The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-11

demand that the aQlnlHlstTution 10 i.e'
ting. with the exception of that denied
George III, will be granted by the FIJI
ptnos
Now. therefore, II the administrators
will say to he Fllipinos; We will M
deny you the one right which you clan
and which we enjoy. We Will grant ye
your Independence, but we reserve "
right to take such steps as are necessar
to enable us TO fulfill our obllgaholr
and conserve our rlghts--the Filipino
will lay down their arms al once.
If tine accep; ance of this ofer entaiis
Same definitely defined form OF sue
raiuty. or II it necessltated Joint actiti
in foreign affairs. the retention OF Amer
can troops. or he appointment Of Gu.
tens commissioner. the Filipinos Won
raise no objection, provided that the
conditions were not to be made porpetut'
These and all such questions are MATTE
Of detail, and could be included In
treaty.
do not think could more clear
define the nature and degree OF IND
pend ence demanded by the Filipinos4
to whether this definition would me
absolute independence" or limited
dependence" is mere matter Of t.
minology The Fiipinos are interest
in the facJ. not in the name. Nevertfe
less. since words are the symbols o,
things, there should be nc shrinking fro,
tho fact that the Filipinos do demand
dependence as defined above. And thtd
can be no hope of ending this war ur,e
that independence is granted to the
The F'ilpinos ardently desire peace,
they are prepared to sacrifice much
order 10 obtain 1t. But they VIII Amt
no man or nation, however powerfully
take from them their unalienable rig.
A 81 t., oh Il
But they hold that 1t is better to h.,
death with honor than to bow he hi
at the expense OF legitimate pride
self-respect This determination
sentiment is shared by practically ~ =,
whole population of he archipelete
with the partial exception of cent?,
Mindano and the Sulus.
But let there be no mlsapprenens, ;,
I. must mot be thought tina. our dei,n.i
and our plea for peace are due to any IVY
bility 10 carry on the war. Our fol-
ar, in q stronger position today than tx
ever were before. Th,E are ganlngss'
strength and in experience every day 10
rigors OF military rule and the rs
methods of deportation bind our pson
In the deathless determination never |
submit TO a nation which INDUCES i'll sly
practices. There will bn no difficultyh
Initiating he American patriots of IT,
and in carrying on the war for elght'e
even eighteen years
For men betrayed are mighty. nc
And great are the wrongfully deaf
We plead for peace but the plea is
the interests OF those who suffer aud
by sword and starvation; not because
fear. We can fight long, even il wen
to suffer much, for We are fighting =
hearth and home, and in a rightes-
cause. We are ready for peace; we tx
out the olive branch. But on that bra
is written. with the blood of brave rln
the word Liberty" For thai we are ven
ing to suffer; for that We are preparsa
die. But we viii mover submit to ]
liberty conferred upon us by he char
or ''beneyolence" of any man or nat
1t Is ours by right, not by bounty. %
With many thanks for your kindly'oo
terest in our sorsly stricken people, NY
with much respect, sincerely yours,
Sixto Lopee