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New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3437, 19 May 1898, Page 2

It is not to learn that the Government is in-

the triguing to prevent permaPHiLiPPiNBs. nont American possession of the Philippines, and . has enlisted the support of France and Germany. Obviously, these Powers and Russia (to whom the Japanese Government has appealed) are ■ interested in preventing acquisitions of territory by the United States in those seas, because they would tend to force a foreign policy on the Republic. Let this effect be achieved, and the United States would come very formidably into the list of fighting Powers. Her resources, wealth and inventive genius enable her to become a terrible enemy at any time, but possibilities of that kind are aggravated now in view of the growing movement in favour of an Anglo-American alliance. It is very questionable whether that alliance will ever come to anything, but it is evidently anticipated with dread by other Powers. In any case, it is known that the Americans propose to sell the Philippines to Britain, and so give her a potentially strong base in the vicinity of China, so that in either event the objection of the Powers is comprehensible. It is also logical in a way. It merely means compelling the Americans to adhere to the Monroe doctrine.

bankruptcy proceedings. There is also the debtor’s aspect to be considered. If bis wife and children need boots and ho has no cash to buy them with, are the family to go barefoot though a tradesman is willing to give : credit for what is wanted ? It is to be remembered, so far as the tradesman is concerned, that for one debtor who “ goes through the Court” there are many who pay their debts in full. To this majority credit is a necessity, as tradesmen find. And if credit for boots and shoes—which are necessities as much as meat and bread are—was refused, immense injury would be inflicted on thousands of people in the colony.