The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-23

sion lIVOlNeu III InlS new condition
from purely commercial standpoint
of profit and loss. Whether it is desir-
able that grave questions of constitu-
tion8l government should ever be con-
sidered from the standpoint of COM
mercial gain, the fact is taat every
male citizen in the United States, not
legally disqualified, is by virtue of his
power to vote a lawmaker, and Wheth-
er he will preserve existing institutions
or overturn them is q matter OF his
own will, and those who would over
turn settled policies must be met at the
threshold of such a controversy on
their own ground.
eff this government is to remain a
republic, the people will be responsible
for it; if it is to be converted into an
empire, the people will be responsible
for that, and this being so, it is the
part of wisdom to talk about the things
some of the people are thinking about.
1t is safe to say that if the commerce
with the Philippine Islands was the
limit Of the possibilities for commercial
expansion in the east the question of
their permanent retention would have
been settled long ago against such
policy. The average annual aggregate
Of the imports and exports of the is
lands for q period of ten years, ending
with the year 1898, is 100000. If
every dollar of this commerce was with
the United States and every dollar of
it was profit, it would not pay the ex-
penses of civil and orderly govern
ment in the islands,"
Here Mr.. Howard inserts some tables
of figures showing exactly the imports
of the Philippines from all the coun
tries of the world as well as the ex-
ports of the archipelago to these same
countries, perfectly substantiating the
facts as stated by him in his opening
paragraphs.
Facts to Consider.
"If this is wise for us, just to our la
boring element. a contrary policy is un-
wise and unjust to the people of these
islands, and in it's last analysis the
competition is that of the cody con-
tract labor with the free labor of the
States in the production of sugar and
tobacco. 1t is no reply to say that the
island tobacco, being better than ours,
does not really compete with it. Their
best tobacco is better than ours and
hence does not compete, but they now
raise and will raise still more of a
grade of tobacco which is not better
than ours that will compete with us.
4 hot
and beet sugar industry of the states
yields so small a per cent of the total
consumed that our industries will not
be affected. The price of our sugar is
fixed by the price of theirs. Besides.
the beet sugar industry in the United
States promises in the future to supply
our home market. Germany and
France not only supply their home
market, but export largely of beet sug-
ar. The fact is that beet sugar sup
plies two-thirds of the sugar consumed
in the world, and the adaptability Of
sections of the west and the south to
it's production promises some relief
from the improbable production of
cotton and wheat.
Cotton was formerly grown in the
Philippines and may be grown there
again, and while you add this industry
to those existing in the islands, you in
crease the production of staple the
price of which, when a normal crop is
made in the United States, is below the
cost of production, bringing distress
and want to many of the people now
dependent upon that branch of agricul-
ture."
After 90 pages of close reasoning Mr..
Howard sums up the situation in
most interesting fashion. 1t is well
written, it is good reading, and it makes
the eastern situation SO plain that even
""aZwayfaring man, though fool, can
not err therein" Here it is:
A Look Into the Future.
''If the powers in China act in con-
cert in excluding all commerce except
their own, the question is fairly pre-
scented whether we are sufficiently pow
erful to overcome their resistance by
owning the Philippines. l take it that
in our generation no American govern
ment would inaugurate war in a
large sense offensive against England,
Germany, Russia and France. The
question will not admit of argument.
In that contingency we would discover
honor and prosperity in peace.
LET me now assume that the greater
probability is from the relation be-
tween these powers that they may
quarrel among themselves, and If we
were in possession Of the Philippines
we should have an opportunity to be
drawn into the quarrel on more favor
able terms than those just supposed.
and with the fortunes of war more
evenly balanced we could better afford
it's risks and in this more hopeful view
we keep the Philippine Islands. We
will fortify and garrison the best har-
bors, build drydocks, equip coaling sta
tons. Guild repair shops and keep a
feet of warships about our Asiatic sta
ton.
american money is invested in Chi
ma; American citizens have large inter-
eSts there. The critical moment ar
rives, the diplomatic triggers are set.
we scan the situation and make choice