The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 1907. AMERICA AND THE PHILIPPINES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2202, 4 October 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 1907. AMERICA AND THE PHILIPPINES.

When tlio United States first took possession of tlio Philippines the bulk of the Americans were mightily pleased. It is true a small section viewed .the. position rather differently, considering that the Filipinos should bo given their independence 'almost immediately, hut the general feeling was that a big step in the national advancement of the country was being taken. Dreams of other fields to bo conquered, chiefly in Central and South America, were freely indulged in. Meantime, the Filipinos themselves were taken in hand, the most promising being educated and transformed .into smart soldiers. The pack were brought to the World's Fail" at St. Louis, and there placed on show at the head of the military pageants that the world might see wba.t an excellent coloniser was Uncle Sami. But it has apparently been found that this new toy is not only interesting but exceedingly expensive, and now a strong agitation is being got up in some quarters to induce the Government to sell the Philippines. The present 'discussion has been provoked by the decision of the American Government to send a fleet of battleships to the Pacific. It is contended that if .the United; States were not encumbered with the Philippines, the fleet could safely be kept in the Atlantic. “The one vulnerable point in our armour,” said “Harper’s Weekly” recently, “is the Philippines, and the question is whether we derive from them any compensating advantages.” In a war with Japan, says this, journal, tlio United States would be compelled to defend the group,, and the enemy’s. first move would be almost certainly to occupy the islands with such an army that the task of recovery would be difficult and costly. Moreover, the possession of the Philippines would give Japan facilities for attacking Hawaii, and oven the Pacific,. Coast. The whole position has been discussed very interestingly in the “North American Keview” by Mr. James H. Blount, -who was for five years a magistrate in the Philippines. Mr. Blount’s initial contention is that the refusal to givo the Filipinos self-gov-ernment is contrary to the spirit of the Declaration of Independence. He admits that the Filipinos havo so far shown no marked desiro to avail themselves of the measure of political freedom accorded them, but their abstention from voting, ho says, is due to the fact (that their voice in the administration is only nominal. The retention of the group, Mr. Blount continues, cannot be defended on the ground that tho natives arc not fit to govern themselves, and that the American rule .is good and just. Tho exwagistrate asserts positively that the islands are not well governed, and that the Filipinos are neither prosperous nor happy, although in eight years the United States has spent £60,000,000 on tho group, without itself obtaining 'any substantial return. Tho Filipinos have been treated less justly than were the Porto Bicans. They have been deprived of their Spanish markets, and havo been given no others. They are taxed for the up-keep of an expensive administration which they do not want. If the islanders were given the prospect of complete independence, says Mr. Blount, it would soon be possible to establish 9. competent native government. The ‘‘Now York Herald” is leading the agitation for disposing of the islands, and declares that the majority of the Congress and Senate

are favorable to this fftep being taken. Such a transaction, if givou effect to, might piovo of immense importance to Australia and New Zealand. Particularly would this bo Hie easo if, as has been suggested in the past, Japan wore ,to become the i ©w owner.