Washington sentinel., 1900-09-15

Europe on a borrowed capital OF
$4,000 o-o, coo, IS a complete answer in
the negative. We not only have no
capital to burn in the Philip mes, but
we borrowed three billions Of dollars for
our present uses, and this is but fraction
OF what we need. Many OF our railroads
are built and run by English capital.
Our exports increased from $322 ooo,.
600 in 1872 to $I,73o,ooo 600 in 1893.
None of the countries Of Europe with
their colonies" and "charter compan-
les" and spheres of influence" can
show any 81 h gratifying increase,
burdened as they are with immense
standing armies. In England. the mother
o colonies, trade IS at a standstill, and
her people are taxed to the limit OF
endurance, and in the face Of all this we
are asked to go into the colonial and
imperial business, with the military
burden Of our unsuccessful rivals. For
colonial possessions, standing armies
and heavy taxes go hand in hand
As to the claim hat the Philippines
are needed to furnish US with tropical
produ Is, It IS only NJ cessarY to call
attention to their great distance from US,
and the fact that there is sufficient area
on the American continent to meet all
our needs in that respect 1t IS 10000
miles from n " York to Manila, and
1000 from San Francisco to that city.
At present we are supplying our troops
IN the Philippines with beef and other
provisions from Australia II is but a
short distance from our own snores to
Havana, and a little more than I 600
miles to South America. A large part
OF our tropical trade is in green fruits,
which it IS not practical 10 bring from
the Pm hppInes, while there IS no limit
to our trade in them with the Wes
Indles and South American.
There are only two 2 static pro-
ductions. manila hemp and tea, that
are not already produced on our own
continent, and these can and may be
iutrodu ed here. We get the greater
part Of our sea from India which is fast
driving China out OF the tea trade
and still people talk OF our growing
commerce with China. Nearly all our
coffee comes from Central and South
Amer ca. Two hiths ofour sugar comes
from Europe and the rest from different
sources in the tropics. We have it on
good authority that all the sugar we
need can BE- grown on half OF the island
OF Porto Rico Nearly all our india
rubber comes rom South America
Trade follows degrees oflongituds not
parallels of latitude The American
countries south of us supply all that we
need, outside Of our own productions,
Let us build the Nicaragua canal, which
we can do with the cost Of 800 DAYS Of
Philippine war, aud then Natures
American lake, the Caribbean Sea, will
be situated between North and South
America Not all the blood and treasure
of the United States can ever make the
Pacific Ocean an American lake, Trad
ers Will never 90 1000 miles to develop
tropical lands, when a much larger and
more valuable area is within a few
hundred miles Of them, here at home on
their own continent.
Itis not necessary to have government
control to dcveiop our trade and
commerce. The Monroe Doctrine, and
our proximity to the countries OF ) nth
Amsrica, give US clear neld there, tt
we do not waste our energies Ia the
ignis iatuus OF Oriental exploitation,
which can be oil little interest TO either
capital or labor in this country, and
whose only effect wou d be large armies,
heavy taxes and fat Offices for politi-
, clans PATRICK O'FARRKLL.