The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-29
lilam Jennings Bryan Finds Solution Philippine Problem

Singapore, Jan. 22.-In speaking OF
Philippine independence 1 have pre-
scented some Of the reasons given by
Ff!ipinos for desiring it, but there are
arguments which ought to appeal
especially TO Americans. If it were
our duty 60 MAINTAIN a colonial pol
icy, no argument could be made
against ii, because duties are impera-
tive and never conflict. If, on the
other hand, the FiiiDinOs desire indie
pendence and are capable of self-gov-
eminent, we cannot justify the reten-
ton OF the islands unless we are pre-
pared to put our own interests above
theirs, and even then we must be sat
isfed that our interests viii be adj
vanced
In the beginning of the controversy
there were many who believed that
the Philippine islands would become
source Of profit to the United States.
It was confidently predicted that
multitude of Americans would flock TO
the islands and fpd rich reward in the
development of Their resources. These
hopes have not been realized. Except
in MfndanaO OF which 7 shall speak
later. there is no evidence of any pres
ent or future colonization by Ameri-
cans. There are few Americans en-
gagged in business in Manila and at
other army posts, but these are tnsig-
nificant in number and the business
done BY them is nothing as compared
with the cost of Colonialism TO the
United States. We are maintaining
about 10000 American soldiers I'm the
islands and 5000 native scouts. Differed
by Americans and paid for by the
United States.
Vast Cost of Philippine Policy.
Besides this outlay for the army,
our Philippine policy has been made
the excuse for a large increase in our
naval expenditures. While it is diff
fiCult to determine accurately the an
nuaI cost of our Philippine policy to
the people of the United States, ii is
safe to say that ii exceeds the value
of all the merchandise that we export
to the Philippine islands and all the
money made by Americans in the is
lands, including salaries paid to Amer
leans from taxes collected in the Phil
ippines-and the expenses are borne by
all the people while the benefits are
received by a mere handful No one,
therefore, can justify the holding of
the Philippines on the ground that they
are pecuniary advantage.
If IT is urged that we need the Phil
ippine islands as a base for the extern
sion Of our trade in the orient, / an
swer that it is not necessary to deny
the E1lipinOS independence IN order
to hold sufficient number of .harbors
and coaling stations to answers all the
requirements of trade The FilipinOs
are not only anxious TO have the adj
vantage of our protection. but they
recognize that to protect them we
must have harbors and a naval base.
In return for the services we have rem
dered them we have a right to ask,
and they would gladly grant, such
reservations as we might need. These
reservations could be properly forti-
fed and would furnishh coaling sta
Hons both for our own navy and for
our merchant marine. It goes without
saying that in case we had war with
an oriental nation. It would be in
finitely better to have the Filipinos
supporting us. in their own interest as
we'll as out OF gratitude, than TO have
them awaiting an opportunity for in
SurTection.
Danger of Colony.
I have already referred to the dan
ger which may come to the principle of
self-government in the United States
from the systematic denial OF seIf-gov-
eminent TO the FIipinos. AS our of
fCials can explain their continued
presence in the Philippine islands by
alleging incapacity in the Filipinos,
they find themselves uncOnSciOuSly
Surrendering the governmental theories