The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-01-16
TaE EXTENSION OF OUR COM
MERCE.

81 - 49, eANA6~No
policy in the Philippines was the extern
sion of our commerce in the East
Whilst it is my purpose at this time tt
discuss the question il its economical
aspects mainly yet I cannCS refrain
from saying tnas cur treatment Of the
Fllipinos 10 Without any IsE,hcation
Whatever, from q moral poInt Of view.
IL Ia contrary to the fundamental prin
| cipies OF our government, to say moth
ing of the pFecpts of the religion which
we as q people profess to reverv nee
We claim the right to govern our
selves as we see at and would resist TO
the utmost any interference VIII this
right from without, and yet We are de-
nying this right to others and killing
them because they resist. And VINO
are we that we should claim the right
TO regulate others9 We claim TO be a
Christian people, and yet u govern
ment is full of corruption from the
Gil chambers of our cities. Even our
temples OF justice are not entirely free
from deflement We claim Gu bs q free
people, aud yet we slow corporations
to tyrann'ze u own people and PUN
der them at will.
The blood of the thon9ands who are
being killed in defence of their lnslien
able right to govern themselves will be
on the haads of those who ipauguratsd
and are peIpetuating this unrlghEeous
var. 1t has already cost US in treas
ure, aside from the blood that is being
split, more than any trade we will
likely secure by means of it will be
worth and the end is not yet. Il is
impossible to estimate what it will yet
r. quire 20 complete the subjlgation Of
toe people and maintain our suprem
acy over them but it is quite cure to
cost a great deal more blood and
treasure.
When ell this is accomplished, it
will quite likely furnish a foe field for
the exDloiters to open up mines and
build railroads, and thus add to the
wealth OF hose who already have
than enough, but it will not open up
suca q large market for our manufac,
cured goods as mauy ina IDe, Dor the
market develop as rapidly as come
think. The wants Of Extern people
living in tropical climates are email at
b sc. E gland has been trying for
more than two centuries TO develop
che imports OF India. They were eoouE
40 cents per capita at the outset and
sney have grown to the munldceDt
figure o. 70 cents per capita.
BIT the principle object In the minds
f many IN securing a footing IN the
Philippines is TO use them az a base
from which 10 work for the * tension
II our trade in China. PutJInx aside
the possible danger CT cmAro,llng our
selves IN Implications lar more seri
Ous than those thai now bese5 u IN
che POiI'ppiaes, les US carefully ives
Cigate the real value OF ChIe truce and
compare il with trade thai can far
more easily be developed am pg our
n-lGhborIDg nations in Sou b Ans rIca.
II we do this, / am quite sure we will
fl I'd that the old adage Far eff fields
look green" will hold good IN this case.
Onina ia several thou and miles
away. This greatly increases the cost
OF transportation and makes commuui.
cation clio yer and adds TO its cost,
especially when quickne5s IL necessary.
South America Is lear Oy, lesssning
coss of transportation and greatly
facilitating communication.
The wants of the Chm se are few
and simple. They are accustomed to
low plane without any high a. plra
tIons or ideals TDey are 10 ensely
pre- julICed against buying any hing Of
-uCstde MANUFACTURE. 1 necessity
comOels its use they generally make it
rather Than buy it. Careful observers
of them In California, where they have
lived IN numbers for half a century,
say this trait remains f12 ed in them
under the environment Of our
civilization. How, then, will il be pos.
siOle to make any material Grange in
them In their own country9
Another difficulty is the fact that
in the same temperate zone With
ourselves, with similar CLIMATE and
SOL their products are in the main
and can readily be made more
80 should occasion require.
With a population Of about 400 900,
600 they import less than $3.50 900 900
of gooos, or about 40 per c,prta.
On the contrary, the larger portion
OF the population of South America
are similar o ourselves In customs and
habILs and ara hmUino IN Enrnna nI