The evening times., 1899-01-13
The Rich Philippines.

The more the letter of ex-senator Ed
munds is considered. the greater is the
surprise that he should be guilty either of
the degree Of ignorance it displays or of
bald Misrepresentation. Such inaccuracy
so boldly proclaimed indicates an i'm
pairment OF what was regarded as an in
telligence unusual even in the Senate,
or the descent of a trustworthy statesman
to the plane of a contemplate pettifogger
We prefer to believe that Mr. Edmunds
was ignorant Of his subject when he made
his estimate of the value of the Philip
pines, but We cannot explain why he
should be ignorant or why he should not
know he was ignorant.
He asserts what every newspaper reader
knows TO be untrue-that the islands have
the climatic evils and tropical diseases
that make them absolutely incapable of
being colonized by people of other and
cooler climes. and that they are already
overpopuiated; that they can produce only
manila hemp. a coarse tobacco and tropi-
cal fruits, and that they have only the
woods common to Central and South
America. To the abundant testimony that
disproyes these assertions We are now to
add that of Maj. Adolph G. Studer, a
United States consul general who has
for eighteen years made an intimate and
exhaustive study of the Philippines. That
he favors the retention of all the islands
is matter of course.
He asserts that there is ample oppor-
tunity for colonization and everything to
encourage it. There is so much clear
land that it has never been necessary for
the natives TO clear away the forests to
secure farms. The agricultural pro-
ducts are many and capable of great ex-
tension and development. The finest coffee
in the world can be grown in Luzon The
volcanic conditions referred to by Mr..
Edmunds are no drawback Even the
active volcanoes can be cultivated right
up 10 the craters and the ashes make the
surrounding land most fertile Some por-
tions of the islands may be termed an
earthly paradise" Long before the Span
ards went there gold was discovered and
is known TO exist in great quantities, the
gold dust actually washing from the
mountain sides. In the north there is a
rich and extensive tobacco country, where
tobacco equal 10 that of Cuba can be pro-
duced" In the mountains untouched
under the repressive policy of Spain. gold,
silver, copper, and iron are known to exist
in vast quantities. All that Is needed for
their production is the use of modern
methods and means of transportation to
the coast. The iron ore yields a very high
percentage. The gold mining can be car
ried on with little capital and enterprise.
with rich results. The many rivers of
Luzon constantly overflow the lowlands
and natural rice plantations abound What
applies TO one island applies to nearly all
and the whole climate is moist and fosters
the finest vegetation.
This authority asserts that the Malay
is not savage; that he is very shrewd
and capable of education and refinement.
He is eager for school learning A MALAY
police, under the supervision of an Ameri
can army officer, would preserve order in
the smaller islands where that race lives.
How entirely different the facts are from
the representations Of Mr.. Edmunds is ap-
parent As soon as the Government estab-
fishes good order in the Philippines. there
will be a rush of American capital and
enterprise to the new possession and
population of some twelve millions will
soon create a large demand for American
products.
Senator platt's decision as to a silccesSor