The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-02-16
THE FILIPINO SITUATION.
Sixto Lopez States the Demands Of
the Filipinos

Sixto Lopez, the Filipino emissary IN
this country, has written letter to the
American Peace Society, in which he shows
the attitude Of the Filipinos. He says:
1.-THE Administration is demanding GER
tain rights in the Philippines. These are,
50 far as / can discover
~. The right and the means to fulfill
certain (unspeeifed) obligations to other
nations.
s2. The right and the means to protect
life and property foreign and native.
s'3. A basis of trade and military opera
tions for the Far East.
81 Coaling stations.
s'5. The right, or the desire, to raise
us-by process called benevolent assimi-
lation-out of condition of savagery
which does not exist in our country.
In order to obtain these rights the Ad-
ministration demands that our people shall
surrender Internationally and submit to
American sovereignty.
ssThe Filipinos, on the other hand, de-
mand one unalienable right, namely, indie
pendence, or the right to institute a gov
ernment deriving its just powers from the
consent, not of any foreign nation, but of
the governed. 1t is only by the exercise
of this right that the Filipinos will be able
to secure equitable laws, insure just admin
istration and prevent the exploitation of
their country and its resources.
But while firm in this demand, the
Filipinos are prepared to yield to the United
States every thing included or implied in
the above list from | to A inclusive. In
addition to CHS, they are prepared to re-
pay, in whole or in part, the $40, 900, 600
paid to Spain, if the demand be made by
the United States.
As to paragraph 5, the Filipinos do not
want and will not accept anything in the
form of benevolence or charity from any
nation in the world. But if any American
citizen or citizens desire to embark in mis-
sionary enterprise, and if they really think
that there are those in the Philippines who
need special enlightenment, they would be
at liberty to spend their missionary zeal !.
without let or hindrance The Filipinos
would only reserve the right to recommend
that such missionary zeal be expended on
Spain, or Turkey, or Russia, or the east
end of London, or perhaps in some parts
of America where education and enlighten-
ment are more urgently needed than in the
Philippines.
cit will therefore be seen that every de-
mand the Administration is making, with
the exception of that denied to George III,
will be granted by the Filipinos.
''Now, therefore, if the Administration
will say to the Filipinos, We will not deny
you the one right which you claim and
which we enjoy. We will grant you your
independence, but we reserve the right to
take such steps as are necessary to enable
us to fulfill our obligations, and conserve
our rights-the Filipinos will lay down
their arms at once.
eff the acceptance of this offer entailed |
some definitely defined form of suzerainty,
or if it necessitated joint action in foreign
affairs, the retention of American troops,
or the appointment of customs commits
sioner, the Filipinos would raise no objec-
ton, provided that these conditions were
not to be made perpetual. These and all
such questions are matters of detail, and
could be included in treaty.
81 do not think | could more clearly
define the nature and degree of indepen-
dence demanded by the Filipinos As co
whether this definition would mean 'abso-
lutte independence or Limited indepen-
dence' is mere matter of Technology.
The Flipinos are interested in the fact,
not in the name. Nevertheless, since
words are the symbols of things, there
should be no shrinking from the fact that
the Filipinos do demand independence as
defined above. And there can be no hope
of ending this war until that independence
is granted to them.
"We plead for peace, but the plea is
in the interests of those who suffer and die
by sword and starvation; not because Of
fear. We can fight long, even if we have
to suffer much, for we are fighting for
hearth and home, and in righteous
cause. We are ready for peace; we hold
out the olive branch But on that branch
is written, with the blood of brave men,
the word Liberty. For that we are
willing to suffer; for that we are prepared
to die But we will never submit to have
liberty conferred upon us by the charity
or 'benevolence' of any man or nation; it
is ours by right, not by bounty