The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-26

'ioho SoNeTuulcHt should ever be con-
sidered from the standpoint Of COM
mercial gain. the fact Is that every
male citizen in the United States. not
legally disqualified. is by virtue Of his
power to vote q lawmaker, and wheth-
er he Will preserve existing institutions
or overturn them is matter of his
own will. and those who would over
turn settled policies must be met at the
threshold CT such q controversy on
their own ground.
IF this government is to remain q
republic. the people will be responsible
Tor it; II 1t 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 a
policy. The average annual aggregate
OF the imports and exports of the is-
lands for O period Of ten years, ending
with the year 1893, is $33,OOO,OO0. If
every dollar Of this commerce was with
the United States and every dollar of
1t was profit. it would not pay the OK.
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 we'll as the ex-
ports of the archipelago to these same
countries, perfectly substantiating the
facts rs stated by him In his opening
paragraphs.
Facts to Consider.
IF this Is wise for us, Just to our Ia.
boring element. contrary policy is un.
wise and unjust to the people Of these
islands and in its 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.
Nor will it do to say that the cane
and beet sugar industry Of the states
yields so small c"r 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 I'm 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
piles two-thirds Of the sugar consumed
In the world. and the adaptabllity Of
sections OF the west and the south to
Its production promises some relief
from the Improbable production of
cotton and wheat.
Cotton was formerly grown in the
Philippines and may De grown there
again, and, while you add this industry
to those existing In the islands. you in
crease the production of q staple the
price OF which. when 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-
turc."
After 20 pages of close reasoning Mr..
Howard sums up the situation i'm
most interesting fashion. 1t is well
written. it Isl good reading. and it makes
the eastern situation SO plain that even
"a wayfaring 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-
sented whether we arc sufficiently DOW
erful to overcome their resistance by
owning the Philippines. 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
hoior and prosperity In peace.
Let me now assume that the greater
Is from the relation be-
tween these powers that they may
among themselves. and IL 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,
ana with the fortunes of war more
evenly balanced we could better afford
its risks. and in this more hopeful view
we keep the Philippine Islands. We
will fortify and garrison tie best har-
bors. build drydocks. equip coaling sta
tions. build repair shops and keep q
fleet OF warships about our Asiatic sta.
ton.
American money Is invested in Chi
ma. American citizens have largo inter.