Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-19
SOUTH AND EXPANSION
Senator McLaurin, Of South Caro-
lima, Urges South to Support
the Policy.
Writes Strong Letter in Which He
Points Out Advantage to
Trade.
Sentiment in Favor Of Retaining
the Philippines Growing in
the South.


Chicago. Oct. 19.-The Herald's Wash
ington special says:
Senator McLaurin of South Carolina
is out in a letter of great political sig
nificance. He declares himself for the
retention of the Philippines as the only
sure means of maintaining and extend
ing the trade of the United States in
China. He points out the Importance of
this policy to the cotton growers and
the cotton manufacturers of the south.
This public declaration, taken in con-
nection with the crusade of Senator
Morgan OF Alabama along the same
line, is indicative of change in south
ern sentiment on expansion that prom
ises to be we'll developed before the
next presidential campaign begins The
south is awakening to the fact that it's
cotton must look to the Orient for the
expansion of its market, and the Philip
pines are the open door to that eastern
world.
The cotton manufacturers of South
Carolina recently united in a letter to
Senator McLaurin setting forth the im-
portance of China as market for their
products and urging him to use his in
f1uence with the federal government to
maintain an open door" for American
trade. They pointed out that the cotton
manufacturing industry in South Carroll
ma had come to be second only to that
of Massachusetts and that its future de-
pended on the maintenance of the Chi
nese market, which Russia is threaten
ing to close.
The Philippine question was limited at
in the following terms by the manufac-
turers:
LAS we understand the situation, the
question of the expansion policy of the
government is in no way involved. The
maintenance of our rights in China does
not include an attempt to bring other
countries under the influence of our
flag. This is not question of terri
tory, not a question of empire, but sim
ply a question of trade.
In his answer Senator McLaurin says
that when the treaty of peace was I'M
der consideration he was confused and
in doubt as to the proper course to pur-
sue, but since then he has been think
ing and his mind is made up. He takes
issue with the southern manufacturers
He insists that American trade in the
Orient is not involved in the Philippine
question, but wholly dependent on the
retention of those islands. He gives
William j. Bryan and others hard
| slap by denouncing, the talk of "imper-
ialism'' as rot and "a misnomer in
| tended to confuse and deceive" These
| sentiments, coming from a southern
democratic senator and given out for
| publication, are regarded in Washing
| ton as of great Significance.
| Senator McLaurins letter is dated at
| his home in Bennettsville Oct. II. 1t is
addressed TO j. b. Cleveland, j. II.
| Montgomery land others at Spartan-
burg, S. c., and reads thus:
.tYour letter has been received.
| fully concur in everything you say
| about the Importance of the retention OF
| the trade of the south with China. The
| open door policy is what we need and
want.
/ This has heretofore been secured by
treaty rights which have been respect
/ ed BY other nations only to the extent
| to which it conduced to their trade re-
llations. While ostensibly recognizing
| these treaty rights, other nations, In
violation of them. have acquired terri
tory and excluded therefrom our legi-
! innate commerce. Russia has grad
1ualy absorbed Manchuria and is build
ling railroad across Siberia to com
mand the trade of China. Germany has
4 been active and waiting in expectancy
to obtain the Philippines Japan ha:
cCia oil he -
il1ory in 1892 France has been the will
ling tool of Russia and England ha!
been passive in her fear to assail her
This was the status in the cas-
when the battle OF Manila occurred
This victory thwarted all the schemes
of Russia for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT o
partition impossible. II you want tn
open door the United States now hold
the key.
The archipelago of the Philippine
Lies along the coast of Asia for 50
miles and commands 1t. Manila is tn
point in the east which is the center o
ocean traffic. II is the only point Wher
. foreign nations could have obtaine
commercial stations without a struggle
In the vicissitudes and good fortune o
4 a war Win SPAN anu Witilout any III
tention of doing SO, the United State
has acquired the possession of tn
Philippines. which gives her paramount
political and commercial advantages
My Judgment is that the control Q
, them. or at least some portions, is tn
only safeguard for our trade interest
lin the east The abandonment of ther
, means the dismemberment of China, II
partition among the European power
and the inevitable loss Of our Chin
trade.
Il note that you say in your lette
!. that the question of our rights
China does not include an attempt
bring other nations under the infiuenc
of our flag; that this Is not questio
Iof territory, not a question of empir
but simply question Of trade, etc.
+ seems to me that the question of trad
\ is not alone involved. The commerce.
Z and political aspects of the great prof.
=. lem of the hour in this country are il
9 separable, and 1t is useless for us
: close our eyes to this fact. Would
not be folly for us to sacrifice our con
mercial interests for purely polite
n considerations?
a THE maintenance of our trade in Il
Il. .rvxy ~