< Cbe Conservative * 7 the globe , nud 400,000,000 of its peoples or 27 per cent of the population of the world , and owns , besides , 55 per cent of its carrying tonnage. And yet , notwith standing these signal advantages , it ap pears that while she sustained a loss of over 5GO million dollars or 7 } per cent of her export trade , the loss of her ex ports to her own colonies exceeded 200 million or over 10 per cent. This should afford conclusive evidence to every re flecting mind that the commerce of the world has inexorable laws of its own that are not to be controlled or affected by ill-advised chauvinism or popular claptrap. Omit Britian 18S8-02 1893-or Germany 1S67-SU 181)2-00 ) Franco 187-01 1892-00 Spain 1888-02 1803-07 British Colonies 1887-OL lb'2-OO ' ' United Status 1838-02 18007 IMPOUTS. 2,095.200,481 2,122,700,8-11 Marks 25,683,053,000 21,450,1)09,000 Francs 2(5,840,000,000 ( 24,7bluOO,000 Pesetas -1,203,802,007 iG40,0J5-)85 ! ) 403,000,400 471,780,103 $ 3,030,717,830 3,707,820,595 proximate or exceed three hundred and fifty millions of dollars. Now , thirty- three years after the civil war , wo have a pension roll of very nearly one million names. And still they come. Wo paid to pensioners last year over 145 million dollars , a sum larger than the annual cost of the whole military peace estab lishment of the German Empire , includ ing its pension roll. But there arc questions in lifo that re fuse to be settled by equations. "Blot out the huckstering tale of gain or loss ; Behold the leader of a vanquished Cause , His arms extended on the bitter Cross. " A sophistry of the Spanish war craze . 1,543,070,222 I,427,319b98 Marks 22,035,533,000 10G21OJ4XM ( Franes 22,000,030,000 22,185inXJOOJ Pesetas 4,103,023,244 3,000,739,035 415,070,788 373,010,780 * 4,210,043,524 4,480,044,45 TOTALS. 3,033,870,703 3,550OSO,2oO Marks 4 ,318,5SOOCO 41,1)74,713,01X1 ) Francs 40,740,000,000 40,010,000,000 Pesetas 8,480,820,211 7,340,375,120 870,280,104 8l5,40o,019 $ 8,14101,354 8,2r8,7t5,02J ! Great Britain , Loss of Export Trade 110,350,824 $500,057,732 7.53 % Germany , " " " Marks 3Ull,480OUO 'f71 ; > ! ,7J4,38. 13.01 % France , " " " Francs 72.f,000OUO-.fl9,732,000 ! ! 6.25 % Spain. " " " Pesetas 40,283OuO : ( .f 05,003,73'i 11.70 % British Colonies , " " " 42,0110,002 f201,8b2,2d9 10.12 % * Total Loss ( exclusive of British Colonies ) $1,518,127,850 United States , Increase Total Gain $ 270,000,001 0.41 % The domestic exports from the United States to the world at large for the year 1898 were ] 281 million dollars ; to the Philippines for the year ending June 80 , 18)8 ! ) , 127 thousand dollars or less than 1-100 of one per cent. It is curious there should bo so much noise over a crate of goods to the Philippines as com pared to a shipload to Great Britain or continental Europe. The cant that "trade follows the flag" is as shallow Kophistry as the designing claptrap that "free silver would bring prosperity. " Trade is determined by fitness , price and transportation , all of which may be summed up in one word , price. It is asserted that "trade follows the flag , " and that , as respects depend encies , at least , the "open door" policy is the best policy. If "trade follows the flag" in dependencies , and , by so doing , affords the American producer all need ful protection and every fair advantage in those dependencies , it is not at once apparent why it fails so to do at home. It may not be out of place here to say that at the rate wo are traveling in quest of imperial splendor , the year ' 99 will probably show for administering the af fairs of the government a budget in ex cess of that of any nation in the world ; and that the combined outlay for pen sions , army and navy , will alone ap- * The footing of $1,518,127,850 does not include the item of British Colonies , $201,832,209. EXI'OUTS. is to the effect that the added responsi bilities imposed upon the American people ple by the administration of government in foreign lands , over conquered aud subjugated alien peoples , would develop a scope of mental and moral vision so broad as to begot a nobler and more ex alted sense of the obligations devolving upon our people as members of a world power. Any ono at all familiar with the ad ministration of colonial affairs in Africa , Asia or Malaysia well knows the fallacy of this tl cory. In view of the character and repute of the political jobbers who , according to the public press , largely in fluence the government of this country , it would be just as consistent to argue that a confirmed roue , acknowledging , yet violating his conjugal obligations , would have his moral vision purified and his mental horizon extended by being provided with a harem. If this view of the case is questioned I offer these extracts from five letters re cently received from Manila , written by different correspondents connected with the army. One of the writers expresses hims-ilf as follows : ' If interest in our homo country , if our desire to steer clear of international and internecine complications are the main factors to be considered , then don't hold the islands. The majority of Span iards , at least hero , are willing , aud I might say anxious , for us to take charge of the islands , but it were much better if politics in our own country were greatly improved before wo create larger fields for politicians to feed in. Besides this our army officials should bo taught not to rob and neglect American soldiers before they are given charge of a for eign , ignorant and helpless people. " "Tho only 'imperialists , ' " says an other , ' 'in all the American forces now in these islands are to be found among the temporary government appointees , who see coming within their grasp largo fat official plums , and a largo percent age of the well-paid army officers , sur rounded by their largo retinue of cheap servants , a la ante-bellum days in the South. " A third Fays : "Prior to the advent of the Americans there were but two sa loons on the Escolta , the principal busi ness street , a quarter of a mile long , whereas now there are eighteen. In the city there are now 300 places where liquors are sold. The income of the largest , the "Alhambra , " is said to be $700 nightly. Already the street cars are topped with large signs detailing the exquisite qualities of certain whiskies , aud a quarter of the space in the news papers printed in English is devoted to beer advertisements , while the largest drug store has a whole column of liquor announcements to the exclusion of any mention of medicines. " Another writes he has just established a gambling shop , making § 287 in one week. The fifth writes : "Tlio young man that looks upon the Philippines as an Eldorado , who thinks lifo will bo easier there , that a living will come without effort , I say to him cordially , go , hasten by the first steamer , your country does not need nor want such as you ; it is a good place for you. To the serious , thinking man to whom life is something more than bed and board ; don't go ; you are leaving an Eden behind you , aud will find but a moral cess-pool awaiting you. If your own country is not large enough for you it is doubtless your own , not your country's fault. " "The young man willing to work is debarred from exhibiting much energy by climatic conditions. The only hard workers are l4tho Chinese , and they also control nearly all of the better class of retail trade and a large part of the bank ing business. The bodily frame of the majority of our men is not sufficiently immune from malaria and kindred ills to permit of a residence in the island. "Moral suicide awaits nine out of every ton young men , who , lacking the elements of Christian training and in fluence visit the far East. The morality of the treaty ports from Yokohama to Suez presents a darker picture than the slums of Europe can offer. There temp tation is all but overpowering ; it stalks on the streets , is registered at the hotels , and put-up at the.social clubs. Its rep-