The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-02
AMERICAN
A Plea for Development Of Porto Rico
and the Philippines.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Sir: II
would be folly to cast off our insular
possessions. Porto Rico and the Philip
pines produce coffee. hemp and many
hard and dye woods which we cannot
produce also sugar, tobacco and rults
tn natne only the chief exports, which
We have not in sufficient quantities
These possessions furnish a splendid
market for our manufacturers. and car
goes for a merchant marine.
One function usually ascribed to Colo
MES. that OF absorbing the surplus popu-
lation OF the mother country. these ISL
ands could not perform. but fortunately
we are yet a long way from congestion.
The islands provide a very lucrative
field for the Investment OF surplus CAPT
tai. From a military standpoint their
value as coaling stations Is Offset by
the problem Of defence In lime OF war.
The answer is a powerful navy.
Altruists will lift their voices pro-
claiming that all this is in direct CON
travention OF BUR most sacred beliefs.
that our forefathers fought against the
principle of colonialism. The cases are
not analogous. our American colonies
were % situated geographically and
raciany as TO form AN embryo world
power. Porto Rico Is too tiny and the
Philippines lack cohesion for such Il
future. Level headed business men and
ths property owners do not desire in
dependence.
Cndirected and unprotected there L.
no future for the Philippines and Porto
Rico other than poverty md political
chaos, At present they are on the road
OF progress. with better education, sani-
tation and a far higher scale Of living
than ever before. urn them adrift and
before the lapse of many years some
European or Asiatlc Power with ruthless
Nietzschean leanings VIII step In and
exploit them TO their sorrow.
We Americans did not rebe' against
the spirit Of colonialism 50 much ae
against the injustice Of taxation with
out representation. Every cent collected
In our island possessions to-day IL spent
there. and additional Congressional APP
preparations as well. Porto Rico Is now
ready for citizenship and u large degree
OF autonomy She should have voting
representatives In Congress The Phil
ippines II taken collectively '3i2 inhabi-
ted islands, will need "A longer period
Of preparation.
II H. scarcely within the realm 90
probability that We shall ever take any
non-contiguous states into the Union.
Therefore II Is not essential that the
Philippines and Porto Rico be made
Territories, like Alaska and Hawaii. But
'N III Nit' Vt, 80 f'Ts
irsular possessions tas now or colo
MES ,as in fact), let US by all means
take a lesson from history and present
day praCtICa, politics and retain these
valuable, almost vital, adiuucts.
Release would mean an immense o.
nancidl and political loss for us, a fail-
ure to prepare for "our place m the
sun and disaster for our wards.
Eetcutios means the development ~
their tremendous agricultural poicrt!all-
ties, the absorption In a rapidly grow
ing wealthy market Of our manufacturers
and the correlatiVe growth. with proper
legislation. of our merchant marine.
Why choose a mistaken. al'ruistic.
dis. Interested benevolen,e. when in real
~ our interests ar" 90 'cIi- VITA
those OF our is.ands' Each needs the
other. INTERPRETATION means a rar-
row minded. short sighted. se.c-stiA.nc
policy. Expansion would insure prog
ross. prosperity and power.
'ArY N"%su1N
MANAri. Porto Rico. January ."