The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-08

outlets Tor tnClr surplus pIOuuStiph,
have perfect right to inquire into
the commercial value of Republican
expansion. The question of our moral
duty to establish law and order in the
Philippines where these are threatened
by bandit uprisings is n question
apart; but without considering that
now, let us see what commercial op-
pOrtunitics are involved in the Mckin-
ley programme.
In the first place our new possess
ions can supply n large proportion OF
the $3.50, ,000O 900 worth of tropical and
sub-tropical products now annually
imported They will supply annually
an immediate market for from $50, ,OOO,-
| 600 to $50,OOO,000 worth of American
| products and manufactures and
| much larger market later on. But by
far the most important feature of
these island acquisitions in the Pacific
is their prospective effect upon our
| trade with the countries commercially
| adjacent to them. The imports of the
countries commercially adjacent to the
| Philippines amount to about S1,20O,00
600 annually. or practically $lOO,OOO,OOO
per month. Nearly all of these impor-
| tations are OF. the classes of articles
for which the people of the United
States are now attempting to find a
| market.
Grouped around Manila as a point Of
| distribution is the most densely popu-
| lated part of the world. More than
| SO0,OOO,0O0 people form the population
of Japan, Asiatic Russia, China,
| French Cochin China, Siam, British
India, Australasia, the Dutch East
| indies, etc, all of which are nearer to
| Manila as a point of distribution than
| to any other great commercial center,
| While such cities as Shanghai, Canton
| and others are as near to Manila as
Havana is to the city of New York.
| The commerce of this section, of which
Manila may be made the great COM
mercial center. now amounts to more
| than $1,000, 100000 per annum, and its
annual purchases to about 81 200, ,OOO, 900
| per annum, or as above indicated.
practically 100000, 600 per month. Prac-
| tically all of this vast sum which is
sent to other parts of the world than
the United States is expended for the
| class of goods for which the people of
| this country are now seeking a market.
In most cases the apparent DISPOSE
| ton of these countries is to purchase
from the people of the United States
rather than from any other. section or
| npnnlp Nrh in,
21a per cent. of her imports from the
United States, in 1899 took S.4 per cent.
from this country. Japan, which In
1893 took only 6.S per cent of her i'm
ports, in 1899 took from this country
lI3 per cent. our exports to China,
which in the fiscal year 1893 were but
$4,000, ,457, were in 1900 $15,625, ,26O. Our
exports to Japan, which in 1898 were
$3195,494, We're in 1900 $29,OS7, ,642. To
! British Australasia our exports which
in 1894 We're $S131, 939, were in 1900
$26,725,7O2. To the Hawaiian islands
our exports in 1898 were 81, 1927 ,663, while
those of the fiscal year 1900 are $l3,-
5O9,l4S. To the Philippines our exports
in 1897 We're less than $1O0, ,OO0 while
those of the fiscal year 1900 are $780,
449 Taking Asia as whole, our ex-
ports, which in 1898 were but s16,222, =
354, were in 1900 $64,913,9S4, or four
times those of 1898; while to Oceanica
our exports. which in 1898 were SILL
199,417, in 1900 were $43, 39O,927. Thus
our expectations to Asia and
| Oceanica. which in 1898 We're $27, 900. -
600. in 1900 We're sos, 3O49ll, or four
times as much as seven years ago.
That permanent occupation Of the
Philippines, followed by their develop
ment along American lines, would i'm
mensely augment the American pro-
portion of this Oriental trade is self
evident for commerce follows the
flag.
This is the commercial side of ex-
pansion in its broad general aspect.
What individual opportunities does ex-
pansion offer to our young men? This
question is in its infancy but in a let =.
ter to the sun Lieutenant Colonel
James Parker, now at the head of the
Forty-fifth infantry in the Lagonoy. a
rich interior. district of Luzon, pre-
sents a few interesting suggestions.
He points out that in the hemp in
dustry in the Philippines there is room
for many bright young men to serve
as agents or middlemen in the small
towns where the hemp is purchased of
the natives and shipped to Manila.
adding:
Can we get our best young men TO isolate
themselves in small town in the Philinpines
at a moderate salary? This Is the question I
want 10 answer. 1t is true, is it not that a
Young man in banking or clcrking business in
New York city on salary Of 81 800 or 50 OOO
per year, has some difficulty in laying aside any
considerable part of his stipend, particularly il
he belongs to good family? Well it is per.
iectly evident TO one on the ground, that that
same young man. engaged here an agent buy.
ing hemp, at salary of s., ,OOO ought TO be
able to retire, if he so pleascs with $40 100 ar
$4,000 to his credit at the end Of ten wears
| II he obtain commission on profits he should
do better And in the meantime he could live
here like a gentleman.
The explanation OF this is that living is very
cheap here. Food, with good service, should
not cost more than SIS TO $50 per month; a BODY
servant S. per month; rent Of house IS to sl(
| per month; a suit OF white clothing, such as al
foreigners wear, 81, and so on In all, $500 pel
year should be a liberal allowance for all eX
penses, making il possible TO save all the rest
Of the salary. l am not speaking of Manila
which is more expensive town; | speak of the
provincial capitals and the larger towns Of the
provinces, many Of which for many reasons arc
far preferable to Manila as places Of residence
With a salary Of 5000 year, even without
| s--;gV ,,,1A