The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-10

BOSTON, Mass, Nov. 10-"Under any
conditions involving withholding of in
dependence. the Filipinos viii continue
to fight in defence.
This was the reply of Senior sixto Lo-
peg, formerly member of the Filipino
| Commission to the United States, and
close associate of Agu!naIds. when asked
what would be the course of his people
| He refused to discuss the result of the
election, but agreed to answer any peril
nent questions After the interview he
read and signed the statement of his
views
What will induce the Fflipinos to stop
fghting?" he was asked
First, the granting of independence. :"
he replied. Second. a definite promise
of independence Third. declaration of
policy by the Administration placing the
Philippines in a similar siti n to Cuba
ANY one Of these would result in an i'm
mediate cessation of hostIuties. ard
/ everything, including foreign ob.ig tons.
! protection 10 life and property, coaling
! stations military and naval bases could
be arranged by friendly negotiations
DO they recognize American resp -nsi-
bilities to the world at large since the
/ United States has driven out Spain?''
I Yes. But these responsibilities ought
I &c be discharged by America, and not at
/ the expense of the Philippine iadepend-
/ ence. Those responsibilities. in SO lar
( as the Treaty Of Paris is concerned, were
/ undertaken by america without consult
/ ing US. They ought. therefore, 10 Be dis
/ charged without making Us pay the u hole
I OF the~p penalty They surely involve some
! sacrifice on the part Of the United
/ States"
IF so. what guarantee can your people
! offer for an orderly government that viii
satisfy Europe and justify American
/ withdrawal
We nave never undertaken TO satisfy
those who would never be satisfied no
matter what we did. We can only say
that We are ripe for independent govern
ment. and we believe that re shall be q
as strong a position as Japan now ccca-
pies.
But if America has undertaBen 10 sat
isfy all the demands Of Europe. I should
say that the only legitimate way TO do so
would be to protect the Independence of
the Philippines This would mean the pos
sibility OF sacrifice by America but The
responsibility is hers, not ours rNeverthe-
less, if some means can be found by which
the Philippine Government could provide
some suitable guarantees. the Filipino
would willingly agree 10 such an arrange
mem
There is a widespread impression that
conflicting tribal interests and trivial am
billions Of ehieftains would lead to civil
var If the Americans withdrew -
The impression is entirely erroneous.
There are no tchieftsius' ptin Central
Mindanao and the Sulus, and they are not
rivals in any special sense Nineteen
twentieJhs OF the population would sup
port an independent FiIipino Government
under Aguinaldo's or any other elected ad-
minisratioH. There are no rival factions
OF tribes at enmity with each other. There
are no feuds which would lead 10 inter
necine wars
All those rumors anl impressions are
the result purely OF imagination. The Fill
pinos themselves know nothing OF these
racial animositfes But wky speculate
upon what might exist when there are facts
as TO what did exist2 The Filipinos were
in sole command OF the archipelago for six
or seven months; for q considerable time
they were in sole possession of IloiIo. which
contained foreign population and a Span
isb garrison.
During this time there were no Iootiuys
OF massacTes no tribal feuds or tearing Of
threats none OF the horrors so confidently
predicted BY those who know least about
our people and country On the contrary.
there was good order, efficient protection
10 life and property, and peace and tran
guilty throughout the islands These facts
are worth more than reams Of speculation.
We are 10 be judged at all, we ought
10 De judged by what we are and what
may Go"
IF the Americas Government is not re-
sponsible for the future conduct of the FL
ipinos or what ground could it protest
against European aggression p
On the same ground as America pro-
tests against European aggression in South
AnlsIica- Is America responsible for the
conduct Of the South Americans?'
Il America should withdraw would not
some eolcny-seeking European nation he
likely to seize the islands2''
/ do not think So II the Filipinos in
an unarmed condition have been able 20
resist $1,000 American troops. backed by a
meet OF WarshIps, could they not. if ade-
quateiy armed and organized compieteIv
resist any European nation2 The cost of
subcuiRs the Fiiipinos would in itself he
an adequate protection No country. with
the exception OF America and England has
sufficient money for the task. which. if
viewed in the light of a speculation. would
not be enticing- I believe the danger is
very much exaggerated. What about Jap
amp
Manila, and would they be safe under a
native government? p"
The foreign interests in Manila would
receive adequate protection under our Gov
eminent, but the foreign trader who is
making money out Of oSr country must he
prepared to take the risks, If there be anv
with profits. have no doubt the foreign
trader would prefer to have it all profit and
no risk, but the F5lipinos saSfthat the for
eign trader isn't the only man to be con
sideTed''
Would not the residents Of the islands
who have favored American annexation be
in Peril Of the same perss cudion that was
visited on the tories aftere the American
Revolution - 5ff
No. they would not. There will no
doubt be individual anfmos.fiess which in
some cases may-and with sastiee-Iead to
broken heads. but Aguinalda,s attitude is
that all such things should and will be for
gotten and forgiven under The blessings of
peace and independence But even IL these
'Amerlcanistae' were in the same peril as
the tories. that would notI be reason
against Philippine independence any mere
than II was a reason against. American in
dependence
DO the Filipinos admit that America
has claim for compensation because of
having driven out the Spaniards. and would
they willingly cede Manila to the United
States as coaling station in recognition OF
this claim?''
THE Filipinos admit Americas Just
claims for the iDestimable service rem
dered. But personally think 1t is hardly
fair to ask for the cession of Manila. our
capital. This. however. would be a detail
which should first be authoritatively asked