The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-04
HOUSTON. FRIDAY. MAY 4, 1900.
TEN PAGES TODAY
THE rHILrprINn SITUATION.

AS the facts of the Philippine situation
float one by one 10 the surface the extent
OF the deception practiced upon the coun-
try by the administration at Washing
ton and its man Friday, General Otis, be-
comes more and more apparent.
Months ago the proclamation was flung
TO the public that the rebellion in the Phil
ipplues was completely crushed and that
a state of tranquility existed. How empty
of truth that proclamation was has been
tragically set forth in the extraordinary
activity OF the insurgents and the blood
that has been spilled in battle since that
announcement. The Philippine war is not
only not over. but the situation is at this
hour more unsatisfactory than at any mo-
mens since the inception OF hostiites.
Aguinaldo is hiding in the mountains OF
Northern Luzon, melting his coun+rymen
to renewed resistance and daily engaged
in the Reorganization OF his scattered
forces. Meanwhile, American Jurisdiction
in the Philippines scarcely extends beyond
rife range of Manila, which nearly two
can arms.
But II tho situation from a military
standpoint is undesirable, what can be
said about II from commercial stand
point? II there has been any disposition to
tolerate the dangerous experiment Of
colonlalism and its concomitant. militar-
ism. on the part OF the people, it has been
because the people were led to believe
that such a policy would extend our COM
mercial operations by opening wider and
more profitable markets to our surplus
outputs Of farm and factory Now that
this compensation for the abandonment
of constitutional principles has not fol-
lowed, the militarists and imperlalists are
without defense.
A Hong Kong correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Mail. familiar with the CONNER
cisl situation In the Philippines. brings
out the fact that commerce has been al
most wholly stopped and that the pros
poets for It's resumption under American
control are not at all reassuring Two
thirds OF he exports to and one-half
81 the imports from the islands pass
through Hong Kong and are handled by
English firms directly or as the agents OF
American houses. All the ports are open
Tor ships to come and 90 as formerly. but,
by reason OF the warlike conditions pre-
yailing throughout the Islands, no one
can leave the towns TO collect mechan-
disc from the interior. Commerce IS
therefore at standstlll for, since goods
stored at the seaports before tho war have
been exhausted, carrying ships now ride
at anchor idle and cargoless.
a state OF anarchy rules the Philippine
archipelago and a condition exists COM
parable to that of Acheen which the Dutch
have been trying to conquer for 100 years
without ever having got beyond the shore
line. Altogether 1t Is a problem of most diff,
hcult solution. The opinion of commercial
men OF all nations Is that the Philippines
win never prove profitable investment
until free trade is adopted and restriction
On Chinese admission removed. Can
these be done without unooslng evils and
dangers even greater than those that now
beset our path OF empire? AS long as
the customs tariff stands in the way
American products and manufactures viii
not enter the islands, so long as Chi
nese restriction obtains the Chinese on
the Islands will continue their extortlons
without the fear of competition. These.
however, are things for the imperialist
of today 30 tal with, when he confesses
his failure and his crime against constl-
tutional government the defenders OF the
Republic as founded by the fathers will
take them up and dispose of them in safe
y and wisdom.