Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-09-13
asssaHe yor rae Assoe,ArTo rsEss
WHAT TO DO WITH THE PHILIP.
PINES.


< PINES.
The New York Herald publishes re-
Gently an interesting symposium of
opinions of Senators and representa-
tives in congress as to what is best
to do with the Philippines. here
IS no question but this legacy of the
SPANS war is a perplex-
Ing one. The Philippines We're not
by any means the happiest result of
that conflict. But they were taken
III the settlement Of the international
difficulties between the United States
and Spain and they are a Twink is
sue. s &
There is a wide divergence of opin-
ION as to the duty of the United
States, "a number of senator's and
congressman believe they should be
got rid of. Some believe they should
be be held until their people are capable
OF self government and then turned
back to the islanders themselves.
'l]ftIl are in favor of permanent re-
Tention. A few favor protectorate.
There are several questions in CON
nection with the retention of the
islands that are. worthy of consider
alton. One of them is the. expense
OF maintaining a sufficient garrison
throughout the islands for the in
surance OF peace internally. Anoth-
er is the maintenance of a naval force
in the Pacific sufficient to protect
Them in case of war. Another is
the possibility of complications in
Oriental difficulties because of their
possession.
Y Che United States has never been
"a colonist as a nation. Colonist ma
aEicns are those where the. national
conditions are such that there is
need for an outlet for increased pop
5ulation and energy-where the pop
ulation has more than covered the
local field of business endeavor. No
such condition exists in the United
States and viii not for many years
to come. So that voluntarily this ma
ton will not for long time be on
the lookout for other dependencies,
where it may dispose of any surplus
or particular class of It's population.
Al good many of the democrats in
tervieWed believe in disposing of the
Islands. This, naturally, would be
In accord with the anti-imperiaIism
policy professed by the democratic
party at the time the war. issues
yWere discussed in congress. Speaker
Cannon says we are in the mess and
1t might be difficult to find an hon,
orable way out of it. To sell them
might solve the question, if we could
find a purchaser But just what
moral right the United States would
have TO dispose of the islands, with
Eheir numerous people, to another
power, whose methods or ideals OF
government might not be in accord
With our views, is a question thai
would afford much interesting specu.
.Iatien and discussion for theorists
and publicists.
The views OF the North Dakota
senators and representatives was ga
fhered by the correspondents of tht
Herald Senator Hansbrough says
Thus far our government has done
the best it could with respect Il
the Philippines and have faith Il
a believe 1t vii contiue to do tina
/ which is right and proper. He woillt
I be wise man who could determine
offhand what should be done witt
\ the Philippines. For my part,
& would be glad to- exchange them TO
territory on the American continen
and ! have thought the time Nigh
come when they would be more val
IabIe to Great Britain than certain
parts OF western Canada. am Ii
favor of a strong navy for seyera
reasons. III an enlarged navy is nee
essary In order To protect our in
! terests In the Philippines, then / an
in favor Of IT or that reason Agita
aion Of the Philippine question
at this time can serve no other pur
pose than to bring the old campaigi
issue 81 imperialism into the presi
dental contest next year This isstl
has been discussed extensively i
two campo igHs It cannot be mad
she paramount Issue Id 1918. In M
Judgment the American people ar
not cfarnoring for the immediate set
element of the question. We ma
nor want the Philippines but we ar