Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-15

a number of cases. notably that of the first
commission, selfish exploitation of the
islands for the benefit of the United states
or it's people was expressly dlsavoWed anu
declared to be unworthy of the government
Now, what is meant by the principle,
The Philippines for the Filipino? asked
Governor Taft, and he answers ms own
question by saying t0plyjthis. that every
measure, whether In the form of law or
an executive order, before its adoption,
shall be weighed in the light OF this ques-
ton, Does 1t make for the welfare OF tle
Filipino people or does 1t not! III II does
not make for the Welfare of the Filipino
people, then 1t ought not to pc enacted OF
executed.
1.-THE doctrine astnterpreted in the light
of these authoritat tive declarations assumes
that the Filipino people are of future ca
pacity. but not of present fitness Tor sell
government. and that they must De taught
by the gradual extension OF self-soVerh-
ment to exercise the conservative self-re-
straint without which popular government
is impossible.
Mutual Distrust.
Everybody, even the most eager Filipino.
admits that if the authority OF government
were conferred upon the natives they
would be at each others threats Deiofe
shutdown. There are political parties here,
as in the United States and ALREADY IN
authorization of independence, the poll
ticfans have picked out the offices they
want Already in their secret societies they
are scheming and plotting as to now tneir
desires in this respect may be grained.
Their lack of confidence in each other IS
very significant and may be demonstrated
any time any inquirer desires to ask 1ues-
lions of any member of any one of the sew
eral parties concerning the ability, the SIN
certify, the honesty and the PATRIOTISM or
all the others. Regardless of the fact that
all of them have similar aspirations and
make the same demands each Is willing TO
throw doubt upon the integrity OF the oth-
ers. There is no mutual confidence, ana they
are willing to admit that if our govern
ment should withdraw there would be i'm
mediate anarchy and bloodshed and that
the European powers would step in Tor the
protection of foreign interests and the IN
dependence would be hopeless. 1t Is aston
iShing that while the Filipino politicians
are always willing to confess that the
masses of their people are not ready or MT
ted for independence or greater degree or
home rule they nevertheless keep talking
about it and demanding it through the
press and their public speeches.
Occasionally you find an educated Flnpino
who has the wisdom and candor to speak
his honest opinion plainly on this subject.
A few weeks ago Senior Genaro, a repre-
sentative citizen who was actively engaged
in the instruction and was sent to Guam
as a prisoner and detained there for two
years, made a remarkable speech, in which
he urged the cooperation OF his fellow
promote the material welfare of the islands
and advised them earnestly to let politics
alone and go to work. Senior Genaro was
originally an 'irreconciliable." He was not
willing to accept the situation and was for
fighting in the last ditch, but during his ex
lie in Guam he cooled off sufficiently to al
low himself to take the oath of allegiance,
and since his return to Manila has become
SO much impressed with the advantages of
the present government that he is anxious
to bring all his fellow countrymen to his
own way of thinking. In his speech the
other night he gave them wholesome advice
and told them theE under present condi-
tons independence would be ''as unjust and
absorbent as the monastic tyranny that
existed before HdsAmerican occupation
Without relinqufshing the aspirations that
led them to take mp arms. he said that the
Philippine people. IN the light Of their ex-
perience. ought 70 bake advantage of the
instruction given them by their present ruiz
ers and adjust themselves to the political
social and moral principles of the Ameri-
can people,, ,aTI
Let us first learn to be truly demo-
cratic" he said; "let us first seek out the
reign of justice-by strict compliance with
our duties. by doing what is right. and the
rest Will come to us as a consequence. for
every tree bearA fsYit after. its own kind.
and every peoplQ x1l get neither more nor
less than they deserve"