THE PHILIPPINES MANILA
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Philippines admitted into the United States free of duty were eligible for a return of the export duty imposed in the Philippines so long as shipped to the United States. direct, and proof be submitted of their importation and consumption there.
The official report on the Commerce of the Islands for the fiscal year 1909 (ending) June) shows a total value of foreign trade of nearly $51,838,9-10 (gold), nearly five- millions less than in the previous year. The trade is divided between imports and export about evenly, with a balance of trade in favour of the Islands of $2,000,000. Hemp, the major product, is the main hope of these islands, and there is no cause for discouragement. Sugar is the second product in importance, Copra (dried cocoanut meat), cocoanut oil and Tobacco are the other leading exports.. Cotton goods form the principal item in the list of imports and the United Kingdom supplies over half of these goods. The value of the inward and outward cargoes in the year 1909-10 amounted to $76,948,777, the greater part of which, that is to say, 73. per cent., was carried by vessels flying the British flag, 9 per cent. by Spanish vessels, 6 per cent by German, 5 per cent. by American, and 3 per cent. by Japanese vessels. Considering the fact that the value of the products shipped to and from Great Britain amounted to 11,570, or 15 per cent. of the total, and that the value of the products shipped to and from the United States amounted to $29,527,549, or 38 per cent. of the total import and export trade, it is felt that United States vessels are not carrying nearly as much of the foreign trade as they should.
The policy of the United States towards the Philippines was defined by President Roosevelt in his Message to Congress in December, 1904. "At present," he said, "the Philippine people are utterly incapable of existing in independence at all, or of building up a civilisation of their own. I firmly believe we can help them to rise higher and higher in the scale of civilisation and of capacity for self-government, and most earnestly hope that in the end they will be able to stand, if not entirely alone, yet in some such relation to the United States as Cuba now stands." Under Section 7 of the Act of Congress, approved July 1, 1902, all that part of the Islands not inhabited by Moros or other non-Christian tribes is vested in a Legislature consisting of two Houses-the Philippine Commission and the Philippine Assembly. The first general election of delegates to the Philippine Assembly was held on March 27th, 1907, and the Hon. W. H. Taft came out to Manila to preside at the first meeting. In a speech delivered by Mr. Taft at Boston before his election to the Presidency he expressed the opinion that the Philippines would not be fit for self-government for one or two generations.
The military force maintained in the Islands amounts to 13,030 white troops of all. arms, 5,000 native scouts allied to the white garrison, and 3,000 constabulary, who act as a sort of semi-military police.
MANILA
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is situated on the western side of the island of Luzon, at the mouth of the river Pasig, which empties itself into the Bay of Manila, and the city is now held by the forces of the United States. War having been declared between the United States and Spain, the fleet of the former on the 1st May, 1898,. sailed into Manila Bay and totally destroyed the Spanish fleet, practically with no loss to the attacking side. Thereafter the city was blockaded until the 13th August, when,. a military force having arrived, the Americans took possession after an almost- unresisted assault.
The city was founded in 1571. In 1645 it was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake, in which upwards of three hundred lives were lost. In 1863 a great part of the city was again destroyed from the same cause, and in July, 1880, another terrible upheaval made wreck of a great portion of it. The dwelling-houses are built with especial reference to safety under sucli circumstances, and, although large, possess few pretensions to architectural beauty. The city is practically divided into two parts, the official or walled city being built on the left bank of the Pasig river, while the commercial city is situated on the island of Binondo, which forms the right bank of the same river. The Escolta the main business street, traverses this suburb, and in it most of the European stores and bazaars are to be found. The Rosario, another broad thoroughfare in Binondo, is occupied chiefly by Chinese shops, and is a busy quarter.
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