The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-03-09
TO RULE THE
PHILIPPINES
Joe Wheeler Says Islands Should
Be Same as Territories.
CAN GOVERN THEMSELVES
He Gives Good Reasons Why Oriental
Possessions Should Prove Good
Business Propositions.

SAN FRANCISCO, March s.-Gener-
al Joseph Wheeler fayors giving the
Philippines a territorial form OF gov
ernment. Said he:
Il believe the people are ready for a
certain kind Of self-goyernment 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.
Under n 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 pestilence
in efforts to secure a share OF the
wealth which will come TO them by
commercial relations with these people.
The treaty Of peace east upon us the
responsibility Of sovereignty over from
nine 10 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 two years In accordance with the
highest wisdom and best possible
judgment, but there should be no
question among the American people
as TO the duty and wisdom of now un-
iting in a determined effort to take
the situation as it stands and 20 SO
conduct the affairs OF our country as
to add the most to its glory. honor.
welfare and prosperity. 1t is friend
ly struggle for commercial supremacy
in which our rival nations are using
their best efforts. and l say. let us in
friendly but determined spirit use
our best efforts also.
Our Pacific cities are now face to
face with the eastern shores Of Asia.
The Nicaraguan canal will bring our
gulf ports nearer to them than those
Of the Atlantic and Europe.
With Manila as a great depot,
steamers froia that emporium could
reach the commercial ports of Eastern
Asia as readily as It can be done by
English steamers from Hong Kong.
We must consider that about one
third the population of the earth is
concentrated in the eastern half Of
Asia and that these vast lultitudes
are rapidly learning to appreciate the
advantages, and, / might ndd, the ne
cessity Of high civilization and they
are also learning to realize the COM
fort which is enjoyed by the people of
the most civilized nations in the pos
session and use of the products, man
ufactures and mechanical develop
ments which are there found.
Europe and America must purchase
the silks. teas, coffee, hemp, spices and
products of the Aandiwork of the peo-
pie of the Orient. and this immense
population needs articles which Ameri-
can farms and factories are producing
cheaper and better than those which
are produced anywhere else on earth.
Cotton cloth, such as is manufactured
in Southern cotton mills, is needed by
the people of the East to the enor-
nous value of four to five thousand
million dollars.
England, with her navy, has ap-
preached China by the sea and has es-
tablished firm footholds at favorable
locations on the coast. France has
acquired possessions in Asia which
contain population four times as
great, and an area nearly ten times as
large as that of our Empire state.
England's dominions and dependencies
in Asia now extend over an area of
100000 square miles and contains a
population of nearly SOO,0OO,OOO. Rus
sia has already in Asia territory ex-
ceediug in area 100000 square miles
and containing over 19,0OO,OOO people.
Port Arthur, the great commercial
and war port, is firmly in her grasp.
This gives Russia a power over Corea
which will add much to her strength.
The completion of the trans-Siberian
railway and its branches, the opening
of the Nicaraguan canal and the an
nexation of the Pacific islands to the
revolutionize the commercial relations
of the world than has ever been done
b. all other influences combined dur
ing the last three centuries.
1T seems to me that there is but lit
tie 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 era of unprece-
dented prosperity"