New-York tribune., 1902-01-01
pAC1FIcATIoy BY TRADE CONCESSIoy

PACIFICATTON BY TRADE CONCESSION.
The first consideration in the imposition Of
tariff on the products of the Philippines must
be- both for their sake and our own. the effect
of the duties on the islands themselves IL is
obviously necessary 10 enact the levying OF the
Dingley rates on goods brought from the Philip
pines but not produced there but the same
necessity does not exist with regard to native
products. In taxing them at our borders we
can freely do whatever seems wise for the
raising of revenue needed in the administration
of the islands and for the encouragement OF
industry and the promotion of peace In the
archipelago. The trade with the Philippines is
not so great that concessions 70 it would seri-
ously menace any home industry. Indeed II
NAV he doubted If any interest here would
suffer at all from it, for with the exception of
sugar and tobacco we produce none or the
goods we are likely to import from there In
any considerable quantity. As for sugar and
tobacco anything brought from the Philippines
for years TO come would he but trihe in com
parison with what may freely come from Porto
Rico under existing law and from Cuba under
the prospective reciprocity system so essential
TO the prosperity Of that island which we are
in honor bound 10 promote.
Even II concessions did cause some few in
terests here little inconvenience, however,
if they appear otherwise desirable. The great
est good of the greatest number must be the
rule to govern in this case, and more important
to all our people than the profits of any in
dustry which might perhaps be temporarily
affected pending readjustment TO changing
ditions is the solution of the Philippine prob
lem. The first step toward that solution is
peace; the second prosperity In the islands If
trade concessions from the United States will
bring peace and prosperity TO the Fipinos the
interest of the American people requires that
the concessions be made, even If some little
sacrifice is involved. 1t Is cheaper to pacify
with trade privileges than with soldiers. The
maintenance Of army in the Philippines
costs our people more than admission of the
Filipinos on the most favorable terms to our
markets would cost them. Moreover. if the
Filipinos get in the habit of sending us their
hemp and other products they will buy here in
return. and the United States is sure TO profit
largely and gain for itself the bulk of the
Philippine trade without exacting any discrimi-
nation for itself in Philippine duties or other
wise violating its pledge of the "open door"
In fact, it cannot easily get that trade in any
other way. BY treaty right Spain has for ten
years commercial access to the Philippines on
the same terms the United States Even if
we did repudiate pledge TO other nations
and endanger our own "open door, In China we
should still have to reckon with the competition
of the Spaniards, the people by language and
long experience fitted TO cater TO the trade
demands of the Filpnos. So attempts to gain
trade by shutting out other nations would prob
ably be disappointing. On the other hand. If
we interest the Filipinos to sell here they will
themselves buy here
The Philippine Commission. which better
than anybody else is qualified to give advice on
the subject, recommends tariff on Philippine
products of so per cent of the Dingley rates In
its opinion that impost would furnish the reye-
nue. that 1t is needful TO raise for the islands ON
our imports from them, and would contribute
materially to the paciication of the inhabitants
Habits of industry have been unsettled by years
OF revolution and insurrection. The peacefully
disposed should be encouraged TO work and
made to feel 1t is worth while to side stead
fastly with the Americans and resist the efforts
Of the ladrones to prolong disorder In Just
what form this encouragement should be given.
whether any better schedule can be arranged