Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-09-20

tueAt peEIhdueuE RETENTION W0ulQ nave
been settled long ago against such a
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 S33. 100000. If
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 well as the ex-
ports of the archipelago to these same
countries, perfectly substantiating the
facts as stated by him in his opening
paragraphs.
Facts to Consider.
"If this is wise for US, just to cur H.
boring element, a contrary policy is I'M
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 the production of sugar and
tobacco. 1t is no reply to say that the
island tobacco, being better than ours,
does not really compete with it, Their
best tobacco is better than ours and
hence does not compete, but they now
raise and will 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 a per cent Of the total
consumed that our industries win 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
its production promises some relief
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 in
crease the production of a 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. It is well
written. it is good reading, and it makes
the eastern situation so plain that even
"a wayfaring man, though a fool, can
not err therein" Here it is:
a Look Into the Future.
.Tf the powers in China act in con-
cert in excluding all commerce except
their own, the question is fairly pre-
sented whether we are sufficiently pow
erfuI to overcome their resistance by
owning the Philippines. | take it that
In orr generation no American govern
ment would inau9urata var Ia 4
large sense Offensive against England,
Germany, Russia and France. The
question VIII not admit Of argument
In that contingency ne would discover
honor and prosperity in peace.
let me now assume that the greater
probability IS from the relation be-
tween these powees that they may
quarrel among themselves, and If we
were 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 in this more hopeful view
we keep the Philippine Islands. We
will fortify aud garrison the best har-
bors, build drydoeks, equip coaling sta
tions, build repair shops and keep a
feet of warshlps about our Asiatic sta
ton.
american money is invested in Chi
ma; American citizens have large inter
ests there. The critical moment ar
riyes, the diplomatic triggers are set,
we scan the situation and make choice
of sides, with whom or in what partic-
Z
ular combination the emergency viii
determine If we win. we shall have
a port. a sphere Of influence, of our
own. The prize is a rich one. We are
eager for it, we pile coSl in Luzon as
high as the volcano Of TaaL The trig-
{ gers are sprung. War is on. Luzon is
the base Of American operations, and
whatever the combination we are in,
I whoever our allies may be, sooner or
later our base is an object of attack.
To resist successfully it must prove
stronger than the assault
we OvertplSe Our Destiny.
"Should our base be destroyed we are
at least crippled 1t may lead to de-
feat If so. we withdraw gracefully.
pay the indemnity and console our
Eelyes as hest we may and curse the
hour we took the Philippines. If we
win, a port of China is the reward.
We select a port and whatever more
may be agreed on We forfify ana
garrison the port and garrison the ter
ritory taken. The Asiatic fleet must
be enlarged, our new dependency gov
erned. We are a world power now.
We must aid in maintaining peace if
peace be profitable OF In waging more
war if war promises the greater adj
vantage. We have attained to national
manhood. We have at last overtaken
our destiny.
'eThe Philippines We're only the step
ping stone in the march Our ships
must outnumber our factories if we
would be respectable IN the company
we keep and our soldiers outnumber
our voters If we would not have trou-
bic with our republican institutions.
The taxes are burdensome. the civil
list sextravagant, the pension list the
most liberal in the world
Farmer and worker Injured.
"Our army IS larger than ever; the
white squadron Is to be seen in every
sea, our flag in every zone. What have
we accomplished for our commerce7 I
We have added Porto Rico. Cuba, the
Philippine Islands, a province or more
In China, and If it was Russia that sue
cumbed in the conflict we viii take
some of her Siberian territory, or If it
was England we shall add islands in
Australasia, or if 1t was France we
shall take some of her possessions, pref
! - II. ~