New-York tribune., 1901-06-20
THE PHILIPPINES VALUE.
THEIR IMPORTANCE TO THE UNITED
STATES, IN PEACE OR WAR. CAN
NOT BE OvERESTIMATED,
SAYS GENERAL GRANT.
SAYS GENERAL GRANT.

General Frederick D. Grant in Lese's Weekly
The value of the Philippines the United
states cannot be oveTestimated. IT Will increase
with the development Of the islands and the
growth of our trade with Asia II is greatest
therefore, from a commercial standpoint, but
is remarkable also strategic basis In time
OF war We have added a vast area TO the
United States of Incompatible richness, natural
resources and fertility. The climate is salu-
brlous, and the Anglo Saxon can live IN any
part of the country with comfort and little eX-
pense comparatively because of the
weather. man with a small income can
bulld up a competence there more readily than
IN this country, and the field is full of oppor-
tunity for the industrious and the thrifty. The
soil is capable of supporting three times the
present number of inhabitants. and of doing it
much better than they now supported. when
there are better facilities of transportation.
Anything that grows in the temperate and
tropical zones be raised somewhere in the
mountains plains of the Philippines
a great many Americans went out to the
philippines on prospecting tours but were dis
appointed at the passage of The SpoOner bill
with its amendments, which prevents the grant
ing of any franchises until Congress makes
laws to regulate them. l told that surveys
nave been made for several railroads. whlch
would approximately cover the following routes:
One 200 miles to the south of Manila; another
40 miles through the eastern part of the great
valley of Luzon directly inland to Benguet, in
the II fountains, and third 10 miles to the
north being an extension of the present road;
rms VIII make the present line 30 miles long, II
the extension is built.
We shall obtain large market for our manu-
IaclufeS IN the islands, and the whole trade or
the archipelago will come under our exclusive
control in a few years; that is, soon as the
clause of the Treaty of Peace by which we
agreed to give Spain equal trade privileges in
the islands with ourselves expires,
The FilpinOs belong to the thirteenth or four
teenth century. but a kind. peace loving
and intelligent people This is true of the
whole, so far as l have observed. and is not
confined to any particular locality or class The
people are loyal, fond of displaying the
Stars and Stripes and look upon the Americans
as a race of benefactors little less than wonder
full in their ingenuity. And why not? we nave
liberated and not enslaved them. We are TAX
ing them out of their medi9"al lethargy ana
giving them work at better wages than they had
before. We are giving them markets TOT tneir
produce. schools and education for their CHI,
dren, and better government than they couiu
have under any other system We have
strained the predatory tribes who think nothing
of descending on neighbors who may De weaker
or unprepared for defence. and stripping thelr
fields of harvestS and cattle and carrying the
loot to their homes. This. however. indicates a
primitive state Of civilization and does not con-
fiict with what have said of the intelligence
and peaceful character of the Filipinos.
The timber lands nearly all belong 10 the gov
ernment. There forests Of ebony, mahoS-
any and other rare hard and valuable WOODS
that will be used some day in the United states
for furniture and house trimmings. or these
woods should say there are at least one nun
dred varieties many of which are wholly un-
familiar to Americans. l am in favor OF pre-
serving the forests by government regulation.
instead of allowing the timber to be swept clean
by private interests
The archipelago is OF first Importance from
military standpoint because il gives US n sta
tion a comparatively short distance from the
great future field OF commerce-the Chinese EIn-
pire, with 4OO,0OO.0oO inhabitants. in the south
eastern part of Asia. As these nations produce
more they will become more capable or buying.
and the chance OF controlling their trade is en-
HANGED by having strong outpost AT Mania
al the very gates of the Orient II may not ne
that we shall ever have TO fight to hold or con-
troll this trade. but shall be much more apt 10
have our share OF IL If are prepared Tor
strong measures 10 deferd our rights, just as
man makes secure against burglars by having
watchman in the house and putting locks on ms
front door.
II is for the corps Of engineers OF the army, or
course. to consider the fortihcation and defence
of the Philippines. and some surveys nave prob
ably been made already with that end In view.
l am especially hopeful of the Filipino as sol
dier. The natives stubborn and courageous
fighters. and an army, oficered by Americans.
could be raised among them sufficient for the
defence of the archipelago. So far We have not
taken many natives into the army, but we nave
used them to police the cities. with excellent re-
suits The few that have served with me nave
shown courage and dash on the field when led
by white officers.
feel that the Americans I'm taking the Philip
pines are performing great Humanitarian act,
which will rebound to the material interest or
the Filipinos as well to their intellectual de-
velopment. and viii enable them in time 10 en-
Joy the same freedom that the Americans do.