14 THE PHILIFPIXE ISLANDS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT 



Asia's 500,000,000 were at a low ebb, despite tbe best and the faithful 

 labors of ministers and consuls. In Japan, in China, in Korea, and 

 in Siam the United States was regarded as a second or third-rate power. 

 While we ministers were treated with differential and patronizing con- 

 sideration, we were not potent factors like our colleagues from Great 

 Britain, Russia, German}^, and France. In trade, the agents of our 

 business houses were endured, Init not welcomed by the heads of great 

 European and native firms in the far East. ^V'ith the battle of Manila 

 Bay there came a mighty and a marvelous change, of which I cannot 

 s})eak in too strong terms, and the truth of which will be confirmed 

 b}' every American who was familiar Avith the situation. There seemed 

 to sweep up and down this 5,000 miles of coast line, and far into the 

 interior, a tidal wave of American prestige, which left its trace and in- 

 fluence not only in the capitals of politics and trade but among the 

 masses of distant i)rovinces ; and all at once ministers and consuls 

 found themselves the representatives of a first-class power and stand- 

 ing shoulder to shoulder with the representatives of European nations, 

 if not even leading them in influence and importance. 



In other words, we became, by the battle of Manila Bay and the 

 occu])ation of the Philippine Islands, the fiirst power of the Pacific, 

 for the control of which Ave seem to be destined by the great influences 

 which shape the politics of the Avorld and develop nations for miglit}'^ 

 responsibilities. If Ave bravel}^ perform our dut}^ in the Philip])ines, 

 establish peace and order, give the people a large degree of autonomy, 

 spread the influence of our free institutions and hold there a })osition 

 of commercial and strategic advantage for the advancement and ])ro- 

 tection of our vastgroAving interests in the Pacific and far East, Ave shall 

 be forever the first ]ioAver of the Pacific and of all the Avorld. If we are 

 laggards noAV, Ave shall be laggards until doomsday. If the war and 

 occupation of the islands costs us hundreds of millions of dollars now, 

 another Avar, Avhich Avould inevitably come in the future if Ave sliould 

 try to regain the position lost by AvithdraAving from the islands and 

 to lead in the merciless race of nations for material and moral 

 supremacy, Avould cost us ten times as many million dollars. 



The use of the North Sea and Baltic Canal by ocean-going vessels 

 is sloAvly but steadily increasing. The entries during the month of 

 October numbered 2,669, with an aggregate tonnage of 385,176, as com- 

 pared with 2,436, with a total tonnage of 330,843, in October, 1898. 



