The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-08
REAL AND IDEAL.
Two Views of Prospects for Progress
in the

Minneapolis Tribune.
The cabled interview with Capt. Frank
Green, president Of the American Chamber
of Commerce in Manila, in which he ex-
presses the opinion that Governor Taft's
view of the future of the islands under
American rule are none too optimistic. pro-
vided Congress will arrange to open the
country to mining and homestead laws. and
to open and enlarge the forestry reserves, is
interesting. Captain Green himself furnishes
an illustration in his own career of the in
dustrial possibilities of the islands to enter
prising Americans. He was a young lawyer
in Montana when the Spanish war broke
out. He went to Manila with a regiment Of
Montana volunteers. When the State vol
unteers went home he remained and re-
ceived a commission in the Eleventh United
States Cavalry. He made quite a reputation
as a fighter and was subsequently appoint
ed provost martial. When the United States
volunteers were mustered out he returne
to civil life, and was appointed manage Of
a lumber and development company which
made considerable money before the con-
gressional amendment restricting the acqui-
sition of franchises was adopted. Since that
time he and others who have attempted to
exploit business and industry there have
found themselves laboring under great dis
advantages.
From every point of view the history of
our occupation demonstrates the fact that
unrestricted business and industry will be
better pacifcators than military forces. 1t
is noticeable that since the adoption of the
anti-franchise amendment, which shut off
Americans from acquiring forests and
mines, the hostility of the Filipinos has In
creased. This is the natural result of rele-
eating them to idleness instead Of giving
them employment. A thousand Americans
like Captain Green, seeking to develop the
natural resources of the islands, would
probably be more effective than 5000
troops, because they would set at work
thousands of natives who, for want OF bet
ter occupation, are hiding out In the chap
paral and making life anything but a holi-
day for our soldiers and marines.
The adoption of the amendment hamper
ing Americans in acquiring franchises was
prompted by the idea that 1t
would not be proper for the American peo-
pie. in whole or in part, to make money
out of our new possessions. In taking this
action Congress lost sight of the fact that
in all ages 1t has been the thirst Tor the
greed, If we chose to call 1t so) of money
making that has been the strongest force
in the spirit of civilization. Trade in a GER
tain sense follows the flag; but more often
1t is the flag that follows trade. The trader
and the merchant have blazed the way fer
the inward march of nations in acquiring
new territory and In carrying the laws and
institutions of more highly developed states
to the less developed. Columbus would
never nave discovered America had not the
commercial instinct of the people behind
him impelled them to set at work agencies
to seek new fields OF exploitation for trade
and gold.
Enterprising Americans who resolve to
adventure in the Philippines, and to risk
commercial or industrial undertakings
there, are entitled to legitimate reward in
the increase of their wealth, and the gov
eminent policy that shuts them off from
such rewards, in pursuit of a sentimental
and impractical idea, is a mistaken one.
The natives ave had three hundred years
under civilized or semi-civilized auspices in
which to develop the great natural re-
sources Of their archipelago, and they have
not lone 1t. 1t is now time to let the
Americans take a hand and to clear the
way for their operations in the manner
suggested by Governor Taft and Captain
Green, namely-by removing the ~restric-
tons upon homesteading, mining and lum-
bering, as well as upon trade generally.