The Washington herald., 1915-08-28

troll of the cruel American tyrants! What
the Filipinos have gained in improve
ments Of every kind and character-rapid
and substantial advancement along the
pathway Of good government. moral. in
tellectual and Industrial development
during the past fifteen years, in spite of
Mr.. Bryan's advice-if fully enumerated
would ill two good-sized volumes. and
this has been faithfully and accurately
done by the Hon. Dean c. Worcester,
who. with President Taft. Gov. Forbes.
associates and co-workers. should live
forever In the grateful memory OF every
man, woman, and child In the islands.
II their great works and noble deeds
are not remembered then the Filipinos
are utterly hopeless.
Should United States Retain Islands
Now, let's consider the question
whether II Is to the interests of the Uni
ted States to retain the islands-whether
we should keep them or withdraw the
army and navy. wipe of our losses. and
let the Filipino sink or swim.
The great majority Of the men In and
out Of Congress who favor surrendering
the Philippines do SO for two reasons;
namely. on the alleged ground that they
will always be a great expense. an un-
profitable Investment. to the United
States" and. secondly. "they are now
and will for all time be a menace to US.
The answer to the first excuse is: The
islands are paying their own way so far
municipal. local and general governments
Is concerned. The only expense now
borne by the American government is in
cident to the presence Of our soldiers In
the islands This expense can be greatly
lessened. If not practically wiped out, by
reducing the number Of American SOL
diers and increasing and substituting ad-
ditional constabulary Or the native
scouts, paying for their services out Of
the Philippine treasury. as is being done
at this time with the constabulary force
Of 5000 men.
To abandon the islands for the reason
that they are or may become a menace.
virtually means that Uncle Sam. who
never fought an unsuccessful war. is for
the first time going to show the white
feather. admit possessing a yellow streak.
make confession to all mankind-to all
the world-that our noble ancestors sig
nally failed to transmit to the men of
this generation any Of their indomitab BILE
courage. undimmed loyalty. unceasing
bravery. answering determination to
hold and forever defend our rightful pos
sessions purchased not only with millions
of the peoples money under a treaty rati-
hcntion Bryan favored. but. above all.
with the priceless lives of our heroes.
many of whom sleep in the very soil they
now tell US we must give up for lack of
courage, for fear We have a menace on
our hands" God forbid.
Wants Big Army and Navy.
With or without these Islands. there
will be a menace to the United States
until Congress performs its patriotic
duty in providing an army and navy
so big and strong no nation in the
Orient or elsewhere will ever dare
menace or attempt to do our country
an injury or capture any of our pos
sessions.
BY making it possible for Japan to
succeed US in the Philippines-take
over the great and expensive fortifica-
tions costing US upward of $15,00o.000
and fully developing the rich possi-
bilities of the islands with countless
thousands of Japanese laborers-will
Japan as a nation be strengthened or
weakened as our military. naval ana
commercial rival in the Pacific? Will
not the absorption Of the Philippines.
concessions Japan is
securing in China by threats and force,
result in her immense commercial
growth and power until she will soon
be financially able to increase her
army and navy to an extent where she
will indeed and in fact be more than
a menace to the United States in the
Pacifcy Today her navy is practically
the equal of ours, and her standing
army of seasoned and highly-trained
men exceeds ours by 175.0oo and has
lately been ordered increased. Every
man in the nation has received military
training.
Evidently anticipating our with
drawal from the Philippines, certain
Japanese are now negotiating for the
purchase of extensive sugar lands in !
the Islands and are quoted in the Ma
nila press as stating that they plan to
bring over 100000 or 100000 Japs to
use in the sugar industry, every man
Of whom will be a trained soldier.
Big Trade with Islands.
Last year American merchants and |
sold goods to the value |
Of s27.204,5s7 to the islands. as against |
s127,s04 in 1898. or an increase of s27,-
J7S.7Ss since We took. them over. Our |
sales in the Philippines for 1914 ex-
ceeded our exports to China for the
same period and are equal to half OF
the amount We disposed of in Japan |
and were greater by $2.00O.o00 than
the amount we shipped to all Of the
following countries of South America |
during 1914: Venezuela, Peru. Column 1
bia, Uruguay. Bolivia and Paraguay.
Our trade In Chile and Peru COM
oined fell s1.5Oo.oOo behind the Philip