The evening times., 1900-01-08
HOLD THE PHILIPPINES
The Views of Senator Frye on The
Eastern Problem.
The American Possession of the Mr.
chipeIago viii Prevent the Di-ruP-
ton of China-Buy ing the Church
Property at Reasonable Price
aud building Railroads Favored.

! Senator Frye Of Maine. President pro
tempore Of the Senate. member of the
! Peace Commission. and one Of the strong
I est advocates of expansion has given this
| expression of his views.
Il have no question that We should hold
the Philippine Archipelago forever. We
should neither surrender out sovereignty
to any people in the islands nor TO any ma
tiOns outside
From a commercial point Of view / re-
gard the acquisition of the archipelago
as of the very greatest Importance TO
all Of our country The archipelago
fronts on the China Sea. Its possession
places US for the first time at the front
door Of the Orient. where we must look
hereafter for the disposal of our surplus
products. That surplus is to grow larger
and larger every year. Jndisposed of il
would be a deathblow TO prosperity. Al
ready resulting from our possession the eE-
ports of cotton goods from the United
States to China have increased 100 per cent.
Possess ion too, has illustrated another
thing It is stated-and. / presume on
good authority-that our Government has
obtained agreements with the great powers
of the world for the maintenance of the
open door in China. If Russia England,
France. and Germany two years ago had
undertaken 10 divide China and then close
the door. who dreams that our State De
partment would have had anything 10 say
in relation to il? And if it had, that any
attention would have been paid by these
powers?
The nations of the world are today
ueighbors. They touch elbows. They all
heard Admiral Dewey's guns and saw Tor
the first time this Republic take its posi-
ton as a great world power. Is it posSi-
BILE that We alone will refuse to recognize
this stupendous fact?
In nv judgment our presence in the
East will prevent the disruption OF China,
will compe! the recognition Of our rights
under our commercial treaty with that
empire; will furnish a great market for
our surplus products. and will continue
to US our present prosperity, enabling us
to employ all who desire TO work and pay
the good wages which today prevail.
What is the duty of our Government
toward the people of the island?" Mr..
Frye was asked
First he replied Il would purchase
at reasonable prices the immense tract of
land now owned by the mOnastic order
corporation and sell it in small lots TO
the inhabitants who will cultivate il. The
archipelago could well afford to incur the
indebtedness for this and in a few year,
the revenues would pay the debt. The ma
tives of the island appear to be bitterly
hostile TO these orders. This would tend
to preserve the peace in the islands and
would deal justly with the church.
Second. | would build railroads and
so that the products of the mar
velously fertile islands could find thelr /
way to the sea.
Third | would attend to the educa-
tionaI interests Of the people uf course
If is our duty to give them as good
government at the earliest time possible
as we enjoy ourselves. | would, just as
far and as fast as possible. surrender TO
hem very largely the local and municipal
governments In short, | would deal with
hem justly, mercifully and benevolent