Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-01
Governor Wright's Warning.

From the first those who have rep
resented the American government III
the Philippines have earnestly lnsisteu
/ that the agitation for flhpiiio
Independence in this country only re-
| acts injuriously upon the r lllpiiio'
| themselves, and makes the task vi
leading them along the way to clNliiZd-
ton and self government more dlfhcuit'
\ The remonstrances of Admiral De"eS'
| Governor Taft and others have hao
their effect upon many people III the
| country but of course have been dlsre-
earded by those demagogues and par'i-
i sans. who have raised the cry Vi
Filipino independence for Campaign
purposes only. For the benefit OF such
n.r.ons Hon. Luke E. Wright, the pre-
sent governor of the Philippines h''S
directed to the country ringing letter
showing the bad effect OF the agitation
roferr.d 70. In this letter he says:
1.-The continued discussion as to the
capacity of the FiliDino for seH-goE
eminent and his imm .dlate or ultimate
indenandence * having its effect her.
and makes our task r!ore difficult than
it other visit would De.
This people have their full share OF
ambition and vanity. ana they also
have their full share Of reckless. nall
formed characters who are ready lo'
intrigue in any direction which prom
iscs them profit or power. 1t Is this
class which has largely given force ana
direction to the AgliDayan movement
and recruited it's ranks from tn"
ignorant and dangerous element.
..Ju this general correction l may
say 10 YOU as a matter of information
that tho agitation in the United States
for Filipino indepen lence and the
spokcn and written utterances of
nrouincnt men there who are urging
it are all brought mere and published
in the native newspapers and are be
ing made the text for editorials insist
ing that the Filipino people are now
ready to become an Independent na
ton.
."The effect of all this is distinctly
injurious. Its tendency Is to restore
the influence Of tn" old insurrcctioE
leaders and to make them active in
preaching the old propaganda.
Nov Governor Wright is a
South"rncr and Democrat ana
certainly cannot De accused by TIL"
Democrats of writing this letter to al!
wrote it merely as a patriotic American
and 4 good official, but he knows what
h,. is writing about and he doplOr"s
The agitation Tor Filipino Independence
raised hy the leaders of his party in
| this country. AS for its effect upon thu
islands. there is no doubt that this
movement. which mas been skilfully
| masIucradcd under the guise of
| philanthropy. has been altogether in
| consid"rrte and hcartess, and there is
| 40 doubt that if the Democratic party
| were il. power it would conduct affairs
| been conducted undnr Mckinley and
| Roosevelt. There is not the slightest
/ probability that if Parker were Prcsi-
dent h" would haul down the flag in
the Philippines and Civ" the Filipino;
immediate Independence. This cry OF
Philiprine Independence is only made
for campaign purpose III the hope OF
catching a few votes here and Their"
and to make the people believe that
this country has been turned toward a
polio" nf imperialism, and that it IS
expressing y foreign coplc and depriv-
ing them of tn" rights and blessings ol
liberty. Governor Wright is justified
i'll calling attention to the mischief
which this Democratic cry is working
but he can hardly expect the Demo
cratic leaders to be sensible o.
patriotic enough to fellow his advice
and keep silent.