October 17, 1908.]
arise to influence the actions of the respec- tive Powers, but there can be no doubt that all the aids of diplomacy will be required to bring unanimity to the deliberations of the conference.
|
Government astonished the world by the alarming departure from its established policy that the seizure of Manila indicated, it was monotonously reiterated by statedihan and newspapers in America that the Government had no thought of per......... occupation. That was, no doubt, perfectly true. Somehow the Government had been led to accept the estimate of the Filipino leiders that the people were ripe for inde pentence and a republican form of govern-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. friendship in ways which have not appealed to other Powera, and the American press, at least, has expected commercial advantages to accrue therefrom. Bat there is nothing practical about any of Mr. Tarr's suggestions The chief menace to the peace of Europe excepting this appeal for more students of is the attitude of Servia. That country the stamp of those who go to Yalo. It pro- does not appreciate the prospect of the bably gratifies the readers of the New York Servians of Bosnia and Herzogovinia being Herald to be told that China's progress absorbed by Austria and apparently regards would be accelerated if "American ideas the annexation as a prelude to its own ulti-and influence are mingled with the work," mate incorporation under the dual monarchy. and others will enjoy the egoism of it.ment. Troops are being massed on both sides of China, in truth, would make no progress of the frontier. Therein lies the danger. her own volition; whatever progress has With excitement running high, men armed been achieved has resulted from the ideas and ready for battle, it is easy to ignite the propagaten by the foreigners within China's spark which will set Europe ablaze. gates and the influence the Powers have Should Austria send her troops into Servia exercised, America among the rest. or Montenegro, other interested Powers will TAFT must be expecting to live to be as old Mr. doubtless feel impelled to interfere, with ns METHUSEIAH if he is looking forward dire results to the peace of Europe. For- to the time when China will be able to tunately the fervian Parliament, in spite of take care the clamours of the populace, has decided outside influence.
of herself independently of We can wish Mr. against war. qually fortunate is it TAFT a long life, but it would be that Turkey remains calm. A British kinduess to hope that his life may be pro- Fleet is endeavouring to prevent awkward-longed until Chioa has reached that far-off demonstrations in the Greek Archipelago and should the present restraint exercised by the principal parties not be broken by precipitate action there are grounds for believing that the situation, complicated though it be, is not beyond the resources of peaceful persuasion.
CODLIN'S THE FRIEND, &C.
(Daily Press, October 14th.) Though the word "Alliance" does not appear to have been whispered at the inter- view with Mr. TAFT reported in the long message we were enabled by the courtesy of the New York Herald to publish yesterday, Mr. TAFT showed himself no less convinced than the New York Herald that "CoDLIN is the friend of China, not SHORT." Mr. TAFT, the message says, emphatically expressed himself in favour of closer relations between China and the United States. He is in favour of "close friendship" between China and the United States, "because China's progress is America's progress"--not a very altruistic motive after all. It shows that Mr. TAFT, like all keen Americans, bas an
DO
stage in her development. Really, apart from the encouragement offered to Chinese students, the interview consists of the merest verbiage. Who are those who seem to be working to keep China half developed, and in a position where she will be imposed upon, and where she can be forced to sell for half price and pay double for all she buys"? This remark would have stood considerable elaboration. The sentence is cryptic, and as few of us probably can guess its meaning we shall not get rid of the notion that there is something very Pecksniffan about the subsequent self-congratulation that the United States has not been a leader in the game. We confess we do not understand what is meant. But be the meaning of that sentence what it may, Mr. TAFT, as the final result of this interview, leves us in no doubt whatever that CODLIN is the friend of China, and not SHORT.
14
delusion when he wrote: "In the light of General MACARTHUR shattered that
existing conditions, it is difficult to realise that there is any possibility of such a future for the islands, especially so as at present (1900), and for many years to cɔme, the naval force is too apparent to admit of necessity of a large American military aud discussion." But the General at the same! time pointed out that there were, on the other hand, many encouraging conditions to sustain a conviction of the possibility of a republican form of government at some future date. For example, he pointed out this there is no dynasty in the Philippines to destroy, no organised system of feudal laws to eradicate; and no principles facon- sistent with republicanism which bavenolidly insinuated themselves into the national life to displace. Here were several millions of sensitive and credulous people, without allegiance to existing institutions but animated by certain inchoate ftlens and aspirations which " by some unfortunate perversion of thought" they conceived to be threatened by America. General MACARTHUR, however, regarded the people as intelligent, generous and flexible, and believed they would yield quickly and with absolute confidence to tuition and advice: when thoroughly informed of American insutations and purpose. America, since the pacification of the islands, has set to to rise higher and higher in the scale of work on a graud scale to help the people civilisation and the capacity for self-govern- medt, but it needs more than a decade of such instruction to fit the Filipino people to stand alone. Brigadier-General Emabu who, ou returning to the United States from the Philippines recently, was subjected at (Daily Press, October 15th.)
San Francisco to the inevitable "interview”, An interesting discussion is proceeding in
told his questioner that it would be nece#- eye on the main chance. What fraukues some of the American and Spanish papers sary to maintain armed troops in Mindanao required Mr. Tart to say was needed to of Manila as to what would happen were during all the hasten China's prosperity and bring about the United States in the immediate future perhaps for another generation to đơné. present generation, ahl a development to the advantage of China to grant independence to the Philippine Though the Moros are by no means savages and America was that China should send Islands. The discussion started with the ia the ordinary sense of the term, "as they more young men to study the conditions publication in the Cablenews of some views were casting brass cannon long before obtaining there and to work for the improve. ventilated on the subject by a high official COLUMBUS discovered America," their art ment of their country. It is fairly obvious at a semi-private banquet, the gist of his are those of war, "and the only klid '87 how helpful this might be to China, but observations being that the granting of arghment which they can really appreciate there may be some who will ask in what independence to the Philippines at the is that which has brute force behind ft." way is
America's progress
assisted by present time could only provoke demauds In short the words uttered by Présidédt the arrangement? Mr. TAFT apparently by the Powers on the government of the ROOSEVELT in 1904 are still true.
"The thinks the answer so self-evident as to Philippines Republic for extraterritoriality, Philippine people are utterly incapabl make a statement in words superfluous. such as obtains in China. Our American of existing
Thera He can, at least, count on every American contemporary supports that view, and
in independence," bas not been time, since 1904, för any knowing that a given number of Chinese declares that the republic would be tossed material change to be made in the position, students coming into the United States is about like a shuttlecock, its statesmen woull likely to influence more business in the be seeking favours here and there, the end appareatly, abandoned hope of such
The Filipino leaders however, have nớt, long run than twice the number of Ameri. being war and ultimate seizure. Perhaps concession at an early date, and the mention can hustlers sent to China. In no country it is the blunt expression of these views that of extraterritoriality in our Aiderickh in the world is the Chinese student exploit- excites resentment. President ROOSEVELT Contemporary is regarded by the Splin ed in the interests of business possibilities said practically that same thing in more paper M Mercantil as "putting up i as he is in the United States. The average diplomatic language in his message to Con- crow to frighten all thought of immedmý American knows more about driving a hard gress in December 1904. business bargain than about pure philan- quote the President's words, "the Philip-La ur opinion the dream of indepena- At present" to independence out of the Filipino Wida” thropy, and Mr. TAFT's wish to see more pine people are utterly incapable of existing eace is as fatuous as it is vain. It is in Chinese students in the American colleges in independence at all, or of building up a more senses than one that the people of the as we have already suggested, is not neces- civilisation of their own. This expression Philippines are incapable of ting. sarily, the purest altruism. It will occur to of opinion, after six years of American independence, and the sooner the Filip anyone reading Mr. TAFT's speech that, like occupation, marked a great change in mind is rid of the idea with which it i the lady in Hamlet, he doth protest too American thought regarding the capacity of obsessed the better. Surely, our much. Everyone knows America has in- the Filipino people for self-government. contemporary must recognilke dustriously sought to cultivate China's Ten years ago, when the United States question of extraterriförfäl
<<
"1
AMERICA AND THE PHILIPPINES.
"
EC