The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-08
JOE WHEELER'S VIEWS.
favOrS a Territorial Form of
Government In the Phil
ippineS.

San Francisco, March 8.-Genera1 Jo-
seph Wheeler favors giving the Philip
pines a territorial form of government.
Said he:
Il believe the people are ready for a
certain kind of self government. They
could be given the power to make laws
under such a system of government as
has been adopted for our territories.
The municipal governments are all in
the hands of the natives, and they get
along without trouble or friction. I'm
der territorial form the islands could
be best controlled"
He reviews his impressions of trade
possibilities in the Orient as follows:
England, Russia, Germany and
France have braved war and pesti-
lence in efforts to secure a share of the
wealth which will come to them by COM
mercial relations with these peoples.
The treaty of peace cast upon US the
responsibility of sovereignty over from
nine to eleven million people, together
with the islands which they inhabit,
containing an area three times that of
our great and prosperous Empire state.
Very naturally there may be honest
difference of opinions as to whether
everything has been conducted during
the past two years in accordance with
the highest wisdom and best possible
judgment but there should be no ques-
ton among the American people as to
the duty and wisdom of now uniting in
a determined effort to take the situation
as it stands, to so conduct the affairs
OF our country as to add the most to
its glory, honor, welfare and prosper
ity. 1t is a friendly struggle for COM
merciaI supremacy, in which our rival
nations are using their best efforts; and
I say, let US in a friendly but determined
spirit use our best efforts also.
Our Pacific cities are now face to
face with the eastern shore of Asia.
The Nicaragua canal will bring our
gulf ports nearer to them than those of
the Atlantic and Europe.
with Manila as a great depot steam
ers from that emporium could reach
the commercial ports of eastern Asia
as readily as it can be done by English
steamers from Hong Kong.
I'VE must consider that about one
third the population of the earth is
concentrated in the eastern half of
Asia and that these vast multitudes are
rapidly learning to appreciate the ad-
vantageS, and I might add, the neces-
sity of high civilization, and they are
also learning to realize the comfort
which is enjoyed by the people of the
most civilized nations, in the possess
sion and use of the products, manu-
features and mechanical developments
which are there found.
Europe and America must pur-
chase the silks, teas, coffee, hemp,
spices and products of the handiWork
of the work of the Orient, and this i'm
IDeUS6 pOpuldllOn ueSQS dEI1cieS winch
American farms and factories are pro-
ducing cheaper and better than those
which are produced anywhere else on
earth. Cotton cloth such as is manu-
featured in southern cotton mills, is
needed by the people of the east to the
enormous value of four to five thousand
million dollars.
England with her navy has APP
preached China by the sea and has
established firm footholds at favorable
locations on the coast. France has
acquired possessions in Asia which
contain a population four times as
great, and an area nearly ten times as
large, as that of our Empire state.
in Asia now extend over an area of
100000 square miles and contain a
population of nearly 300. 600, 000 Russia
already has in Asia territory exceeding
in area 100000 square miles, and con-
tanning over $4,000 900 people
Port Arthur, the great commercial
and war port, is firmly in her grasp
This gives Russia a power over Korea
which will add much to her strength.
The completion of the TranSSiberian
railway and it's branches, the opening
nexation of the Pacific islands to the
United States will more thoroughly rev.
olutionize the commercial relations of
the world than has ever been done by
all other influences combined during the
last three centuries.
1T seems to me that there is but lit
tie limit to the possibilities which are
before US, and we are certainly justified
in the belief and hope that the United
States is on the edge of an area of I'M
precedented prosperity"