Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-16
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.

Fourth United States cavalry, on duSy
in the Philippine islands, writes a long
and very interesting letter from Ma
Mia, to the Intelligencer, in the course
of which he discusses the situation in
the far East from an unusual point and
with unusual intelligence. He grasps
the existing conditions and future
possibilities with the comprehension of
a careful student of a complex
problem, and his letter is well worth
perusal.
After reviewing the existing situa-
ton, he concludes that but two courses
remain open for the government:
THAT they (the F%ilipinos) be granted
independence in territorial statehood as
soon as order is established under
American direction, or TO amend the
Constitution and hold those islands
as American possessions, to be gov
erned as the people of the United
States may direct" He then proceeds:
The two chief objections to a colonial
| poitS DIRE THAT IL requires a large SldllU-
ing army and navy with the contingent
expense and taxation, and that tropical
colonies do not pay. This latter state
ment is easily demonstrated to be q fact
by a consultation of the records OF Great
Britain and France. With eleven million
square miles of colonies and the greatest
merchant marine in the world, the eX-
port trade OF Great Britain fell off ON
. per cent. during the five years prior to
1898, while that of the United States
materially increased without the possess
sion of a single colony. France has
colonial possessions equal 70 the United
States in area and with a population of
more than fifty millions, yether minister,
M. Peletan, states that for a trade ball
ance OF four millions and the dignity
OF ruling foreign peoples. France is an
nually eNpendlng more than fifteen mil
! lion dollars"
The case of France, cited by Mr..
Nash, is one to be thought over by
the American people. France, as Mr..
Nash says, is paying annually $15, 00O,-
600 for a trade balance of $4,000, 900.
In the Philippines, ever if peace were
restored and we held supreme COM
mand, our expenditures would annual
ly be much more than our trade bal
Il c with the islands would amount
to-. We would be in the position of
n giving two or three dollars of
good money for a ten cent piece, and
in addition would be ever confronted
by the danger of foreign complica-
tions. Outside the Philippines, all
this would be saved to US, and we
ought to have dropped that particular
hot potatoe long ago.
Mr.. Nash proceeds:
while the action Of the United States
thus far has apparently been the only
possible one, the lime he's come when the
Inherent aspects OF the question should
be more thoroughly studied by the
American voter, for it remains with him
whether we shall withdraw from our
commanding situation in the area of
eastern politics.; whether our future poll
icy shall be 'accretion' or Colonization
whether we shall stick to the Monroe
doctrine and no ~entangling alliances
( trusting to our ingenuity, business abil-
ny and undeveloped American territory
Tor future expansion or whether we
shall take our place as a great world
governing power with all the RESPONSE
pllltles and privileges contingent there
The issue is here we'll presented, and
the earnest attention of voters is in
yited to this paragraph. Shall we con-
tinue to mind our own business while
sticking to the Monroe doctrine. or
shall we take our place as a great
world governing power, with all the
responsibilities and privileges contin-
gent thereon'-and all the outlay in
blood and money, and all the risks
of war appertaining thereto? That is
the Philippine issue in a few words.
1t is the problem which the people
must study out between now and No
vember. They must either approve or
condemn the policy of William Nc
kinley and the Republican party. MI.
Nash has stated the case very fairly.
1t is now COR the people to say.