TIIK I'llIIJl'I'ISK ISLANDS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT 13 



never lost an ()i)p(>rtuuit\' to exhort their army and ])eo])le to the 

 belief that tlie American people would force their President to haul 

 down the American flag. This is well known to every man who, like 

 myself, came into close associati(»n with the Filipino army and people. 



In consideriuii the favorable account that I uivc of our opportuni- 

 ties in the Phili[)pines and in surrounding countries, I would ask 

 all those who are skei)tical about both the present and the future to 

 bear in mind that my conclusions are not post-bellum opinions, 

 adapted to the minute or to be in line with public sentiment. Belbre 

 I ever dreamed that the American flag would fiy over the Philippines, 

 I outlined in official reports, in letters to chambers of commerce, and 

 in magazine articles America's great opportunities for the extension 

 of her trade and influence in far eastern countries, including the 

 Philippines, and hammered away year after j^ear endeavoring to 

 arouse greater interest than existed. At that time I went on record 

 as saying that after having traveled through all the Asiatic lands, I 

 believed that, in proportion to area and population, the Phili{)pines 

 surpassed them all in variety of resources and undeveloped oppor- 

 tunities. What I say now is simply in confirmation of former con- 

 tentions. 



If you were to ask me to give some of the necessary immediate in- 

 fluences that would assist in making America forever the paramount 

 power of the Pacific, I would enumerate : First, permanent sover- 

 eignty over the Philipj)ines ; second, construction of the trans-isth- 

 mian canal ; third, preservation according to the treaties of our trade 

 rights throughout all China ; fourth, the layingof a trans-Pacific cable. 

 Further considerations of immediate importance are the early send- 

 ing of a commission to fully investigate and report on Asiatic markets, 

 as outlined in the forceful message of President McKinley, the up- 

 building or reasonable subsidizing of our merchant marine, and — a 

 new l)Ut important proposition — tin; extensi(^n of our parcel })ost sys- 

 tem of mails to the far East to compete with similar European systems. 



KKKIXTS OF IiKWKv's VI< TOltV 



In concluding I can give you no l)etter argument in fa\iti' oiOur nictt- 

 ing our responsibilities bravely and s-uccessfully in the IMiili|i|iiiics 

 tlian the experience tliere of the representatives of the United Stales 

 Govennnent l)efore and after Admiral Dewey sailed into Manila i'>ay 

 and destroyed the Spanish fleet. I'rior to May 1, 1898, there is no 

 denying that .American prestig(!, influence, and commerce among 



