The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-09-14

to deny II for an indefinite period. but
in later and equally official utteranceS
by our opponents the term self govern
ment was substituted for independ-
ence, the words used being so chosen
that In their natural construction they
described precisely the policy now be-
ing carried on The language of the
platform indicated radical change Of
policy; the later utterances indicated Il
continuance Of the present policy. But
this caused trouble in their own ranks,
and in n still later although less formal
utterance the self government promise
was recanted. and independence at
some future time was promised In Its
place. They have occupied three en-
tirely different positions within fifty
days. Which Is the promise they really
intend to keep? If such ambiguity af-
fected only the American people 1t
would not so greatly matter for the
American people can take care Of
themselves. But the f'ilipinos are In no
such condition. Confidence is with
them plant of slow growth. They
have been taught to trust the word of
this government because this govern
ment has promised nothing which 1t
did not perform. If promised inde
pendence they will expect independ-
ence not in the remote future, for their
descendants, but Immediately for them
selves If the promise thus made Is not
Immediately fulfilled they will regard
it as broken and will not again trust to
American faith, and it would be indeed
wicked thing to deceive them in such
fashion. Moreover even II the promise
were made TO take effect only in the
distant future, the Filipinos would be
thrown into confusion thereby In
stead of continuing to endeavor to fit
themselves for moral and material ad-
vancement In the present they would
abandon all effort Mt progress and be-
gin factiOnal intrigues
If. on the other hand, our opponents
came into power and attempted to car
| ry out their promises to the Filipinos
by giving them independence and
withdrawing American control from
the islands, the result would be
frightful calamity to the Fillplnos
and in its larger aspect would amount
TO an international crime.
During the last five years more has
been done for the material and moral
well being of the Filipinos than ever
before since the islands first came
within the ken of civilized man. We
have opened before them vista of or
derly development in their own inter-
est and not policy of exploitation.
Every effort is being made to fit the
| islanders for self government, and
| they have already in large measure re-
ceved it. while for the first time in
their history their personal rights and
civil liberties have been guaranteed.
They are being educated, they have
been given schools, they have been
given libraries roads are being built
| for their use, their health is being
cared for, they have been given courts
in which they receive justice as alb
solute as 1t is in our power to Euarnn-
| tee. Their individual rights of life
| liberty and the pursuit of happiness
are now by act of congress jealOusly
safeguarded under the American flag
and If the protection of the flag were
| withdrawn their rights would be lost
and the islands would be plunged back
under some form of vicious tyranny.
Surely we had better await the re-
suits of this Experimental It Is Il
wholly new experiment in Asla-be-
fore we make promises which rs Il ma
tion we might be forced to break or
which they might interpret one way
and we in another.
The Fourteenth Amendment.
Alarm has been profcssed lest the
| FilpinOS should not receive all the ben
efts guaranteed to our people ut home
| by the fourteenth amendment to the
constitution. AS Il matter of fact, the
| FilipinoS have already secured the sub
| stance of these benefits. This govern
ment has been true to the spirit of the
fourteenth amendment in the Philip
pines. Can our opponents deny that
here at home the principles of the four
teenth and fifteenth amendments have
been in effect nulliied? In this, as in
| many other matters, we at home can
well profit by the example of those re-
sponsible for the actual management
of affairs in the Philippines. In our
several commonwealths here in the
| United States we as people now face
the complex problem of securing fair
treatment to each man regardless Of
his race or color We can do so only II
we approach the problem in the spirit
of courage, common sense and high
minded devotion to the right, which
has enabled Governor Taft, Governor
Wright and their associates to do so
noble work in giving TO the Philip
pine people the benefit of the true prin-
ciples of American liberty.
Our appeal is made TO all good citl-
2ens who hold the honor ana the inter
est of the nation close to their hearts.
The great issues which are at stake
and upon which | have touched are
more than mere partisan issues, for
they involve much that comes home to
the individual pride ana individual
well being of our people. Under condi-
tlons as they actually are good Amcri-
cans should refuse for the sake of the
welfare Of the nation to change the
national policy We who are RESPONSE
bic for the administration and lcgisla-
tiOn under which this country during
the last seven years has grown so
| greatly in well being ut home and in
honorable reputc among the nations Of
the earth abroad, do not stand inert
ly upon this record do not use this rec
ord rs nm pyruep for fuilurp of effort