The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-12
JOHN |. GR|FF|THS AT
KICKAPOO CLUB BANQUET
Secretary Taft, John L. Webster
and Congressman Grosvenor
Also Spoke.
FUTURE OF FILIPINOS

PEORIA, IL, April 1.-Secretary of War
Taft. speaking at the eighth annual BAN
quet Of the Kickapoo Club. tonight clearly
outlined the course to be pursued by the
administration in the Philippines, and re-
piled to the queries of critics as to the date
on which the administration proposed to
grant independence to the Filipinos by
stating that the time for a final decision
was not at hand, nor would it be for prob
ably several generations
He even went further when he declared
that at the end of that time. when the
Fflipinos had reached a stage where they
were capable of self-government they
might be we'll satisfied with the govern
ment of this country that they would pre-
fer to maintain a relation like that which
now binds Australia and Canada with
Great Britain
Other speakers at the banquet were Con-
gresham Grosvenor, who spoke of 1.-The
President the Hon. John L. Webster, of
Nebraska, who spoke of The Republican
Party, and John l.. Griffiths, of Indiana,
of American Statesmen
Secretary Taft spoke in part as follows:
"A number of excellent and prominent
gentlemen have signed a petition which has
been given wide circulation making the two
great political parties to promise in their
platforms, to the Filipino people that they
will ultimately be given their independence
by the United States. The Democratic
party, having already declared insfavor of
immediate independence of the Philippines,
will, OF course, grant what the petition asks.
1t may be that when the Fiipinos have
been transformed into a people capable of
safely maintaining an Independent self gov
eminent, then have no doubt it will be
accorded them
1T may be. however. and l think quite
as likely that the Filipnos will be so well
satisfied with the good results from relation
with the United States that they will pre-
fer to maintain relation like that which
now binds Australia and Canada TO Great
Britin and that the United States. on the
other Ind, will then value it's association
with this pearl of the Oriental tropics
But whatever tie ultimate decision il is
certain that the time for decision cannot
arise for considerable period, but prob
ably several generations of the time for
o decision as to our course in the Philip
pines must be thus postponed, why an
nounce decision so far in advance of the
event, when 1t is impossible to foresee sur
rounding circumstances that should be
more or less decisive of the proper course.
THE central fact of the situation i'm the
islands is that the only hope OF bringing
about satisfactory. independent self
through the success of the present govern
ment. Whatever makes for failure i'm that
government makes for chaos and tyranny
In the islands. Anything which tends to
disturb the tranquility of the people and TO
drive into silence and inactivity the timid,
conservative forces interferes with the
process of educating the people to self-gov-
eminent. Waht we are doing is to teach
the Filipino individual liberty.
We assumed control of the Philippines
last resort, as a choice of evils i'm the
dilemma of having otherwise either to re-
turn the islands TO the oppression and mis-
government of Spain or of placing them
under the rude uniformed and even more
cruel and tyrannical government of Agui-
naldo.
Have you seen any signs of selfish ex-
people since? Is not the strongest popular
motive toward the islands an altruistic one
of doing the best can for the islands?
Did not the people approve the vote of
S,U0,G0 to relieve the Philippine people
from suffering due to cholera and cattle
disease? Do not the American people ia
vor the policy of building up the islands
and developing them on the principle of
The Philippines for the Filipinos? -