The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-01
RACoN ON EXPANSION.


Senator Bacon delivered in the Senate on
Tuesday, in support of his Philippine res
olution, which will be the subjects of
great deal Of comment. The first is that
the Philippines cannot become such per-
mauent possession of this country as will
permit of the extension of our political
system and our political institutions to
them. The other is that the effect the
Philippines as a permanent possession
would have on American institutions is
matter of much greater concern to the
American people than the right of the Fill
ipinos to their independence.
In regard to the first point, Mr.. Bacon
pointed out that in all previous acquisi
lions the territory was so situated that it
was an easy matter to establish within it
our laws and institutions, and finally to
make one or more states out of il in all
respects like other states of the Union.
That can hardly be done with the Philip
pines. They are more thickly populated
than this country, and they are peopled
by races that cannot be assimila ted. AT
the end of century perhaps half doz-
en- centuries, they would be as foreign to
this country, in all essential particulars.
as they are now. If they should be held
as permanent possession, therefore, it
would be necessary TO govern them as col
onies That would mean a change in the
character of our government. The change
would be in the direction of Imperialism.
Millions of people would be compelled to
yield obedience to a government in which
they had no voice. There would be no
ballot box in the Philippines. The people
would not choose those who made and
administered the laws and levied and col
lected taxes for them.
Naturally our institutions would grad
ualy undergo a change to meet the new
conditions thrust upon the government. In
the first place a large standing army
would be required TO maintain our author
ity in the islands. 1t is hardly probable
that the Fillpinos would at once become
such admirers of our political system and
institutions that they would yield ready
obedience to our authority. An army Of
1000 or 10000 men would have to be kept
on the islands for many years That
would be a long step in the direction OF
militarism With a great increase in the
army and hundreds of civil officials who
would be exposed to the temptation of en-
riching themselves at the expense of the
government, and with the necessity for
laws to meet a condition of affairs not
in harmony with laws under our institu
tons, who is there who can say that the
permanent possession of the Philippines
would not draw this country in the di-
fection of imperialism and militarlsm?
Relative to the other point of Mr.. Ba-
cons speech, it will be admitted that it
is the duty of the American people to look
out for their own interests before consid-
ering those of the Filipinos. 1t may be
true, that as a republic we cannot con-
sistently deprive the Filipinos of indie
pendeuce, provided our own interests do
not require us to do so, but the way Mr.
Bacon puts it is whether by depriving
them of independence we should not be
doing ourselves more injury than them.
The conclusion at which he arrives is that
we would.
The question of the commerce of the Far
East is of course a very important one
1t is. a question that is receiving a great
deal of attention. Mr.. Bacon dismisses it
with the statement that as the Powers of
Europe have assured us of the open door,
| policy in respect to the trade of China,
this matter of trade has ceased to be an
| important factor in the question as to
| whether or not this country shall hold the
| Philippines as a permanent possession.
This part of MIR. Bacons argument in
support Of his resolution is not wholly sat
| isfactory, for the reason that it does not
appear that the open door concession
| would have been made if we had not held
the Philippines, or that it will be a per
manent concession if we abandon the
advantage the possession of the islands
| gives us.
In all other respects the position taken
| by Mr. Bacon is particularly strong
one The chief reason why ii is proposed
TO hold the islands is that they will en-
able us to command fair share of the
trade of the Far East. trade which, it
is generally believed, is destined to reach
|