Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-05
VALUE OF THE PHILIPPINES
IMMENSE RESOURCES OF THE
ISLANDS NOT TOUCHED.
Commercial Freedom Essential to De-
velopment-Archipelago Worth
to Us More Than Its Cost.


| From the New York Journal of Commerce and Com
mercial Bulletin.
None of the members of Congress who
have so copiously expressed themselves in
regard to the retention of the Philippines
seems to have ventured to assert that the
Islands might. merely as a business invest
ment, be worth all they have cost us up to
the present time, that they are likely to
cost us in the immediate future. This is
nevertheless, an opinion by no means des-
titute of support. Leaving out of sight the
enhancement of American prestige in the
far east which attended the acquisition Of
the Philippine archipelago, the commercial
advantages contingent on its possession
are more clearly recognized by the rest of
the world than by ourselves. The islands
are In immediate proximity to the southern
coast of China, and lie in the pathway of
eastern Asiatic commerce. Manila is only
CPS miles from Hongkong. and is S12 miles
| nearer than Singapore.
1t is 100 miles nearer China than Yoko-
hama and 1t lies directly on the route
between Hongkong and Australasia The
chlef distributing centers of China, Japan.
Korea, Siam, AMMAN and the East Indies
are as near to Manila as Havana is to New
York, and the distributing centers Of British
India and Australasia are nearer to Manila
than to any other great emporium of trade.
In the geographical advantages which will
attend the completion of the Panama canal
the possession of the Philippines will bear
considerable share. When tie canal is
finished New York will have $50 miles ad-
vantage over Liverpool in the distance to
Shanghai; an advantage of 2,0oO miles in
the distance to Yokohama. of 1000 miles to
Manila. 5000 miles to Auckland and 1000
| miles to Melbourne
In the point of position, at least there can
be no question about the fitness Of Manila
to serve distributing point for eastern
Asia, and IL It's capacity for that purpose has
not as yet been demonstrated the fault must
be laid at the door Of the narrowness OF our
commercial and shipping policy. All the
advantages which the Philippines owe to
their geographical position may be very
easily FILTERED away II we persist in deal
interests must in no way be permitted to
interfere with any which the citizens Of the
mother country may regard as peculiarly
their own.
Riches Of the Islands.
The great resources Of the Philippine
Islands have yet hardly been touched
In addition to the hemp tobacco, sugar
and copra, which are the staple articles Of
export, there is a vast range of valuable
timber of all commercial varieties. The
mineral resources OF the islands are still
kHO"u, UuI tueES uu4ueS-
tiOnably considerable reserves OF coal
which an improvement in transportation
facilities must ultimately render available
If the experience of India and Burmah
es.ry policy which has been initiated in the
Philippines ought to be a source Of large
: | increasing revenue.
If encouragement were needed as to the
future of the Philippines under anything
like capable and consistently just and i'm
partial government. the history of the
Malay states under British rule ought to
furnish it. Before the advent of the Brit
ish practically the same state Of affairs
existed in thee states as the Spaniards
found when they lanCed in the Philippines.
and which they left substantially un-
changed on their departure from the is
lands. The various tribes were most at
with each other; tyranny and corrup-
ton were rife, and there was neither
peace nor safety in the land. A series of
able and resolute British administrators,
beginning with James Brooke took the
Malay problem in hand and rescued the
people from their condition of internecine
feud and apparently hopeless barbarsm.
To-Day, thanks to modern education, agri-
cultural improvements and the strict ad-
ministration of justice, the blessings of
peace and prosperity have been assured to
the people of the federated Malay states,
and the condition of their country is said
without contradiction to be financially as
well as politically flourishing.
If the results of our Philippine expert
ment have been less brilliant the compare
tive failure must be attributed to a polt-
ical system which interferes with con-
tnuity of tenure among the higher officials
of the islands and with the absence of
class of men, easily available in Great
Britain, whose experience has fitted them
to deal with this special kind of probe N.
The Englishman has been learning for gen.
erations how to govern dependencies and
while we may have failed sufficiently to
profit by the example: we have at least not
incurred the responsibility for such afro
cious crimes and blunders marked early
British administration in Asia.
Commercial Freedom.
The one serious accusation which can be
brought against the treatment of the Fill
pinos by the government of the United
States relates to It's refusaa to give them
freedom of commercial intercourse with
the country to which they nominally be-
long The people of the Philippine Islands
have occupied toward this republic rela-
ton which Is as indefinite as 1t Is bound to
be Improbable. Neither frankly recognized
as wards of the nation nor as felow-citi-
zens their relief from Spanish tyranny has
had the very serious drawback OF being ac-
companied by exclusion from their former
Spanish markets. Dealing with these peo-
pie more justly in all that relates to their
political or legal status, we have been per-
versely unjust to them in all that concerns
their inability to make a living. Needless
to say, we have not succeeded in attracting
either their affection or their respect. But
when even the most DlSOleu Ol Stdnupat-
ters' in Congress announce their readiness
to waive the objections which have been
urged against exempting Philippine prod
ucts imported into the United States from
the burden of the Dingley tariff there is
some reason to hope that new era may
be about to open in the history of the
American occupation of the Islands.
1t has yet to be demonstrated that the
Filipino is capa BILE of turning to the best
count the rich heritage with which nature
has endowed him; but, considering the
ture of the economical obstacles with which
the Congress Of the United States has in
sisted on blocking his progress, the results
which have been achieved in spite of them
furnish some ground for confidence as to
the future. 1t Is certain that in the abb
sence of q regime of commercial freedom
for the Philippines the value and extent of
their latent resources will never obtain the
recognition which Is their due