The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-07
PERSONAL RIGHTS FOR FILIPINos

In his eloquent and patriotic speech on
he defended American policy with regard
to those islands and emphatieally ex-
pressed attachment to the. program Of
holding them, Senator Morgan said he op-:
posed the, bill because 1t did not recog-
nize the American citizenship Of the Fill
iptnos. His argument was that all per-
sons over whom the sovereignty of the
United States is extended are entitled to
the privileges and benefits Of American
citizenship. To declare that a person Is
citizen of the United States entities
him to all the personal rights of any cit-
izen OF the United States. It does not
entitle him to political. power or intlu-
enee, but it guarantees to him the civil
attributes of a free man. -;
when we deny to Filpinos," said Sen
ator Morgan, "the character. Of citizen
ship OF the United States We deny to
them the privilege Of demanding these
personal rights and all political privi-
leges that. might be based upon
them. We demand their allegiance.
which means obedience to law and the
duty of making of sacrifice, even Of life,
that may be required to support the SOW
ereiGnty of the government; and in return
we owe them protection under the laws
Of nature and of nations, and the security
of the personal rights and lihert i sfss,
anteed to all citizens of !" the United
States under our constitution. sssE %5S<::~g!
There seems to be reluctance to extend
American citizenship: to either Porto RICO
or the Philippines. The Hawalians are
citizens but the Porto Ricans are merely
citizens5of Porto Rico. and the Filipinos
are merely recognized as the Filipino
people. The reluctance ,probablys pros
ceeds from fear; that the recognition OF
citizenship will soon be followed by in
sistent demands for the political: rights
that usually 60 with American citizenship,
though there is no constitutional connec-
ton between the two <4sxs. m " y
But amendments to the senate bill: have
largely met Senator Morgan.s objections.
These amendun entst extend to Filiplnos
abroad the same protection = that: the
American citizen receives; and guarantee
to- them all the personal rights that are
inseparable from American. citizenship,
except trial by jury and the right to bear
arms Trial by Jury IS plainly not suited
to the promotion Of justice in the Philip
pines Even here at home it is not held
in the esteem it once; was. The grant OF
the right to bear arms is a survival from
feudal times, when it was a measure OF
protection against despotism:.. It. ~ no
protection Of that kind now: To reeog nize
the right to bear arms in the Philippines
would be to promote insurrection. The
use of arms for bunting and for. protec-
| ton against ladrones will doubtless be
permitted by the civil authorities when
the political reconstruction Of the Islands
has been completed, but as an inalienable
right it will not exist.
The Filipinos ought to: be pretty well
satisfied with American protection
| abroad, American order at home and with
| the personal rights Of religion, OF petit
| ton, of assembly, of freedom OF speech
! and press, freedom from the quarterins
| Of soldiers upon them in time Of peace,
/ security in persons, houses, papers and
4 effects against unreasonable searches
| and seizures, due process Of law IN cases
that may lead to deprivation of life. lib
4 erty or property; compensation for pr.
! yate property taken for public purposes
/ and guarantees against excessive: bail and
cruel or unusual punishments. -