New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-18
DUTY TO THE PHILIPPINES NEXT


AS soon as the Cuban bill is disposed of. it
/ is 10 be hoped that the sense of justice and
national honor now being manifested in Con-
! gress viii lead to a speedy reduction in the
duties at present levied on the products of the
! Philippine Islands. This is q reduction de-
manded by every intelligent and unprejudiced
student Of the situation in the archipelago
| Governor General Taft and the Philippine Co1n-
mission have repeatedly recommended it. The
only opposition is found in a mere blind adj
herence TO a formula Of protection on the part
! OF few persons who will not realize that pro-
lection is made for man and not man for protec-
ton. There is no violation of true and progress
sive protection principles in a large reduction
or even complete remission Of duties on Philip
pine products, any more than there was in the
abolition Of the tariff on imports from Porto
Rico.
The Philippines are part OF the American do
main. They are not ruled under the same law
as the States, but their welfare is as much .
concern of the government as that Of the people
at home. and their peace prosperity and devel-
opment in harmony with the United States is
matter of profound importance to us here in
America. We cannot solve colonial problems
even i'm conformity with our own welfare not
10 mention that of the colonies. if we study
them merely from a parochal point of view.
The fears. or even the interests of some per
sons engaged in particular industries cannot
be permitted to decide question of this kind.
The United States holds the Philippines in
I trust. 1t must make its connection with them
beneficial The change I'm their commercial con-
nections worked by their separation from
| SPAIN the loss caused by the insurrection and
then by the disease which destroyed the cattle
! have created serious Industrial situation. The
] MIN
access TO American markets is essential TO cure
this and bring relief. and consequently content
ment TO the Filipinos. 1t costs far more to
maintain army in n disaffected territory
and supply the wants of a needy population
than is eazed To the government in duties or
TO the commercial classes in profits which they
might cOnceivably lose through the remission
There is no reason TO fear, however. that the
commercial classes as whole would lose any,
thing. ANY opposition among them is more
than anything else fear of the mere idea of
any iberality or progress in the matter of tariff
schedules The Philippines raise nothing which
could be sent here as seriously TO compete
with American products, nor is there any pros
pect Of such competition for many years. The
fear that the amount Of sugar they now grow
would injUre anybody here OF that ii can be
so increa sed as 10 be a menace is ridiculous
/ III view VI the Ndel sugar we are
now compelled TO import. No other product
+ offers even pretext for apprehension
What the Philippines can send here within
/ any period which can be foreseen is mere
/ nothing 10 our vast market If there is ever
/ time when public interests here require II
/ the duties can be increased Our constitutional
power is fully adequate TO that emergency.
1 Meanwhile. the lower duties will have enabled
! the Filipinos TO recover their prosperity. de-
/ velop their civilization and get ready to stand
/ on their own feet. Meanwhile also we shall
I have built up our OVID trade in the Philippines
/ Every dollar made by the sale Of Philippine
! goods here means dollar which can be snent
for American manufactures there A peopie
who are making money and developing wants
through contact with \ higher civilization are
the people with whom we can have rich and
increasing trade.
IL is rs much in the interest Of the United
States as In that of the Philippine Islands that
the commerce across tne Pacific be unshackIed
Commerce 20 the islands win soon be confined
10 American bottoms coastwise trade We
surely do not want to restrict the amount of