Washington sentinel., 1901-01-19
The Filipino Petition.

United States and respectfully
show that Americans have beer
deceived respecting conditions in
the Philippines, past and present
A whole series OF official fctions
is, in fact, swept away by the as
sertlons Of these men who know.
It would be unkind, perhaps, to 90
back TO poor Gen. Otis, who had
peace and plenty officially estab-
lished in the archipelago so many
months ago; but both Philippine
Commissions, and the President
who took their word for it, are LETT
in very awkward position by the
authentic testimony Of those in
possession OF the facts. All the
old fiatteriug unctions about the
mass OF the people. as distin.
guished from ladrones, especially
all the "men Of intelligence and
property" being anxious to sub
init to the authority OF the United
States, except where "coerced by
armed bands OF TagaloGs;" Judge
Tait's assertion last August that
the majority OF the people" we're
friendly" "longed for peace, 4"
and we're willing to accept gov
trnment under the United States, q"
must now be set down under the
head OF things which we should
like to believe, and would believe
if the evidence were not the other
way. These Filipino petitioners
assert and prove that national in
dependence has been their aim
since 1894; that Aguinaldo is "the
idol Of the people, " + be-
cause he understands the aspira-
tions Of the country" They affirm
that from the very first days OF the
revolution, the peaceful people
" * have literally supported
in private the national soldiers"
and will do so "as long as the war
lasts" "All the islands OF the
archipelago, they declare, "aresup-
porting the arms Of the revolu.
ton" as also that the promulga-
tion OF the Phi ippine republic
"has been celebrated with the
greatest enthusiasm in all the for
ests, mountains, barrios, towns,
and cities of the archipelago"
The petitioners take up temper
ately the various proposed make
shifts, short OF independence, and
show how impossible each is, be-
cause it neither fits the facts nor
satisfies the indestructible aspira-
tions Of the Filipino race. An
nexation as an American State is
inadmissible, on account OF dis
tance, diversity ofrace, and, above
all, unwilIingness Of the people to
be annexed. Autonomy under
American rule, such as Canada en-
joys under British rule, would not
meet the case. "If the natives,
who know the wants, customs, and
aspirations of the people, are not
fit to govern them, would the
Americans. who have had but little
to do with the Filipinos, be more
capable OF governing them1" This
question has its sufficient COM
mentary in the daily dispatches
from Manila telling or Judge Taft's
vain efforts to persuade the natives
that he knows better than they do
what kind OF schools they desire.
Throughout the entire position
there breathes an unconquerable
will. The appeal is drawn with
the dignity and ability which Sen
ator Hoar has we'll said chara cter-
ize all the documents published in
the name OF the Philippine repub-
lie. There is no denuuciation OF
the United States. No word OF
blame or hate is uttered against
our army. But in all there is evil
dent the proud tenacious spirit that
will never submit or surrender,
and that, even il shackled by
superior force, would simply bide
It's time and wait for a new oppor-
tunity to strike for freedom, dearer
to it than life. The whole shows
in the most conclusive way the in
sensate folly Of our Governmental
persis ing IN a course which every
body can now see to have been a
huge mistake from its inception.
A fire was lighted in the Philip
pines, and our remedy was to stop
up the chimney We and the Fill
iPinos are alike choking in the re-
sul.ant smoke. How long will
the Administration--how long will
Congress-wait before seeing that
the only recourse is to clear out
the chimney