The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-06

jority OF the American people that the
Islands shall become a permanent posses
sion, and there appear 10 be good reasons
for saving that the great mass of the Fill
ipinos prefer our rule to any other. even
20 independence. Under our flag they will
have safe and stable governments gov
eminent far freer than they have ever
known. It Is doubtful however, if the re-
tention Of the Philippines will be beneficial
TO this country from a political standpoint,
though there is no doubt that it would be
beneficial to those islands, but 1t would be
Of great benefit 10 this country from
commercial standpoint. 1t is a question
whether Congress viii adopt the Presi-
dents suggestions for the reconstruction
of the islands He favors establishing
good government in the towns first, and
then in the provinces and lastly a central
civil government. There is such hun
ger for offices that the chances are that
a central government will be established
at the earliest possible moment, and that
there will be no delay in establishing gov
ernments for cities and provinces wherever
there is a chance for an Office for an office
hungry heller.
The question Of retaining the Philippines
is closely connected with the trade of
China and the building. of the Nicaragua
canal, both Of which subjects the Presi-
dent deals with in his message. He is
guarded, of course, in what he says about
the canal, because of the chance, proba-
bly,, of a scandal in connection with that
undertaking. II IN ha a diff
cult matter to get through Congress a
bill providing for the canal without paying
somebody a big sum of money. Still, the
President says that the reasons for con-
structing the canal are even stronger now
than they were a year ago, when he rec
commended that steps be taken looking to
its construction.
The President recommends that Hawaii
be erected into a judicial district as a step
towards a territorial form of government.
No doubt the time Is not distant when
from Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip
pines there viii be coming just such per-
sistent demands for statehood as there are
coming now from our organized terrific
ries. The men who will have official APP
pointments in these Islands viii never
cease their efforts to get themselves re-
turned as senator's and representatives.
The President touches upon a number
of other subjects of more or less import
ance. In what he says about South Africa,
and the war that IS being waged there, he
takes occasion to say that I'VE have re-
manned faithful to the precept of avoiding
entangling alliances as to the affairs not
of our direct concern" This statement
would seem to indicate that there is little
or no foundation for the assertion, based
on Mr.. Chamberlain's recent speech, that
an alliance or an understanding has been
entered into between the United States,
Germany and Great Britain. If there is
any such understanding 1t is doubtless in
connection with the open door" policy in
China. 1t is hardly likely that we should
have an alliance with Great Britain which
would require us to stand by her in diff
culties she might get into with one or
more Powers of Europe, particularly as
we have an unsettled question with her in
the Alaska boundary matter.