Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-03-01
Entered n the EiSo pos,onice for transmission
through the malls as second-class matter.
THE puILlrPINEs AND
uSII

The Oakland Tribune, enc IT the
leading republican papers on the Pacific
Coast, diehes mp the purchase 81 the
Philippines in The following interesting
style:
One OF the classic legends OF ancient
Greece relates that a Spartan youth
stole u fox and concealed it in the
bosom Of his robe. lie stoicauy denied
all knowledge Of the missing beast
while the imprisoned animal was tearing
ut his vitals underneath his garment.
This ancient story has it's application
in the acquisition or the Philippines.
We vent To war with Spain to free
Cuba, in the West Indiee, and ended by
taking, as our spoil the Philippines IN
the East Indies. This was justified on
the ground tia che islands would en-
large our trade aud strengthen the
nation as n sea power.
The embrog'io with japan over the
San Francisco school question brings
home to Us the disagreeable fact that
the possession OF the Philippines in an
element of national weakness. Long
& we discovered the emptiness OF the
loot, "trade follows the flag. The
dream of a rich trade from the Philip.
pines ia a hope untulflled, and the
Islands have heavily increased ;he en-
pense OF our military establishment.
Dur policy of benevolent assimilation
. 10 AistiD ,,t,ba- hy .nl.,nat .,,,,,,,,.
guerilla warfare in some par. of the
archipelago.
Au this Is bad enongh, but it has
suddenly dawned upon US that it would
be next 10 impossible to defend the
islands in a war with japan. The
authorities timid, Facilitating and sub
servient;it has made The japanese bold.
arrogant and tDsisttpi; it has made the
hero OF San Juan hill truckle TO the
Mikado and truculsnt and insulting TO
the people Of CALIFORNIA;; 1t has turned
the Rough Ride INTO q nis 'ionary Of
peace and good viii. Moreover, it has
caused some unnecessary violence to be
done to the D%atiounl constitution and
the domestic institutions OF this state.
When we took the Philippines we
gave a hostage To fortune. This hostage
Japan holds. aud Tint IL Why the strenu.
ous president roars him like a sucking
dove to the Japs and like a furious hon
Mt the people OF California. The isl.
ands are seven thousand miles from
our coast, undefended and contiguous
TO japan. 1t is well nigh impossible to
tortify them securely against attack by
a powerful and aggressive foe. The
native population Is disatfected md dis.
loyal to the core, hence in rase OF war
with a foreign foe the Philippine gar
risons would have insuIrectiou in their
rear while repelimG an enemy in front.
japan could throw tive urny corps in
the Philippines before we could collect
and mobolize the scattered d~etachmeuts
OF our army. Nearly The entire strength
OF our navy 10 in Atlantic waters, ieav-
ing Japan Tor the moment mistress uf
the Pacific.
All because OF die Philippines Those
internal islands have turned the pfesi-
dents heari to water. Like The Spartan
boys fox they are gusNinR at or vi,a1s,
Filing oar whole systcn with weakness
and trembling. For fear Of losing them
we submit u humiiianon from an
Asia'ic power III the sight Of al the
world. And il has msiie our hoas;eu
shirt sleeve diplomacy loGs ike the
mas and clock OF II bank Mt IL
fancy dress bali. Oar graft in the
Spanish ERf has %inoculnted us with u
moral leptosy and givea our yaIien,
ptesrieu. \ bad attack Of fan.ous