The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-06-21

qualification that a majority Of the
Filipinos are in favor of American SOW
ereignty, says SiXto Lopez in Gun
toms Magazine.
Now, have no desire to impugn the
honesty VI the good intentions Of Gov
ernor Taft. When he makes the above
statement | have no doubt he regards
it us true. But the explanation of his
error will be found i'll the fact that no
Filipino is allowed to express opinions
in favor of Philippine Independence.
All such expressions, whether i'll the
native press or through any other
channel, have all along and by the re
cent sedition law been prohibited as
being inimica to the success f the :
called specification of the islands,"
| The American authorities have thus
| placed Il seal upon the lips OF every
Filipino who is opposed to American
rule and those only who are favorable
to American sovereignty are allowed
| 10 express tnelf Opinions.
During the present disturbed state
in the Philippines it is quite impcssi
bic for Il foreigner. even with the abil-
ity of Govcrncr Taft, accurately to
gauge the opinions of S,OOO,O0O or TO-.
ooo,0o0 of people who speak different
language and who are restrained from
expressing their opinions. Under pres
cnt circumstances it would perhaps be
Il difficult and costly operation to take
Il pebiscite of the whole archipelago,
but a vote could he taken in, say ten of
the principal or most Representatives
cities. including Manila. The result
would be interesting and surprising,
for | am sure that not one per cent
of the Filipinos would vote in fay or
of American rule.
The Anglo-SaXnn knows that even
the average man, the artisan and the
l&borcr, prefers to reign in his humble
cottage, with the independence which
ii gives, rather than to serve in Il
palace. What is thus true of the in
divitl,lal is true of an aggregation OF
individuals lit is true of mankind gen.
orally. and is therefore true of the
Filipinos. We have a provcrb in our
country which says: st is better to
be the head of a rat than the tail Ct
the lion
The Filipinos. like the Americans
prefer to be men, even in poverty,
rather than subjects in luxury. They
prefer selfrespect even at the cost Of
great suffering, rather than be serfs
under Il millennia government pro-
vidal by Il master.
A sclf-impused burden, however
heavy, may BE- borne with cheerfulness;
it does not crush the soul. But when
one is compelled to bear even feath-
erweght the free spirit implanted by
God in man begins to rebel. This was
true Of the American patriots Of 1776.
The tax OH tea did not seriously touch
| any IoNhSt, uul IL IOuCIlctl CNSty
ones pride.
Surely the manly American must
when he speaks of giving the Fill,
have temporarily forgotten all this
pines prosperity under American
rule"
1t therefore requires no special plead.
ing to show that not only are the
Filipinos opposed to American rule
but that they will so remain as long
MS they remain men.
There is not Il man in the fDrty-tivc
states Of the great Union who could
or would suffer Il foreign flag to wave
in authority over his country. Under
such foreign rule lie might have til,
same prrs anal liberty, the same insti
buttons, tn" most perfected f I'm oil
prize most of all would be gone. Their,
is certainly not Il man, Or woman
either, lrrm the Golden Gate to Capt
Cod. retaining the Self-rcSrect of his
fellows. who would not b, prepared
to suffer. and to die if necessary in or
der to maintain the independence OF
his country.
In this respect the Filipinos do MOI
differ from the Americans.
1t is conceivable that a bencvolcn
burglar might intend to invest til.
proceeds of his craft for the benefits
of the owner, but the latter might
reasonably object, if for II, other rea
son, on the ground that such good in
tentions were without precedent. Sim
ilarly the Filipinos might ransack his
tory without discovering that any
country had yet been subjugated fol
the benefit of the native owners.
The Filipino knows that nationa
freedom has always been paid for a
the terrible cost of blood and tears
They know also--and many years age
they gave expression to their knowl
edge-that theirs would be no cxcep
ton to the UNMARRIED rule. Yet they de
termined to pay the price. And 1t l.
A., y r,% l,,t ~,