< 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-
