The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-06
A GOVERNMENT FOR HAWAII.

1t is probable that the bill reported to
the Senate by the Foreign Relations Com
mittee providing territorial form of gov
ernment for Hawaii will be the subject
of long and Interesting debate, not be-
cause il is considered a matter of i'm
portance whether Hawaii is given a ter
ritorial government or not, but because
whatever is done in respect to Hawaii will
become a precedent for dealing with Por-
to Rico and the Philippines. If Hawaii is
given a territorial government with a dele
gate in Congress. 1t is difficult to see how
ii will be possible to avoid giving the Phil
ppines a government of the same kind,
if ii should be decided to retain permanent
possession of them. 1t is not yet known,
of course, what the intention of Congress
is in respect to the Philippines but judg
ing from the resolution Introduced into
the Senate on Thursday by Senator Bev-
eridge of Indiana, it is the policy of the
Republican leaders to retain permanent
possession of them. The substance Of the
resolution is that it is the intention of the
United States to hold the islands as their
territory and to give them such govern
ment as the situation demands.
When the question of taking the islands
from Spain first came into promi-
nence many held the opinion that
possession of them would be a source
OF great and endless trouble, and
1t is beginning to look as if such
would prove to be the case. If we
make them part of our territory their
people will become citizens of the United
States, and this country will be overrun
with Chinese now residing in the islands.
If we undertake to govern them as colo
MES, it viii not be long before there will
be about as much corruption among our
colonial officials as there was among those
of Spain.
And how long would 1t be before ambi
tious politicians in the Philippines would
be scheming TO have the Islands divided
up into territories, having territorial gov
ernments, with the view of making them
states in the Union? From a commercial
point of view, the islands are very desira-
bic TO us, but from any other standpoint
they are very undesirable.
1t may be that Senator Beveridge will
be able to show that the Philippines are
a rich acquisition, and that they present
no problems which we cannot quickly and
satisfactorily solve. He spent several
months on the islands last year, studying
the situation, and the conclusions he reach
ed will be fresh, because he refused TO
give out any of his impressions on his
return. He said frankly that he was keep
ing his Information and his opinions for
a speech in the Senate. 1t is doubtful,
however, if he has anything to say in re-
gard to the islands that has not been said
already in one shape or another.
And not the least troublesome question
that presents itself in connection with
making Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines parts of our territory is that which
relates to the tariff. There is strong OPP
position, even in the Republican party,
to permitting the products of these islands
to come into our markets free of duty In
the production of sugar, tobacco, early Veg
etables and fruits, this country cannot
compete with the islands. Congress will
soon find itself in the midst of difficulties
in connection with our new possessions.