The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-26

sidered from the standpoint Of COM
mercial gain. the fact is that every
male citizen in the United States. not
power to vote q lawniaker. and wheth-
er he will preserve existing institutions
or oyerturn them is q matter of his
own Will, and those who would over
turn settled policies must be met at the
threshold Of such a controversy on
their own ground.
If this government is TO remain
republic. the people will be responsible
for it: if it is TO he converted into an
empire. the people will be responsible
for that, and this being so, it is the
! part of wisdom to talk about the things
| some Of the people are thinking about.
It is safe to say that if the commerce
| With the Philippine Islands was the
| limit Of the possibilities for commercial
expansion in the east the question OF
their permanent retention would nave
been settled long ago against such
policy. The average annual aggregate
of the imports and exports OF the IS
lands for period Of ten years, ending
with the year 1898. is $50. 100000. II
| every dollar of this commerce was with
the United States and every dollar OF
it was profit, it would not pay the ex-
penses of a civil and orderly govern
ment in the islands"
Here Mr.. Howard inserts some tables
of figures showing exactly the imports
of the Philippines from all the coun-
tries of the world as we'll as the ex-
ports of the archipelago to these same
countries, perfectly substantiating the
facts rs stated by him in his opening
paragraphs.
Facts TO Consider.
If this is wise for US, Just to our Ia
boring element. a contrary policy IS ull-
wise and unjust to the people of these
islands, and in its last analysis the
competition is that of the cody con-
tract labor with the free labor OF the
States in tie production Of sugar and
tobacco. 1t is no reply to say that the
island tobacco, being better than ours,
does not really'compete with 1t. Ihelr
best tobacco is better than ours and
hence does not compete, but they now
raise and viii raise still more OF
grade of tobacco which is not better
than ours that will compete with US
..Nor will it do to say that the cane
and beet sugar industry OF the states
Yields so small 4 per cent Of the total
consumed that our industries Will not
be affected The price OF our sugar IS
fixed by the price OF theirs. Besides.
the beet sugar industry in the United
States promises in the future to supply
our home market. Germany and
France not only supply their home
market, but export largely Of beet sug-
ar. The fact is that beet sugar sup
plies two-thirds of the sugar consumed
in the world, and the adaptability OF
sections of the west and the south to
it's production promises some rellsf
from the Improbable production of
cotton and wheat.
Cotton was formerly grown in the
Philippines and may be grown there
again, and. while you add this industry
to those existing in the islands. you III
crease the production of q staple the
price Of which. when normal crop is
made in the United States. is below the
cost Of production, bringing distress
and want to many Of the people now
dependent upon that branch of agricul-
ture.'
After 20 pages of close reasoning Mr..
Howard sums up the situation in
most interesting fashion. 1t is we'll
written. it is good reading. and it makes
the eastern situation SO plain that even
"a wayfaring man. though 4 fool. can
not err therein Here it is:
A Look INTO the FutErc.
IF the powers in China act in con-
cert in e1cludins all commerce except
their own, the question is fairly pre-
sented whether we arc sufficiently pow
erful to overcome thci: resistance by
owning the Philippines. take 1t that
in our generation no American govern
ment would inaugurate & war IN
large sense offensive against England,
Germany, Russia and France. The
question Will not admit Of argument.
In that contingency we would discover
honor and prosperity i'll peace
Let me now assume that the greater
probability Is from the relation be-
tween these powers that they may
quarrel among themselves. and if we
we're in possession OF the Philippines
we should have an opportunity to be
drawn Into the quarrel on more favor
able terms than those just supposed.
and with the fortunes Of war more
evenly balanced we could better afford
its risks. and il this more hopeful view
,1c keep the Philippine Islands. We
will fortify and garrison tie best har-
borS. build drydocks. equip coaiing sta
tons. build repair shops and keep a
feet of warskips about our Asiatic sta
ton.
American money is invested in Chi
ma: American citizens have large inter