The times., 1899-03-12
Philippine Resources.

S.
| will suppress the insurgents in the Philip
pines in short time. All the predictions
of a prolonged guerrilla warfare may be
dismissed as absurd. We can safely fore
cast the immediate future of the islands
The natives who are under arms will give
| themselves up, their leaders will escape
and American sovereignty will be vel
coined. We shall hear nothing more about
independence, save from Democratic poll
| ticians in this country. For a time it will
be expedient to keep considerable mill
! tary force OF Americans in the Island of
Luzon and later 4 small number of regu-
lars and a larger army of FilipinOs with
American officers, all under American gen.
erals
Then will come the appointment of resi-
dents to civil Offices, under the supervision
of American governors. There will be a
/ Commission to suggest legislative and ad-
ministrative action, and there will be an
inrush of capital and enterprise from this
and other countries to develop the re-
sources OF the islands. of which there is
only a general and inadequate idea among
our people.
Mr.. Andre. the Belgian Consul at Manila
is the forerunner of many promoters who
will aid in the direction of investments in
the Philippines. He has spent years at
that post and mas made himself as familiar
with the possibilities of the archipelago as
an ambitious and energetic man could He
is now in New York for the purpose OF
organizing a stock company with a capital
of ten millions for investment in the most
promising fields. Americans will soon dis
cover that the cyclopedia from which former
Senator Edmunds drew his misinformatIon
regarding the resources of the Islands is
sadly defective. Mr. Andre displays speci-
mems OF rubber coffee rice, sugar, tobac-
co, hemp and pima jusa "a kind of native
cloth made OF pineapple fibre and hemp,
coal, iron, copper. gold. and other miner
ais. all of which can be produced or mined
in the Philippines with enormous profit
His first aim is to promote the construc-
tion of railway system of about fifteen
hundred miles. which can be run proftably
Certain parts of the islands he regards as
veritsble Klondikes.
No people in modern times have had
such an opportunity to extend the benefits
and influence of political and social insti-
tutions as America is offered 1t is the
testimony Of all recent observers that the
population of the Philippines has been
greatly exaggerated in all official state
ments. and that the territory is capable of
providing generously for many times the
present number. In few generations we
may reasonably look for marvellous
change in the character of the inhabitants
and an enormous addition to our national
wealth. In many ways they are virgin
islands, the repressive policy of Spain pro-
hibiting their development We shall have
there twenty millions of people, living un-
der the republican institutions of America,
speaking our language and loyal 10 our flag.
They will buy American products and send
their own to our markets. The possession
OF this archipelago will confer on US the
right TO exercise an influence over the des-
tiny of Asia.
The first and most serious danger against
which We have to guard is the appointment
of mere politicians to colonial offices. The
temptations 10 corruption are many and
precedent is all in favor Of pIunder Eng
land at least in recent years. has assigned
to her colonial service only statesmen of
superiative integrity and tried efficiency
The duty OF following her example is i'm
posed on this country not only by a re-
gard for the reputation of republican in
sttutions, but also by the conditions un>
der which the Philippines came into our
hands II we are faithful Tho rewards nj
virtue will be enormous