between GU
- purchase Of the Philippines and those ter
= ritoral acquisitions that preceded it. Il
that the character OF the millions of in