The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-30


ipnos. Neither have there been any
steps taken since to definitely learn
whether or not the people Of Puerto
Rico are satisfied with the change OF
sovereignty. or whether they would be
better pleased II given permission to
establish an independent government of
their own. Yet from Mr.. Bryan down.
not single voice has been raised on
the Democratic side against the reten-
ton of Puerto Rico. Not an argument
can be based against retention of the
Philippines which does not apply with
much greater force against retention
OF Puerto Rico.
The truth OF the matter simply is
that the original sentiment against
retention Of the Philippines had its orr
gin in the New England states. There
was no immediate benefit TO New En-
gland clearly and unmistakably dis
cernfble In the expansion OF trade on
the Pacific. while It was easily to be
seen that such trade expansion would
infinitely benefit the states on the Pa
cific coast, would wonderfully increase
their growth, add to their commercial
Importance, and expand enormously
their population. To this extent the
relative Importance Of the New England
states, politically. would suffer. The
thought that on the Pacific coast are
states which. when the commerce Of the
Pacific reaches its limit of expansion,
WIN have a population larger than all
OF the New England states. Is infinitely
distasteful to the average New En-
giander. This Is not alone from state
pride, but because that little section has
a profound distrust Of the West and of
Western ideas, and fears the coming OF
the day when Western ideas will pre-
dominate In the general policies OF the
government
On the other hand. Puerto Rico lay
right at their door. The trade of Puerto
Rico would naturally go in part to New
England; and expansion in this particu
lar direction had a business aspect of
Importance sufficient TO offset any SEN
timental opposition which otherwise
might have existed.
That the foregoing is a fair presenta-
ton OF the actuating impulse for the
first so-called anti-imperialistic senti-
ment. Is shown by the fact that the
same men who acquissced in the acqui-
sition Of Puerto Rico. while denouncing
that OF the Philippines. were equally
ardent in denouncing and in every way
opposing the annexation of Hawaii. Yet
in Hawaii there was no armed insur-
rection, and no strong party in the field
holding out for independence, and the
existing government there ardently de-
sired annexation. n
Had the proposal TO acquire Puerto
Rico met with the same opposition in
this country that did the proposal to
acquire the Philippines. II is within easy
probability that precisely such an In
the former island as in the latter There
ls no question that hundreds OF ambi-
tlous young Puerto Rieans could bs
found who would be anxious to try the
experiment OF setting up little repub-
lie of their own, In which they would
be the dominant faction, and In which
the rest of the people would be under
their government. With such encour-
agement from the Democratic party In
this country. and the New England an
tfimperiallsts. as was given Aguinaldo
and his followers. an insurrection could
have been started as readily In the one
island as in the other. and the parallel
would have been exactly complete But
there was no opposition TO the retention
of Puerto Rico. and no reasonable traf-
fic with the disaffected in the island.
Had the Democrats and anti-imperiai-
lists pursued the same policy towards
the Philippines. there would have been
no insurrection there. no blocdshed; a
government similar to that OF Puerto
Rico would have gone peacefully into
effect. TO the satisfaction Of the natives:
and many an American wife and
mother would have been saved from
tears and mourning over loved ones
slain in the swamps of the Philippines.
Democratic orators are saying that
the present prosperity Is largely hctl-
tious, but there are many evidences at
hand to prove tina, II Is the real thing.
A striking example Of the Industrial
activity which the country is now en-
joying appears In the operations 81 a
company OF locomotive builders In Phil
adelphia. In 1897 this firm had s.eo0
employees on its pay rolls. many Of