The National tribune., 1898-10-13
THE CLAIM OF THE FIIIpINos.

K
his case to President Mckinley a very
excellent representative, in the person
of Felipe Agoncillo, his Secretary. a
man of ability, educa ton, and standing.
So far Agoncillo has made very good
impression. He talks temperately and
reasonably, and his words command at
tention. His first request is that the
Filpinos be allowed to be heard at the
Paris Conference. This seems Just. The
Spaniards will be heard there, IN er-
tense, and certainly the other side should
be given hearing. Agoncillo then
presents the desires of his people in this
order Of preference
/. Complete abrogation of the Span
ish rule in all the islands
2. Absolute independence of all the
islands under Government to be
formed by Aguinaldo.
8. An American protectorate over
the islands.
4. Annexation as an American
colony.
Agoncillo describes in warm colors the
perfection of the present insurgent Gov
ernment, and has the utmost confidence
that complete independence would re-
suit in building up prosperous, stable,
civilized country like Japan.
Unfortunately for his claims the world
has had very large experience with
colonies which have won their indie
pendence from Spain and tried their
hands at selfgovernment. San Do
mingo, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicar-
aqua, Costa Rica, San Salvador,
Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecua-
dor, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina,
and Chile are not reassuring exam
Piles. With the exception of Mexico,
Argentine and Chile, not one of them,
after nearly so years of trial, turmoil,
bloodshed and continual revolutions,
has succeeded in building up a fairly
respectable Government. Their So
called Governments are simply success
full raids of one band of political ad-
venturers, who plunder the people until
another combination is formed strong
enough to overthrow them and plumber
the people themselves.
Mexico has peace and prosperity at
last because an unusually strong man
has developed, who has made himself
Dictator, and rules the country wisely
and justly, but despotically. Whether
at Porfrio Diaz's death or overthrow
another equally good man will rise up
to take his place is n painful problem.
Chile has secured peace and prosperity
through the rule OF powerful little
oligarchy of landowners, who have so
far succeeded wonderfully in maintain
ing themselves in power.
After more than half century Of
the most frightful internal convulsions,
accompanied by wholesale massacres
and prescriptions, the Argentine Con-
federation has seemingly worked out
something like satisfactory and stable
Government.
The material from which to form a
Government in the Philippines seems
ncomparably less promising than that
in the Spanish-American States, and it
appears hopeless to student Of history
that the Filipinos, if left to themselves,
can possibly do as we'll as the worst Of
the Spanish American States did
Agoncilo implies that if the Filipinos
cannot be granted complete independ-
ence, then they will willingly accept
such form of dependence upon this
country as may be granted. They want
to be utterly free from Spain, and to go
to no other but this.
i THE President is very weary of the
constant promises of the Spaniards to
hasten the evacuation of Porto Rico
and Cuba, while taking very slow steps
in that direction. 1t is apparent to
every one that the occupation Of the
islands and their offices is entirely toe
profitable to the Spanish officers, from
Blanco down, to have them relinquish il
| Al. l.