The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-09-07
THE BRITISH IN THE PHILIPPINES.

puDllc.
THE BRITISH IN THE PHILIPPINES.
There is no doubt whatever that the
United States peace commissioners at
Paris were influenced by the British to
wrest the Philippines from the control
of Spain. The late Cushman K. Davis
was especially susceptible to British
influence at the time and gave express
sion to jingoistic views about the con-
quering power of q united Anglo-Sax-
on race against the world. When the
American commissioners met at the
French capital they knew very little
about the Philippine islands. They did
not know whether they were worth
having or not.
Among those who appeared before
them to give information respecting the
islands was an Englishman named
John Foreman, who had spent eleven
years i'm the archipelago as agent of a
London firm engaged in the manufac-
ture of sugar machinery. This man
exerted bad influence on the commits
sioners. At first they felt inclined to
take Luzon only, but Foreman told
them that it would not be much of a
burden to take the entire group. 81
should make strenuous Efforts said
the Englishman, "to keep out the Ger
MANS" .Why?" asked Judge Day,
the chairman. Because" replied
Foreman, Germany is just now Great
Britain's very strong competitor in
trade, and think in the next genera
ton will be the same with America"
That settled it. Germany was then
being represented by the Anglo-Saxon
press as antagonistic to American in
terests in the Orient, and as being
ready to pounce on the United States
if England had not stood ready to
ward off the combined powers Of Eu-
rope.
England at that time, and for sew
eral years previously, had attained
commercial supremacy in the Philip
pines, it's imports from the islands in
1896 being more than those Of all Eup-
rope and the United States combined.
It's exports to the Philippines exceed
ed those of any other country, and
trade was f1ourishing. 1t preferred
America as a competitor to Germany
and was delighted when the entire ar
chipelugo with its inhabitants was
taken from Spain by the bulldOzing
American commissioners for $20,OOO,-
600. Spain delivered all her rights and
titles to the islands because she was too
weak to offer resistance. 1t was a
piece Of highway robbery ON the part
of William Mckinley who instructed
the commissioners to pay $2O,O0O,000 to
avoid renewal of hostilities with a
fallen foe. How do things stand COM
mercially in the Philippines now?
Congressman Hull of Iowa, who rep
lesents an American syndicate, has re-
Gently returned from the islands and
in public interview pours out his
grievances against the English as fol-
lows:
s"rhe worst drawback to the genu-
inc development Of our island possess
sions is the English. They get every
thing. They have all the old fran
chises. and they hold heavy hand
on the best property. They control
transportation between islands and
control the trade. They make spe.
cialty Of discouraging every American
who shows disposition to become a
competitor. Their money turns them
from 40 to so per cent, and they like
the rate.
81 agree with Governor Taft that
the best move we can make Is to have
American banks, loan companies and
railroads in the islands as soon as pos
sible. AS long as the English had only
SIaniards to deal with the country
was theirs, so far as profits went; they
would like to see us play Spaniards.
The only thing they fear, in fact. is
real American enterprise that would
pu8 an end to Shylocking.
To-day they hold the hemp, sugar
and rice crops in the hollow Of their
hand. They lend money to the planter
on mortgages that call for 30 per cent,
these rich English houses do; and with
the mortgage for a club they suggest
to the planter that he better ship his
stuff on their vessels and when it gets
in port they suggest that he better
store 1t in their warehouses. The
planter with the mortgages on his head
Is open to suggestion and the English,
man gets more than sixteen ounces to
his pound Of flesh"
We have always claimed that Eng
lish friendship for America during the
Spanish war was based ON selfish con-
siderations. The British shopkeepers
can euchre the Yankees easier than