The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1899. GERMANY THREATENED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9644, 17 January 1899, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1899. GERMANY THREATENED.

Thk speech of Mr Berry, a Democrat member of the United States House of Kepresentatives, referring to the Philippines, contained a threat to the effect that America ■would yet be obliged to whip Germany. This threat, the cable message states, was loudly applauded. The reason for the threat and its favourable reception by the House was, it seems, the impression in that chamber and in the country that Germany has been aiding the Filipinos to resist the permanent occupation of the islands by the United States, which claims them as part of the spoils of the late Spanish-American war, which was ostensibly entered into by the latter country to free the Cubans and Filipinos from the Spanish yoke. Having defeated Spain, and com pelled her to give up all claim to the above-named colonial possessions, it might have been expeoted that the United States Government would have handed them over to their native owners, but there was an insuperable difficulty in the way of such a proceeding, inasmuch as the Cubans and Filipinos, having got rid of their Spanish rulers, began to harass the foreign residents ou the 'islands, and to show an intention'of confiscating their property, and compelling them to leave tho islands. As there are numerous Americans in both Cuba and the Philippines who have embarked in business pursuits, and sunk a great deal of money in con nection therewith, to say nothing of a valuable trade between these islands and the United States, the Government of the latter country came to the decision that for the present at all events it must keep possession of its newlyacquired territory, and protect its subjects there against the native population. Germany has been strongly suspected in America of aiding the Filipinos, who have lately threatened to destroy Manila if the United States forces attempted to take possession of Iloilo. In tho Berliner Neusto Nachrichten of a late date it is stated that if America claims the Philippines, and attempts to establish the American Customs tariff there, " this is a pointon which an understanding with England,with a view to joint action, appears to us to be indispensable " Tho German Minister for Foreign Affairs haa cabled to the American Government denying the statements made in the House of Representatives that Germany has been aiding the Filipinos, but it is doubtful whether the American people, in the face of the attitude of tho German warships in Philippine waters during and since the war, will accept this denial. That Britain will do anything to jeopardise the good feeling that has arisen of late between herself and the American people, merely to assist Germany in her desire to get a footing in the Philippines, we do not for one moment believe, , .Nor do we think the American people will be unwise enough to rush into war with a powerful natiou like Germany from a mere jingoistic impulse. The threat was a silly one from eyery point of view, and should not have met with the applause it did, as it is certain that if America were to declare war on Germany she would, find she had undertaken a very different task from that she so successfully accomplished with respect to Spain, as Germany has a very powerful navy and an immense army of splendidly-drilled and equipped men. It would not suit Germany to go to war with America, as by so doing Bhe would invite attack from France, where the army would only be too glad of an opportunity of turning public attention from the Dreyfus scandal, and concentrating ii on a struggle for the recovery of Alsace and Lorraine. It, therefore, behoves Germany to keep from need lessly irritating the American people over the Philippines, which, with Cuba, must be governed for somo time by America, as otherwise they would become the scene of anarchy and rapine, owing to internal disagreements, and have to be sooner or later taken possession of by a Power strong enough to restore lav/ and order.