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Sen. Albert Beveridge ** Occupation ** I am a United States Senator from Indiana and have been so for twelve years. I am also an American historian. I wrote //What is Back of the War, The Life of John Marshall,// and //Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1858// (two volumes). I feel that we, as the United States, should annex the Philippines to our great nation. The islands contain many useful purposes that the United States could benefit from. Trade, power, and resources all can be obtained from these islands. We would be foolish not to acquire these land masses. __ Personal Experience __ I have taken an exploratory trip to the Philippines to see first hand the islands and those who inhabit them. I have spoken to many of the occupants of the islands and through my research I was better able to understand the Filipino race and islands. I feel that I know, better than most, what would be best for theses people, as well as the United States due to my studies in the Philippines. __ Trade with China __ The Philippines would hold further trade with Asia for America. It is only logical that trade with China would benefit our nation. After all, the U.S. is closer to China than other nations such as England, Germany, or Russia. The Philippines, being so near to China, provide a window of opportunity for commerce and trade. If we desert the Philippines, we will not be able to retrieve it later; however, if we obtain the Philippines and they show to be a mistake, we can easily let them go. “The Philippines are ours forever. . . And just beyond the Philippines are China’s illimitable markets.” __ The Powers of the Pacific __ The Pacific Ocean possesses other advantages to the United States. “And the Pacific is the ocean of the commerce of the future. Most future wars will be conflicts for commerce. The power that rules the Pacific, therefore, is the power that rules the world. And, with the Philippines, that power is and will forever be the American Republic.” The Philippines are putting us in the mix with other countries. “The Philippines bring us permanently face to face with the most sought-for customers of the world.” The Pacific Ocean provides us with control and power. “Today we have one of the three great ocean possessions of the globe, located at the most commanding commercial, naval, and military points in the eastern seas, within hail of India, shoulder to shoulder with China, richer in its own resources than any equal body of land on the entire globe, and peopled by a race which civilization demands shall be improved.” __ Philippine Resources __ The Philippines themselves hold an abundance of resources such as rice, coffee, sugar, coconuts, hemp, and tobacco. Additionally, wood for furniture construction and coal for fuel are plentiful. I first hand have seen the bountiful resources of the land on these islands. The islands also occupy great mineral deposits such as copper which remain unmoved. “I have a nugget of pure gold picked up in its present form on the banks of a Philippine creek.” The Philippines contain other goods the United States needs and that we can not make ourselves. I allied with, as well as was aided by President Theodore Roosevelt, and Senators Robert M. LaFollette of Wisconsin, Jonathan P. Dolliver of Iowa, and Moses Clapp of Minnesota. "Albert Jeremiah Beveridge." //GaleNet//. Web. 28 Mar. 2010. . "Albert Jeremiah Beveridge." //GaleNet//. Web. 28 Mar. 2010. . "Albert Jeremiah Beveridge." //GaleNet//. Web. 28 Mar. 2010. . "Excerpt of Our Philippine Policy." //GaleNet//. Web. 28 Mar. 2010. .
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