The age-herald., 1901-05-19
MIR, M'KINLEY'S TWO ADMINISTRATIONS Will Make a Brilliant Chapter
 in History GREAT QUESTIONS SETTLED Great as Industrial Revolution Has Been, It Is Not Improbable That It Will Have a Political One
 Fully as Important.
BY A. ADAMS.

Washington, May 1S.-When the his- tory of President McFinleys two admin istrations is impartially written it is even of the most important and even brilliant chapters in the annals of the republic. True, the second term Is only in its in- fancy, so to speak, but already 1t begins to be filled with record of great achieve ment. First of all the EuroVean govern ments, because of the lofty position the administration has taken in the settle ment of the Chinese question, have been compelled to moderate their exorbitant demands on the conquered empire. The future historian cannot fail to see that We have saved China from the imposition of an indemnity so enormous that she could never pay 1t, and that to the United States she will be indebted for the preser- vation of her territory. Germany, in its lust of empire, and one or two other na- tions were ready to do the carving act and plant themselves permanently In some of the richest provinces of the Asiatic continent. Europe sees clearly the magnitude of what our diplomacy has accomplished In this great international question. As a distinguished Frenchman. with long, keen look into the future, he said 'the effect will be practically to make China, for economic purposes, a colony of the United States" If that view shall prove to be correct not in all histo- ry has so great market been won at so small an expense, or in so honorable a way.
 In the territorial acquisitions which the triumphant close of the Spanish war brought to us, the outlook Is radiant with promise. Porto Rico has now a larger measure of freedom and self-government than she ever had in all the centuries of her Spanish connection. Her industrial condition, to be sure, is not all that could be desired, but the administration cannot be justly held responsible for that state of affairs. She was, 1t must be remember ed, swept by the most terrific hurricane that ever desolated her shortly after the Spanish evacuation. To that terrific vis- itation, and not to American rule, are her present troubles due. Had she remained under the control of Spain, she would be no better off than she Is at present One season of good crops will lift her up to her former fairly prosperous condition, and when absolute free trade between her and ourselves Is established as it will on the first day of the coming July, she will become a mine of wealth to herself and to us. Meanwhile. an immense amount of American capital is pouring into her; inn portant enterprises are being started in all parts of the island, and her people are beginning to feel the inspiration of a new life. The school house, the church and the newspaper have followed the flag, and in far less than half a generation she will become thoroughly Americanized.
 The Philippines.
 In the Philippines. the surrender of Auinaldo, together with the practical ces- sation of resistance to our authority leaves the way clear for the inauguration of self-government. A great deal has been already done in this direction, far more than any other nation ever accom- plished In the same period under similar circumstances. When the Archipeligo was acquired it will be remembered that the prophets of disaster and despair among us were confident that we were not competent to the task of governing colonies They point out that we lacked the experience of England in this respect. and that the experiment upon which we were entering would be certain to end in calamitous and humiliating failure. The Mckinley administration is fast proving the fallacy of these predictions.