El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-01-25

Admiral Dewey endowed the United
States with the Philippines. The Philip
pines are our unknown, not our manifest,
destiny. If the witch of Endor had stood
by Dewey's side on the Olympia the admiral
might have remained In the bay and he
might have steamed away from the wreck
of the Spanish fleet as rapidly as the en-
gines could drive his warships, says the
1t continues:
Manifest destiny was at WORK In the Car
ribean sea at that moment, but in the Ash
attic waters a blind fate was working. Mill
tary considerations were satisfied when the
naval battle was over. The islands might
have gone to the Germans, the British, or
the japanese. The forces of the insured
ton would have given the excuse for land
ing parties by threatening Manila. If Dew
ey had Withdrawn the United States would
have remained out of intimate Asiatic poll,
tics. y
Japan has a manifest destiny. 1t can be
seen in Corea. in Manchuria, in Kiaochow,
Formosa, and in the islands to the east of
the Philippines, far out towards Hawaii.
In the last few years the lines of Japan
ese possessions have been extended on far
reaching encircling movements, one out to-
wards Hawaii, another around the Philip
pines. Japan is on it's way, east and south
as well as north and west. The Philippines
strategicady flank Japan. The new Japan
ese possessions flank the Philippines.
A self-respecting nation need not be
alarmed by portents or facts, but a self-re-
speeding one will not delude itself. An op-
timism which arises from intelligent CON
sideration of probabilities and possibilities
As justified, but optimism which is the prod
uct Of ignorance, mental sloth, illusions and
belief in cherry blossoms is lunatie.
Admiral Dewey handed the American peo-
pie the Philippines and the American peo-
pie decided to keep the Philippines. Even
now the Democratic party, pledged to grant
ing complete independence to the islands,
flinches from the apparent consequences of
doing that, and falters in efforts to prevents
its acts from wholly compromising its
words.
We are quite certain that If independence
were given the Philippines it would not be-
preserved. We are quite certain that IL the
japanese took the islands and subjugated
them there would be an outcry in the Uni
ted States which would be provocative of
war. We are sure that the most dangerous
sort of sentimentalism would be on an idi-
.otie rampage in the United States,
II we hold them our unknown destiny
and Japap's manifest destiny are in touch
II not In conflict. Our policy has been to
hold them IN that has seemed wise. but
our policy has not been strengthened by all
comprehension Of difficulties.
II this nation Is to daily with military |
plans, to hesitate and palter, be at once
timid and provocative, weak and exasperat.
ing, II had better contract its frontiers and
itself from the paths OF strong ma.
tons. fFsF
Japan's policy is one Of straightforward
practically. Al is not directly related ~
the words Japanese statesmen use. Their
words consult polite customs n usages,
Their acts use opportunities. The Japan.
ese policy must be practical II it Is to do
Its duty by the Japanese people.
The Philippines expose the weakness Of
the United States to a strong ~lnation. II
the United States energies from its present
hesitation and indecision, opens its eyes, ac-
cepts facts. reasons from probabilities in.
stead Of Illusions, and makes itself strong 1t
will be safe.
Otherwise, we fear, It will be at beast hui.
inflated. The gift this nation received
from the battle Of Manila bay represents Its
unknown destiny.