Amador ledger., 1900-05-25
A DEMOCRATIC OPINION.
A Sensible View Of the Real Value Of
the Philippine Islands.

a penelOlo view OF the Real talue OF
the Philippine Islands.
Santa Barbara Press: 1.-THE Phila-
delphia Record" belonging to the rea-
sonable, rather than the hysterical class
of Democratic Journals, has taken a
sensible view Of the Philippine ques-
tiOn from the beginning. The "Record"
believes the people of the United States
capable of providing government for
the tribes of the Philippines that will
afford them every liberty and protec-
ton, and still give this country val
liable acquisition-valuable not only in
its material self, but as an opening to
the immense trade of the great con-
tinent beyond.
Commenting upon the reported dis
covery of extensive gold deposits in the
interior of Luzon, the Record" says:
Readers of any life of Nelson will
recall his interest in the Spanish vessels
which carried treasure from the Philip
pines century ago. Under the prim-
tive methods of that time gold enough
was mined to make of those islands the
richest possession in Spain. No modern
methods have ever been applied there.
1t was the deliberate policy of the Span
ish Government to keep the people of
the islands both poor and ignorant. To
enrich or educate them was regarded
as the surest means to promote their
rebellion; hence most of the great re-
sources of the Philippines remained un-
developed. Spain was satisfied to draw
some $4,000, 900 annually from them,
besides the personal gains of the Span
ish officers at Manila. Every attempt
to introduce modern appliances for min
ing or working plantations was defeated
as deliberate policy. A sugar grower
says it took him years, and cost him a
great deal of money, to get authority
to build tramway on his sugar plan
tation.
"All travellers who have reached the
interior OF the Philippines agree that
there are undeveloped resources which,
under the direction of enlightened CAPT.
talists with full liberty to employ the
best machinery, would yield immense
riches. Enough gold has been extracted
by simple means to reveal great posi-
bilities. There is also iron, copper and
coal. The timber resources, including
mahogany and teak, are vast, and can
easily be made profitable Up to the
present moment the products of the
field have been the chief resources of
revenue. It's not unreasonable to think
that under the policy of this country
the mining of gold will be carried on
with great results. The enterprises
which are certain to follow the pacifi-
cation of the islands will give ample en-
ploy ment to the natives in the primitive
occupations of agriculture, numbering,
mining and the like, and we shall have
no reason to fear the competition in
manufacturers of the Filipinos. The
idea that an indolent people reared in
tropical climate could be induced to in
wade northern and civilized country
to compete with its thrifty population
in Industrial work or that mauufactur-
ing enterprises like our own, but with
cheap labor, will spring up in southern
islands, could occur only toa statesman
in need of an argument in favor of
tariff wall between the archipelago and
the Continent. If this Government
shall adopt sensible course the Philip
pines will prove most valuable acqui-
sitiOn. -