The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-13
FATE OF THE PHILIPPINES.

We find this dispatch in the Austral-
ian files brought by yesterdays steam
er:
LONDON, Jan. S0-It is reported in
| Vienna that Prince Henry's visit 10
America is connected with Germany's
desire to purchase the Philippines.
! If Germany or any other power
should offer a fair price for the Phil
| ippines, American citizens of all parties
| and in great numbers would approve
the sale.
Those who look ahead see nothing
| but trouble in the retention of these
| islands. The Philippines not only cost
us sea and land campaigns to annex
them, but purchase money TO the
amount of $40, 900. 900 besides-a consol-
alton purse for Spain. Since then the
foothold expenses in the group have
amounted to about $3.50. OO0, 900. and the
trade we get in return is chiefly be-
tween ourselves. Nor is peace with
commerce in sight. The country is held
but not pacified; we have the word of
the Manila American that every Fill
pino, however fair he may speak. is
boiling over with hatred of the United
States. Guerrilla war goes on and this
requires the maintenance of a large
army. ut will be necessary" said one
of the returning generals, Ito keep in.
the Philippines a standing army of 3d.
900 men''-a larger force than sufficed
for the United States seven years ago.
We shall have periodical outbreaks as
long as we hold on, and these, besides !
vastly increasing public expenses, will
get into American politics.
Furthermore, we have no particular |
reason to want any Asiatic or Malay
sian soil whafaVpr ASi9fip
Malaysian peoples-not more soil, at
least, than may be needed for naval
coaling station. Had the American ma
ton been asked, seven years ago, to 1
ratify the acquisition of provinces in
or near Asia it would have registered /
an emphatic and universal No! Our
destiny, as would have been pointed
out, lies in the new world we want no
in the old. Fortune of
war has made US plant our flag in the
as we did in Mexico; but
he argument against staying there is
rs strong, if we have an honorable and ]
profitable way out as would have been
he argument seven years ago against
;oing there.
The strength of this position is in
reased by the fear that, if the Philip
lines are kept, some political Congress,
states, will one day admit them in sub
divisions to the Union. America wants
10 more race problems. The negro is (
'ad enough without adding a mixed
ace of Latins, Chinese and MaIays.
Finally in the defensive sense, prov
noes beyond the sea are most difficult
nd costly to look after when war {
ONES. A disconnected and scattered {
over has grave elements of weakness
hitch a smaller power if conterminous
i its territory, does not possess. Great q
on that account, is stronger,
han the British empire. With us in
me of war the Philippine group would S
e a source of anxiety and of prodigal
utlay; and lacking in American pat S
iotism as they do, it's people might
asily go over to the other side. Hence 6
seems wiser to sell such a place than
, run the risk of losing it by force c
etter to sell it to possible antagonist
nd thereby weaken his aggressive re-
)urceS by adding to his defensive
eeds, than to put or keep ourselves in 6
lat unfortunate position.