Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09


cannot afford to err-believe that the
Philippines hold cut greater opportunities
for developing trade than any other Asiatic
which will affect much capital, has only
been reached after consulting the best ex-
perts.
The strategic Importance of Manila is
appreciated when 1t is remembered that
on account of its central location our yes
sells can steam therefrom to any point on
the Asiatic coast and return ON their own
coal capacity.
Mr.. Barrett then spoke of the great re-
sources of the islands and their value In a
commercial sense The dangers of the cli-
mate, he said, were exaggerated, and he re-
ferred to the highz1nountains and favorable
conditions for escaping the oppressive heat
during the worst portions of the year. He
der the restrictive conditions of former
years averaged $4,000. 600 per annum I'm
der American control and with our enter
prise and re eap1t al 1t should grow in dec
ish and French have done in Java Burmah
and Indo-Chino. less favored than the Phil
ippines in resources and products, we can
certainly outstrip in the latter We should
build at once 1900 to 2,OOO miles of rail-
way. safely investing SIS, 900 600 and Great
ing large general demand for a variety
of exports. which must follow extended
railway construction and opening UP of the
interior of the country"
He thought the cost of the islands was a
mere bagatelle and that the good qualities
VI tHS pSOpie outweigh tHGlT DaO.
Important Admission of Buencamino,
Mr.. Barrett continued:
Men who say that we are shooting inde-
pendence into the Filipinos and that We are
establishing a government without the con-
sent of the governed should bear in mind
that there never has been moment since
Aguinaldo first went to Cavite that more
than a fourth of the population has given
him support or even shown him negative
sympathy. The Importance of this point
may be enhanced when l tell Won that
Buencamino, who has recently been cap
tured, and who was Aguinaldos all-round
right-hand man, ted me, in the presence of
two of our army officers, short time be-
fore the outbreak, that if an American
army of 5000 men had landed at Cavite
when Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet,
they would not only have been welcomed
with more acclaim than was Aguinaldo
but they could have marched everywhere
through the islands without a protest from
the natives, and even assisted by them in
operations against the Spanish garrisons.
Had this happened, We would never have
heard of Ag.linado except as a former
leader and there would have been no in
surrection
LAS conditions existed, it was a physical
inrossibility to have had an army at
Cavite Instantaneous with Dewey's pres
ence. When Aguinaldo came-without one
word of assurance of independence from
Dewey, as l have endeavored to bring out
plainly in my little book on the great ad-
miral recently pubiished-he saw his oppor-
tunity and steadily improved it until he
came into collision with our forces.
A Word About AguinaIdo.
Speaking of Aguinado whom 1 knew
personally well, first at Hong Kong and
later at Cavite, Bacor and Malolos, 1 can
say that he is undoubtedly possessed of
considerable executive capacity, personal
magnetism, shrewdness. tact and persist
ency. but he does not impress me as hav-
ing stability of character. 1t is not posi-
BILE to catch and hold his eye He is polite
and gentle in manner, quite refined in tastes
and dress, and well educated for native;
but in good American slang he would be
called Smooth You would pick him out
as an ideal personality, We're he an Ameri-
can, to quietly manipulate the vote in our
large cities-not obtrusively, but effectively.
Under favorable conditions, with tempta-
tons removed, his good qualities would
predominant. He certainly cannot be class
ed as George Washington, except by some
who look at him through ten thousand
miles of space, He has been surrounded
by a number of very able natives, like
Mabini, Pedro Palermo and Alesandrine
who along with Buencamino, just captured,
and Arrelyano. the ablest of all the Fill
pinos. and ever faithful to us, should yet
be valuable servants of our government in
establishing order and quiet.
1.-The system of inaugurating a new gov
eminent, beginning at the bottom and
building up, suggested by the Philippine
commission is excellent, but it should be
accompanied by the establishment, as soon
as possible, of central council at Manila
or similar arrangement, by which there can
be some working from the top down, to
meet and assist, it were, the upward
movement
After referring to the value of the Phil
ippines as neighbors and to the possibilities
of China, Mr.. Barrett concluded follows:
What Should BE Done.
|. FINALLY, if / were asked to state the
necessary immediate influences that will
assist in making America forever the para
mount power of the Pacific. 1 would emu
merate in order of Importance. first. per-
manent sovereignty over the Philippines;
second, construction of the trans-isthmian
canal; third, preservation according to the
treaty of our trade rights throughout all
China; fourth, laying of the Pacific cable;
fifth, uppuilding reasonable substituting
OF our merchant marine: sixth, new but
important proposition. the extension of
parcel post system of mail to the far east
10 compete with similar European systems,
and, seventh, the early sending of COM
mission to fully investigate and report on
ASiatiC markets. authorized in the Pres