Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-03
WILL ASSURE FILiPiNos
UNITED STATES Is STILL
LOOKING AFTER WELFARE

In the Philippines the fleet will have
the influence of assuring the Filipinos
of a determination on the part OF the
United States to protect Its fnsular
possessions from foreign aggression.
and of the ability of the United States
to cope with all domestic insular ques-
tions. The Filipinos probably need no
additional testimony on the latter sub
ject, but nevertheless It Is agreed that
the coming of the powerful fleet to
Manila will mean much for the future
of American prestige. The comparison
which will be made between the fleet
of today and the collection of ships
which Dewey commanded in those wa
ters ten years ago will be striking
object lesson In progress.
In Australia--there's still another
story. Australia is long way off from
these United States. There isn't any
direct communication and the people
of the two countries are not well ac-
quainted. The Australians are British
colonials, and. like their brothers In
every cline, they are undoubtedly inn
bued with deep-set prejudice against
America and things American. On
the other hand, they are of the same
blood, have the same traditions, the
same language and the same pride of
race. AS a matter of fact. Australia
copied American civic forms In organ
izing it's commonwealth government.
Australia has gone much further
afieid from old British precedents In
economic government than America.
The only real difference is that Aus
tralia still sticks to cricket and tea,
while America has deserted in favor of
baseball and ice water.
Australia Is fearful of Japanese en-
croachment, Is determined not to re-
ceive Japanese immigration, has set up
the standard of "a white mans coun-
try" All this in spite OF the fact that
Australia depends for protection upon
the English navy, and England and
Japan are tied fast In an offensive and
defensive alliance. Therefore 1t was
of great significance when Premier
Deakin spoke of the influence the COM
ing of the feet woud have in cement
ing the ties OF friendship existing be-
tween the American and Australian
nations" with never a word about
King Edward and his dominions be-
yond the seas. Australian cities will
welcome the fleet with heartiness, and
the influence it's visit will have will
be writ large on the pages of the fu-
ture.
The British merchant in the east, the
cornerstone of English prosperity and
English empire. has never been an en-
thusiastic friend of the United States.
The English in England may talk
about Hands across the sea-" but
when John Bull ships himself "some-
where east of Suez" he is apt to forget
about the blood that is thicker than
water. The American traveller who
has been bullied in the English clubs
along the shores of the China sea
and the Indian ocean can vouch for
that.
But just now this same British mer-
chant Is metaphorically up on chair,
waving the Stars and Stripes and yell
ing for Teddy" Why? 1t is because
he is every day coming into contact
with the unscrupulous competition of
the Japanese in business, and he is
disgusted with the Anglo-Japanese al
lance. He sees the cocky Japanese
cody relying on the protection of Brit
ish guns while he is filching British
guineas. 1t makes his English blood
boil and he is mad clean through"
In the great show of strength the
United States is making by the cruise
of this fleet, these Britons think they
see the power that will clip the wings
of the ambitious little brown man.
Coming home by way of Suez? That's
the program. Nobody in the Orient
believes it YET, and If one ventures
to suggest that the trip back to the
Atlantic will be made. he ,forfeits the
respect of his fellows. The Chinese.
the Australians, the American and
British merchants of the east, the
Americans of the Philippines, Hawaii
and the Pacific coast states are all
praying that the fleet will remain on
the Pacific station "for keeps" OF all
the interests in the Pacific there is
but one which hopes to see the fleet
go back to Hampton Roads on sched-
ule time-and that one Is Japan.
Copyright 1908. by Frederic j. Haskin.)
ss