The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-09

give to congress and the country my
observations in the Philippines and the
far east, and the conclusions which
those observations compel; and because
of hurtful resolutions introduced and
utterances made in the senate every
word of which will cost and is costing
the lives of American soldiers;
Mr.. President, the times call for can
dor. The Philippines are ours forever,
territory belonging to the United
States" as the constitution calls them.
And just beyond thePhilippineS areChi-
mas illimitable markets. We will not
retreat from either. We will not repud-
late our duty in the Archipelago. We
will not abandon our opportunity in the
Orient. We will not renOunce our part
in the mission of our race, trustee. un-
der God, of the civilization of the world
And we will move forward to our work,
not bowling out regrets like slaves
whipped to their burdens, but with
gratitude for task worthy OF our
strength, and thanksgiving to AL
mighty God that He has marked US as
His chosen people, henceforth to lead
in the regeneration of the world.
PHILIPPINES COMMAND THE
PACIFIC.
This island empire is the last land
left in all the oceans. If it should prove
a mistake to abandon 1t, the blunder
once made would be irretrievable. If it
proves a mistake to hold it, the error
can be corrected when we will; every
OIHeT progressive GdlAOA Status I6dOy
to relieve US.
But to hold it will be no mistake.
Our largest trade henceforth must be
with Asia. The Pacific is our ocean.
More and more Europe viii manufac-
ture all it needS-Secure from Its col
onies the most it consumes. Where
chall we turn for consumers of our
surplus? Geography answers the ques-
tiOn. China is our natural customer.
She is nearer to us than to England
(EeY-r INV ar ri n
powers Of the present and the future.
They have moved nearer to China by
securing permanent bases on her bor-
ders. The Philippines give US a base
at the door of all the east. Lines of
navigation from our ports to the Orient
and Australia; from the Isthmian canal
to Asia; from all oriental ports to Aus
tralia. converge at and separate from
the Philippines. They are a Self-sup-
porting, dividend-paying fleet, perma-
nently anchored as a spot selected by
the strategy of Providence, command
ing the Pacific. And the Pacific is the
ocean of the commerce of the future.
Most future wars will be conflicts for
commerce. The power that rules the
Pacific, therefore, is the power that
rules the world. And, with the Phil
ippines, that power is and will forever
be the American Republic.
VALUE OF CHINA'S TRADE.
China's trade is the mightiest COM
mercial fact in our future. Her foreign
| commerce was $285, ,73S, 300 in 1897 of
which we, her neighbor, had less than
| Is per cent, of which only a little more
| than half was merchandise sold to Chi
ma by US. We ought to have so per cent
and we will. And China'S foreign COM
merce is only beginning. Her resour-
| ces, her SsibilitieS, her wantS-au are
undeVeIOped. She has only three hun
dred and forty miles of railway; I have
| seen trains loaded with natives and all
| the activities of modern life already ap-
pearing along the line. But she needs
| and in so years will have, 10000 miles
| of railway. Who can estimate her com-
| merce then? That statesman commits
| a crime against American trade
| against the American grower of cotton
| and wheat and tobacco, the American
| manufacturer of machinery and cloth
/ ing-who fails to put America where
| she may command that trade Ger
| many's Chinese trade is increasing like
| magic; she has established ship lines
| and secured a tangible foothold on Chi
/ mas very soil. Russia'S Chinese trade
| is growing beyond belief; she is spend
| ing the revenues of the Empire to fin
| ish her railroad into Pekin itself and
| she is in physical possession of the i'm
per1al province OF Manchur1a. Japan
| Chinese trade is multiplying in volume
| and value; she is bending her energy
! to her merchant marine, and is located
| along China'S very coast. But Manila
| is nearer China than Yokohama is. The
Philippines command the commercial
situation of the entire east. Can Amer
lea best trade with China from SaI
| Francisco or New York; From Sar
Francisco, of course. But if San Fran
cisco were closer to China than New
York is to Pittsburg, what then? Anc
Manila is nearer Hong Kong than Ha
vana is to Washington. And yet Amer
lean statesmen plan to surrender thi
commercial throne of the Orient wher
Providence and our soldiers lives hav
| placed US. When history comes t.
write the story of that suggested trea
son to American supremacy and there
fore to the spread of American civiIi
CContinued on Third PACE