Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-08-30

keep the faith and give Cuba freedom,
a different policy is to be applied to
the Filipinos, seven thousand miles
away. The Filipinos have also made
a like glorious fight against Spain for
freedom. Cuba, only ninety miles
from our shores, is to have liberty,
while the Philippine archipelago, in a
remote part of the globe, is to be gov
erned as a colonial dependency, I'M
less the American people at the conf
ing election shall reassert the opin-
ions expressed in the declaration up
on which this country went to war
with Spain. / may be pardoned for
quoting in this connection an extract
from a speech made by me in the
house of representatives on the 30th
of january, 1899, in opposition to the
annexation of the Philippine islands.
The Jews I then expressed have been
strengthened by the course of events.
/ then said:
And now, Mr.. Chairman, / desire to ad.
vert for a moment only to the proposed
of the Philippine islands. Tt
IS not my purpose to enter upon an elab-
orste discussion of this great question.
but, in my opinion, the of
these remote tropical islands will inau-
gurate a policy of colonial empire repug-
nant to republican Institutions and alike
detrimental to our own people and to the
~Filipinos.
The hot blood of revolution will be a
constant danger to stable government. re-
curing a large permanent increase of the
regular army.
The proposed annexation can not be
Justified by commercial reasons, inaSmuch
as the increased expenditure on account
of the standing army and the augmented
naval EXPENSES necessary to maintain or
der will exceed the value of the entire
of the archipelago, including
both imports and exports.
The contemplated annexation can not
therefore be urged upon the grounds of
tTaue expansion neither can 1t be falrly
claimed as essential to the national de-
fense.
A nava station affording a commodious
harbor and ample docking privileges for
the repair of our great wal and merchant
ships, would meet all the requirements in
cident to the growth of our and
to 81 proper increase of the navy
Territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT in these far
distant Islands will prove to be an annex
alton of trouble-an inheritance of woe.
If it was proper to declare that the peo-
pie of Cuba are and of right ought to be
free and independent, why does not that
same exalted privilege for the Filipinos,
too?
If a war of ~onquest against Spain in
Cuba would have been reprehensible, and
so disclaimed by congress. why is a poll
CS III COINuSSl 10 DS COD1Hl6uu6u t.
600 miles from our shores?
Mr.. Chairman, the permanent annexa-
ton of these islands will not only add
greatly to the tax burdens of the people,
but it will at the same time practically
nullify the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine.
Moreover,a colonial policy win imperiI the
petition of cheap Asiatic labor, and will
enormously increase taxation. without
adding anything of great value to the
m of our country.
Sir, 1 prefer the expansion of
rather ndnsir than h9a 18th the %nsion of far,away
Gus people devoted to our free institu-
tions rather than the incorporation into
races. I prefer the peaceful conquests of
commerce rather than the stirring
triumphs of armies and %navies,
mercial empire on the seas which shall
give to this republic the control of the
empire of mere force, even though our
glorious navy should be without a rival
among the great nations of the earth.
Sir, let US maintain the principles of
free government, which will ultimately
dedicate the entire western continent to
freedom, while avoiding ~entangling alli-
ances with European and Asiatic pow
erS."
THE COST OF COLONIES.
But, my fellow-citizens, let us ex-
anime this question for a moment
only, from the standpoint urged by
some of our people. 1t is a sordid
view, and should AVE no place in the
literature of this discussion, but ii
may be we'll to consider it, because OF
the apparent determination to de-
grade the flag of our country to the
low level of a mere Commercial as.
set" Will the annexation of the
Philippine archipelago be a profitable
commercial acquisition? The entire
trade of the Philippine islands, con,
sisting of both exports and imports
will probably amount, under the most
favorable conditions, to not more
than $40, 900, 900 annually. The United
States during the fiscal year ending
June 30th, 1000. sold to the Philippine
islands products amounting in value
to the beggarly sum of $2,640,449, the
imports from those islands to this
country being $5,971,20
Among the principal items export
e dfrom this country to the archipel-
ago during the last fiscal year were
manufactures of iron and steel,
horses, coal, coke, cars and cotton
cloth. The chief articles imported to
this country from the Philippines
were sugar cane and Manila hemp. We
enter upon the policy of trade expan-
sion by the sword, with purchases
from the archipelago of more than
twice the amount we sell to them. 1t
may be well to again remind the peo-
pie that trade does not always follow
the flag, but it does always seek the
best markets for profitable sale and
exchange. Experience has shown that
countries with colonial dependencies
usually control not more than 40 per
cent. of their trade. If, therefore,
the commerce of these islands
amounts to $4,000, 900 the United
States in time may control 40 per
cent. of it, and estimating the profit
on that commerce at one-fourth of its
$4,0 0 900 to the profit side of the
ledger. But let us assume that our
net profit would be greater than this
amount, and reach SIC, 1000, 900 annual
! ly. In such an event, how would the
account stand? The United States
actually disbursed during the fiscal
year ending June Goth, 1900, $685.
$4,000 on account of expenditures
consequent upon the Spanish war.
The treasury department is not
able to segregate and identify the
total expenditures in Cuba and Porto
Rico.
I have requested this exhibit but it
a not be furnished. The a%ppropria-
tions made for the army during the
present fiscal year exceed STA, 00o, 900.
The appropriations for the navy arc
in excess of S65, 900, 900. The increased
naval cost by reason of the occupa-
ton of the Philippine islands car not
be accurately stated; but it probably
constitutes the greater part of the
| appropriations oyer and above the
appropriations for the maintenance
and increase of the navy prior to the
| Spanish war. This amount is about