The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-12
BACON ON THE PHILIPPINES.
hrs REASONS WHY WE SHOULD NOT
RETAIN THEM.


Independence, Which Could he
err Poyers-The Philippines Can
Never Become "a state-Thetr Re-
tention would Make necessary a
Fundamental Change in the Gov
eminent.
Washington. Jan, n,-senator Bacon
was selected by the New York Herald to
present TO it's readers the antl-expans!on
side of the pending controversy In sym
postum which has just appeared in its
columns.
Senator Frye of Maine, president of the
Senate, was selected to present the admin
istration side, and this he did in an argu-
ment setting forth the commercial advan-
tages which he sees in The permanent re-
tention of the islands. Senator Bacon
states that not all of his argument was
presented by the Herald, and that the
omission eliminated his expression on
those very points presented by Senator
Frye.
On the subject of the. promotion of
American commerce in China as a result
of the retention of the Philippines, he
said:
The only plausible argument in favor
of the permanent retention of the Philip
pine Islands is that it would give an OPP
portuuity for the expansion OF our com
merce in China. Whatever force there
was in this argument has been entirely
destroyed by the argument of the Euro
haf ba sha all
enjoy, equally with themselves unrestrict-
ed opportunity for commerce in all of
China. In the absence of this argument,
l do not think the possession of the Phil
ippine Islands would secure an open door
in China; 1t is unnecessary, however, to
go into this argument, as We have the
open door without it. j am most earnest
~ in favor of expanding our commerce
in every legitimate way, but it is not nee
essary in order to accomplish this to aban-
don and destroy the most cherished prin-
cipes of our government, to subject our
selves 10 danger of wasting wars. and to
incur a national expenditure which will
add at least so per cent. to the annual
expenditures of the government, every dol
lar of which must be paid out of the pock
cts of the people.
Il have limited my reply to the Herald's
inquiry to some of the more prominent
reasons LOT my OppUSillOIl 70 permanent
annexation so far as they affect injuriously
the United States and the people thereof.
AS to the present action of the govern
ment relative to the Philippine Islands,
my suggestion would be this: Having ac-
cepted the cession of the islands from
Spain, and having by military force prac-
tically overthrown all organized civil and
military authority in the Islands ii is The
duty of the United States to restore peace
and maintain order until ARRANGEMENTS are
made for the future government OF the
same. The Fiipinos should be treated in
the same manner that we pledge ourselves
to treat the Cubans
should lie Independent.
II would not have the United States
take any action which might justly he
declared failure 20 perform its fun duty,
l think that full duty will be performed
by assisting the Philippines TO form a gov
eminent for themselves, just as we pro-
pose to do in the case of Cuba When
this has been done, / do not doubt it will
be entirely practicable to enter into trea-
ties with the leading European nations,
which will guarantee the future independ-
ence of the islands, and give us all the adj
Vantages of commerce therein, which We
now and will hereafter enjoy In commerce
with China. OF course, in any settlement
which is made account must be taken
of money expended by us and of our reten-
ton of proper harbors and coaing stations
in the islands. This, in my opinion, pre-
seuts a plan with the maximum of bene-
fits and the minimum of burden, RESPONSE
bility and danger.
The portion of the Senator's interview
which appeared In conjunction with that
of Senator Frye was as follows
II understand the question to relate to
the particular expansion which will result
if the Philippine Islands are permanently
annexed to the United States. / am not
opposed to the expansion which viii, un-
der proper conditions secure the annexa-
ton of territory contiguous 10 the United
States whose people can be assimilatej
to our own, and which can in the future
be properly admitted as a state into the
Union.
1.-The important fact to be borne in mind
in considering this question Is that the
Philippine Islands are 1900 miles away,
thickly populated with an Asiatic race
having absolutely nothing in common with
the American people, and many of them
with customs and Institutions abhorrent
- our civilization 1t is improbable that
4hese people should ever be assimilated TO
the American people. 1t is equally i'm
probable that they should ever be dis
placed by Americans or Europeans The
islands win for all time be substantially
peopled by Asiatics only.
"In dealing with the question OF perma-
nent annexation, therefore 1t may be ac-
copied as an unchanging condition that
these islands thus remotely situated are
for all time 10 be inhabited by this ute:
alien and foreign race, which can never
be Americanized.
Can Never BE state.
"a necessary consequence Of this dis
lance in locality and utter incongruity OF
race is that the country can never be adj
mitted as a state into our present system,
and the people can never be admitted into
a Joint participation with Americans in the
making of laws for the general govern
ment by which Americans as well as them
selves are to be governed.
Tine permanent retention of these ISL
ands under these circumstances Will be "a
new departure and fundamental change,
to that extent, in our system of govern
ment All the area of the United States
is now either represented by states Al
ready admitted into the Union or by ter
ritory out of which states viii undoubted-
ly In the future be carved 1t results
from this that in all this area the peo'
nile either now splf-goVerning Will