Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-09-28
A Filipino View.

Following is an extract from an ar
ticle in the North American Review,
written by a member of the Fill, inc
Cabinet. II it contains a statement
that is untrue, we would like TO have
some of our benevolent assimilation"
organs point 1t out. As product Of
a nation unfit to govern themselves, it
certainly ranks high, and at least gives
promise of improvement under favor
able conditions Here it is:
| "Gre us the chance; treat us exactly as you de-
manded 10 be treated at the hands Of England when
you reheed against her antocratic methods, Deal
only with facts in rational and consistent way
Leave ompircism alone and address yourselves ser
iously to the work OF seeking the solution that shall
be honorable to both parties We know all the wire
puers Who at work. We can tell you far more
than you know, for we know our country and our
country men, their past history, and what is neces
sarv for their future good,
Now, here is an uniqle spectacle-the Filipnos
fighting for liberty, the American people lighting
them TO give them liberty. The two people are Tight
ing on parallel lines for the object We know
that parallel lines never meet
Let us look back TO discover the point at which the
lines separated and the OF the separation,
that we may estimate the possibility OF one or the
other both being turned nwards so that they shall
meet again
You declared war with Spain for the sake Of hu.
mainly You announced to the world that your pro
gramne TO set Cuba free, in conformity to your
constitutional principles one Of your abest officials
gave 1t as his opinion that the Filipnos were far
more competent to govern themselves than the Gu
ban people
You entered into an alliance with our chiefs at Hong
Kong and at Singapore, and you promised us your
aid and protection in our attempt to form govern
ment on the principles and after the model of the
government 1f the United States. Thereupon you
sent powerful fleet to Manila and demolished th
old Spanish hulks striking terror into the hearts of
the Spanish garrison in Manila In combination with
our forces, you compelled Spain to surrender, and
you proclaimed that you held the city, port and bay
OF Manila until such time as you should determine
what you meant by the word control" applied to
the Of the islands. BY mysterious process
heretofore unknown to civilized nations you resolved
control" into Sovereignty the pretense that
what is paid for is possession" matter what the
quality OF the title may be.
Let us go into details. You went to Manila under
distinct understanding with us, fully recognized by
Admiral Dewey that your object and ours was a
common We your accepted allies we as
sisted you at all points. We bcsieged Manila, and
prevented the Spaniards from leaving the forth
town We captured all the provinces of Luzon. We
received arms from YOU our chiefs We're in constant
touch with your naval authorities Your consuls
We'd with each other in their efforts TO arrange mat
tiers according to the promise made to us by your
otiicials-we hailed on as the long prayed for Mes
siah.
You will never conquer the Philippine Islands by
force alone. How many soldiers in Of the reg
uar army do YOU to leave IN every town, in
every province! Ho" many VIII the climate clalih as
its victims apart from those who may fail in actual
warfare? What do the American people, who have
thousands OF acres vet untiili with the Phil
ippnesf Have you figured up the cost
The conclusion of the whole matter is this: You
duped at the beginning You took wrong
step; and had not sufficient moral courage to re-
trace it. You must begin by conquerng the hearts
Of the Philippine people BE absolutely Just, and
you can lead them with sken cord where chains OF
steel will not drag them. We excuse your want oil
knowledge in the past, for You have had no expert
ence in treating with our people; but retrieve youi
mistake now. while there is time.
Lay down your arms, you say. Did you lay
down your arms when you, too were rebels, and the
English under good King George demanded YOU
submission How in the name of all that is serious
do you demand that shall do what you, being
rehels refused to do