The San Francisco call., 1901-11-14
FILIPINO ASPIRATIONS.

M don nj from ON official reports Thsse dsa ruth
fully with official conditions the state of the
revenues, the cost of civil and military adminstra-
tor, but they give glimpse OF the condition OF the
twelve lions of people the islands, OF their So
cial and industrial and their civic aspirations
1t IS beginning be apparent that too much has
been expected, Immediately, from the presence OF
several hundred American teachers among that peo-
pie. The work they may do will appear in two or
three generations from now but for the present will
but slightly change the spirit of the people In the
FIST place, they conquered people. AS for
learning and letters, they had both when Magellan
visited them and they independent. They had
partal1er of the East Indian civilization. They had
felt the Vedantic missionary touch before Buddhism
was So they have past that is history of law and
social order among them, preceding the settlement
OF this continent by their conquerors They are now
moving along the line of an aspiration for au-
tcnomy and for limited self government. We may
as well realize that rule, being that OF con-
queror, is more acceptable than that of Spain
They have adopted one American practice for
they have held convention and passed resolutions
This body sat in Manila, and as we learn by direct
advices it represented constituency of 100000 mem
bers of the Federal party from all the islands and
including all the tribes. Senors Tavera and Legarda
ttO OiilICO ~ldtCS AhlpPlHS COMMISSION were
delegates, three members of the Supreme
Court This convention debated the suppression of
the religious communities, the demand for general
amnesty, the return of Filipnos whom we have ex-
lied and the erection of territorial government 1t
hnaly adopted petition to Congress asking that the
islands be made Territory of the United States
with Governor appointed by the President with
Legislature Of two houses the upper one to consist
OF thirty members sixteen of whom shall be elected
by the people and the other fourteen to be appointed
r by the Governor. They also demand two delegates
OF the islands to the United States Senate This is
novelty. Our Territories heretofore have had dele
gates to the House, but have no doubt that
Hawaii Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona will
join these bright Filipino politicians in demanding
admission by delegate to the Senate also Indeed
there is considerable merit in the plan. Strict ius
tice to those people will require that they have in
some form direct representation in our Congress-
Humanity and political expediency require this The
late Consul General Wildman early warned our
Government that the Fipinos could not safely he
treated as we have treated our Indians AS we have
made Commissioners and Supreme Court Justices If
them, they have the right to inquire why tbev NAV
not have delegate representation in our Congress
and why should We say mo-? This drama has un-
folded and the scroll cannot be rolled I'D now. but
be unrolled to the end
The convention by resolution stated the ravage
and impoverishment caused by our war of CONQUEST
and asked the American Congress to authorize the
issue OF $Ioooooooo of fty-year per cent bonds 70
put the people on their industrial feet again
In fact, looking over the character and proceedings
OF this representative body an American is compe1Ied
to admit that it compared favorably with any con-
vention held during the year anywhere in our do
minions, and in some respects quite superior to
the constitutional convention of Cuba
1t is a beginning, and further manifestations of
ideas on civil government by those people will be
awaited with interest
Memphis is to give Admiral schley silver service,