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Show TAri AND THE PAC1TIO. President Taft is omphalic on the proposition that Iho money spent by tho United Slates in the Philippines Philip-pines was well spent, and to a good use. To bo surc,rthis speuding has been chiefly advantageous, so far, to lhc Filipinos; and fhey aro not as grateful as porhaps wc might oxpoct them to bo on account of it; but tho timo will come, undoubtedly, when even in tho Philippines tho altruistic interposition of the United States will be recognized at its high value, and will bo patriotically patrioti-cally accorded Iho praiso lhat is its due. Tho accounts to this purport aro very prouonnccd as lo tho opinions of President Presi-dent Taft, as expressed in his address of Thursday. Wc believe that Iho country coun-try will emphatically agree with him, and lhat the, American public has entirely en-tirely got over lhc spasm of fear which it was at ono timo thought t,o be stirred up by tho cry "Imperialism:" Undoubtedly the best thing that could havo happened lo tho Filipinos was the interposition of tho United Stales; and unquestionably the continuing ITest thing is the tutelage iu which' tho childlike child-like nativos ,aro being hold and instructed in-structed through Aniericau supervision. Especially, in an educational way, the United Stales is conferring an inestimable inesti-mable booa upon all the people of lhat archipelago. ; W note that there seems lo be some conflict in lhc despatches in rogard fo tho fortifying of Olongapo on iho west side of tho island of Luzon, north of Manila Bay and close to Subig. Thorc has been a good deal of difference- of opinion among the military men as to whero the great fortress designed to protect American interests in the Philippines should bo oroctcd. For security se-curity nnd impregnability, Olongapo is hold to be superior fo Mauila Bay, but in protecting tho immediate region about Olongapo, (hero is nothing particularly par-ticularly worth protecting except tho fortress itself which might bo. constructed; con-structed; whereas, in constructing a fortress or modern fortification at Cor-' regidor. Cavitc, dominating works Vov-ering Vov-ering both entrances to Manila Bay from both north and south shores, the great city of Manila is made secure, and even a flank movement which might by overpowering force capture lhat eily, lhat capture would be a barren bar-ren one uiili t he lortiricafious impregnable impreg-nable at Cn itc and at the mouths of IIjo bay. The recent despatches indicate indi-cate a weakening on the p:u( of (he ad-licrcnls ad-licrcnls of Olongapo. which may fairly be interpreted to mean a gain in the strength of the opinion that favors the fortifications at Manila Bay. There appears to be some confnsiOu in lhc accounts, and a mixing of tho proposed fortifications at Pearl liar-bor. liar-bor. Hawaii, with those in lhc Philippines. Philip-pines. There i uo particular couueo lion belweeu tho. establishment of a fortress in Hawaii aud one iu lhc Philippines, say at Mauila Hay. Uoth are needed. There is no conflict be- , iwecu thq two.- The only conflict is in Iho Philjppines as between Olongapo and "Manila Liay. Tho plans for a great fortress at Pearl Harbor arc complete, .and wo jndge from lhc despatches fhat they have been approved, aud lhat au order has been mndo to becin work, and complete com-plete (hem. That is well. We need a groat fortress there iu the mid-Pacific, and no place -can possibly be better for such fortress than Pearl Harbor. Wc hope that tho work there will be madp lo conform lo tho best principles of modern military science aud fortifications, fortifica-tions, aud that, lhc works may be made as impregnable :isn those at Port. Arthur. Ar-thur. Wo hope thq aajiic for like works at Manila Bay. ' Tho ' two proposilions havo uo closer connection than would I wo propositions ono lo fortify Bell-ingham Bell-ingham Harbor aud the other to fortify San Francisco Hay. In these coast places Inst named, both fortifications are necessary, and arc being strength, ctied j-cnr by year. Tho same should bo true as applied lo Pearl Harbor and Mauila Hay. Impregnable fortifications fortifica-tions in both places arc absolutely necessary ne-cessary in order to fully protect American Ameri-can interests, aud we Irust that before ma lo years havo gone by theso fortifications forti-fications at both places will bo so formidable as lo render Aniericau supremacy su-premacy iu each absolutely secure, safe from any possible attack. |
