The independent., 1903-06-04
First MALAY Republic


Editor independent: Senator For
akers public declaration, in the early
portion of his first senatorial term,
that, In his opinion, Emilio Agninaldo
compared favorably with any living
statesman, not excepting President
Mckinley, may furnish food for re-
flection.
It is not the least of the misfof-
tunes of national crimes that they in
eyitably obscure personal wrongs. In
the closing years of the nineteenth
century drama was being enacted in
q distant southern sea. 1t was that
national drama to which a people
looks back through the vista of what
ever national achievement, as tn,
r-essaesst heritage CT their national
life-that drama of such SURPRISING
interest to the Father of men and to
the brotherhood of the just through
ont the earth, when people, true to
the destiny of all peoples similarly
situated, throws off foreign yoke,
and proclaims itself, under its own
constitutional government, free and
Independent nation.
The destruction of the Spanish feet
on May /, 1898, and the subsequent CO.
operation of our marines with the
Filipinos in the investment Of Manila
by destroying the last stronghold OF
Spanish power had enabled Aguinal-
do, Mabini, and other patriotic states
men to convene Filipino congress
and themselves assume executive pow
er until, as they declared, their success
sors should be elected under the
forms Of constitutional government.
A provisional constitution, modelled
on our own, was promulgated, and the
fruition of the aspirations and stfug-
gles Of two hundred years seemed at
hand
But just at this time, certain gentle
men, 5000 miles away, the benefieiar
les of every opportunity for personal
honor and emolument which a great
and free government can afford, not
content with guiding the destinies Of
their own country, suddenly imagined
that by seizing some tropical islam Is
on the other side of the globe, over
throwing the first republic of the
Orient, and shooting the people into
submission, they would aggrandize
themselves and incidentally the United
States So the Filipino congress was
dispersed, the provisional president
OF the republic was hunted into the
mountains, and the secretary Of state
was exiIed to lonely island of the
Pacific, 1000 miles from his native
land, to muse on the hypocrisy OF
American liberty.
The Filipino people were thus de-
prived Of the able and patriotic lead
ers given them by Providence. But the
wickedness of our course involved still.
more. The reasonable and honorable
ambitions of the men comprising the
first and only Filipino congress and
cabinet-am ambitious not so much for
personal honor as to lay broad and
deep the foundations of constitutional
liberty for ten millions Of their fell
lowmen-the same ambitions whose,
realization had brought imperishablc
honor to the fathers of the American
republic-it was such honorable am
billions as these that were condemned
to failure by the contemplate selfish
ness of the politicians who disgraced
our government.
Aguinaldo, MabinI, and their de-
voted compatriots may not live to
see, in this life, the fruition of their
hopes. But one day they will face
William Mckinley and his associates
before q tribunal not of mans estab-
lishment. And not the least of the
indictments to which the Americans
on that dread day, shall bow the head
with shame unspeakable, will be, that
they, in the pride of their power, as
the chief representatives of a great,
free, Christian nation, hesitated not,
in the furtheranee of their own I'M
holy ambitions, to crush the fair pros
poets OF the arst republic builders OF
the Malay race, and, by SO doing, deny
to those, their weak brown brothers
Of another cline, the realization of
some of the noblest ambitions that
can stir the human heart.
JOHN SAMPSON.
Washington, d. c.