The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-03-16
WHEELER ON PHILIPPINES.
Little General Believes Territorial
Government the Thing.

San Francisco, March S.-Gen. Joseph
Wheeler favors giving the Philippines a
territorial form OF government. Said
he:
Il believe the people are ready for
certain kind of self-government. 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
a territorial form the islands could be
best controlled -
tie reviews his impressions of trade
possibilities in the orient as follows:
"England, Russia, Germany and
France have brayed war and pestilence
in efforts TO secure a share of the wealth
winch viii come to them by commercial
relations with these peoples. The treaty
OF peace cast upon Us the responsibility
OF sovereignty over from nine to eleven
million people, together with the islands
which they inhabit, containing an area
three times that of our great and pros
porous Empire state.
Very naturally there may be honest
difference OF opinion as to whether every
thing has been conducted, during the
two years, in accordance with the high
est wisdom and best possible Judgment,
but there should be no question among
the American people as to the duty and
wisdom OF now uniting in a determined
effort to take the situation as it stands
and to SO conduct the affairs OF our
country as to add the most to its glory,
honor, welfare and prosperity. 1t is
friendly struggle for commercial su-
premacy, in which our rival nations are
using their best efforts, and | 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
Nicaragua canal will bring our gull
ports nearer to them than those of the
Atlantic and Europe.
with Manila as great depot steam
ers from that emporium could reach the
commercial ports of Eastern Asia as
readily as it can be done by English
steamers from HOngkOng.
1--WE must consider that about one
third the population of the earth is con-
centrated in the eastern half Of Asia, and
that these vast multitudes are rapidly
learning to appreciate the advantages,
and, | might add, the necessity of high
civilization, and they are also learning
to realize the comfort which is enjoyed
by the people of the most civilized ma
tlOns IN the possession and use of the
products, manufactures and mechanical
Developments which are there found.
Europe and America must purchase
the silks, teas, coffee, hemp, spices, the
products of the handiwOrk Of the people
OF the orient, and this immense pOpula-
ton needs articles which American 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 cot
ton mills, is needed by the people of the
east to the enormous value of four to
five 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 ac-
quired possessions in Asia which con-
tain 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 contain a population of near
ly 300,00O,000. Russia has already, in
Asia, territory exceeding an area of
100000 square miles, and containing
over 10000, 900 people.
"Port Arthur, the great commercial
and war port, is firmly in her grasp.
This gives Russia a power over Korea
which will add much to her strength.
The completion of the trans-siberian rail-
way and its branches, the opening of
the Nicaragua canal and the annexation
of the Pacific islands to the United States
will more thoroughly revolutiOnize the
commercial relations of the world than
has ever been done by all other Influences
combined during the last three centuries.
sit seems to me that there is but little
limit to the 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 unprecedented
prosperity"