The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-27

nearer Shanghai than Liverpool Will pc;
the average a. thousand miles nearer all
the northern ports of China, where we
now look for an export trade and shah
hereafter; 800 miles nearer Yoko-
hama; 1000 miles nearer Corea; 1,00O
miles nearer Melbourne; 1,S0O miles
nearer Sydney; $500 miles nearer New
Zealand; from 5000 to 5000 miles
nearer to all of the western coast of
South America: would bring US from
1000 to- 5000 miles nearer peoples
whose imports last year amounted to
81, 120, 100000
81 am silent as to- the magnificent
advantage such a route promises to
our domestic trade, bringing this city
10000 miles nearer by water to San
Francisco, the Columbia River and
Puget Sound, shortening the time by
steam from forty to twenty days, by
sail from 100 to 65, and reducing the
freight rates at least one-third; for my
discussion this evening is confined to
our export trade and it's extension"
He spoke of the Spanish war and the
gratitude of the Cubans, which must
rebound to the good of this country in
a commercial way. He added:
Porto Rico is ours, and its trade will
be. But more promising than the ac-
quirement of many such islands is the
acquisition by US, under the terms of
the same treaty, of the Philippine archi-
pelago, undoubtedly the most fertile and
productive UNEMPLOYED land under the
sun. For three hundred years, under
Spanish domain, more oppressive and
cruel than known elsewhere in the
world; treated as a mere sponge to be
squeezed by the hand of the oppressor;
burdened by taxation the most ingenl-
Gus and intolerable without railroads
or highways; without any labor having
machinery, a third OF its products rot
ting on the ground for want of trans
portation to the sea; it's revenues plum
dered by Spanish officials; yet in 1897.
with rebellion rife, according to United
States Commissioner Hardin, the ex-
ports were $41. 342, COO and imports
ST. ,343, 600; balance in favor, SOB
$4,000
Give the islands good government,
protection to life and property, an adj
vancing civilization, increasing intelli-
gence, fairer wages. honest collection of
revenues, railroads and highways, i'm
connection with our country and tele-
graphic lines between them, and who
doubts that commerce will in a few
years be quadrupled? The bulk of it
will be ours even with the open door,
for we shall. have the advantage of
England, Germany and France in dis
lance and in freight rates. Under pres
emit conditions those rates have been
since 1877 from Manila to the United
States a little less on the average than
one-half those from Manila to Eng
land, and 10 per cent less from our
country to Manila than from England.
The islands are marvelously rich and
productive, 2 nd yet not more than one
quarter of the tillable land is under
cultivation
After mentioning the possibilities of
the domestic trade of the islands, he
said:
But the value to US of the domestic
trade of these possessions is insignifi-
cant compared to that regarded from
commercial-strat point of view
They front the entire China Sea, are
only two days sail from Hongkong;
they introduce us to the Orient with
it's 100, 0G0, 900 or S00,000,CO0 of people,
with imports now exceeding 81 10000
eco annually. which advancing civiliza-
ton viii double in a few years. They
give us for the first time a tremendous
moral force, most potent voice for
the preservation of the open door in
China. Who can estimate the value in
the future Of such a commanding posi-
ton to our foreign commerce.?
Are We to fold our hands and allow
this harvest to be gathered by our
rivals? We have treaties with China,
guaranteeing to us commercial rights
and privileges equal to those of the
most favored nation. Are we to sit
silently by and see our treaty rights in
vaded and the doors closed against us?
The nations of the earth are to-day
near neighbors. They all heard the
thunder Of Dewey's guns, and recognize
this Republic, for the first time, as one
of the great Powers of the world Are
we alone, of all these, to ignore this
stupendous fact?
What shall we do with the Philip
pine Islands? Restore them to Spain?
Not one even of Mr.. Carnegie's Reform
Leaguers, by whom, according to the
press, the name of President Mckinley
was Kissed and that of Aguinaldo
cheered at a recent meeting in Boston,
proposed this. Shall we forthwith sur
render the sovereignty to a native Gov
eminent? There is not an intelligent
man in the world who has familiarized
himself with the conditions; there is
not an officer of the United States with
experience, from Admiral Dewey down:
there is not an investigator of the ISL
ands and their peoples; there is not a
writer who instructs US from personal
observation. who does not declare their
unfitness for Government. There was
not a witness before our Paris Com
mission who did not unhesitatingly as
sert it.
What shall we do with the Philip
pines? In my Judgment, there will be
no uncertain sound in the answer of
our people They have been acquired
hastily, and in their requirement we
have dealt generously with Spain We
will hold them as our own, for the good
of the peoples who inhabit them and for
the immense advantage, commercially.
they promise us. We will give them
a good Government, relief from burden
some taxation, ample security in all
their civil and religious rights. We will
build highways, construct railroads,
erect schoolhouses and churches. We
will allow them to participate in gov
eminent so far and so fast as we may
find them capable. We will give en-
ployment to labor, and good wages to
the laborer. We will arouse them to
an ambition to become good citizens,
competent 20 manage their own local
affairs and interests. We will make it
possible for them some time in the