The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-09-15

IN the matter II II just ~ NI"iN ~
deny Independence for "a few years a.
10 deny il for an indefinite period, Hu
in later aud equally official uiterhhcci
hv our opponents the term sell govern
ment was substituted for independ
ence. the words used being SO chosen
that In their natural construction the.
described precisely the policy now be
ing carried on. The language OF Tie
platform indicated radical change Of
policy: the later utteranccs Indicated II
continuance of the present policy. kut
this caused trouble ia their own ranks.
and i'm still later although less formal
utterance the SELF government promise
WAS rpcautcd, and Independence At
some future time was promised in H.
place. They have occupied three en-
tircly different positions within fifty
days. Which is the promise they really
intend 10 keep If such ambiguity nf-
fectrd only the American people il
would not 50 greatly matter. for the
American people can take care of
themselves. But the Filipia0s are IN no
such condition. Confidence is with
them plant of slow growth. The
have been taught 10 trust the word OF
this government because this govern
mcnt has promised nothing which IL
did not perform. II promised indie
pendcnce they will expect indcpcnd-
ence not IN the remote future. for their
descendants, hut Immediately for them
selves. If the promise thus made is not
Immediately fulfilled they viii regard
il as broken ana will not again trust tn
American faith. and it would be- indeed
wicked thing to deceive them In such
fashion. Moreover. even il the promise
were made To take effect only In the
distant future. the Fllipln0s would be
thrown into confusion thereby, In
stead of continuing To cndcuNor tu Al
themselves for moral ana material adj
yanccmeut i'm the present they would
abandon all effort M progress aud be
ein fractional intrigues.
IT, on the other hand, our opponents
came into power ana attempted 10 ear
RS out their promises 10 Tie FilipInO5
by giving them independence and
withdrawing American control from
the islands. the result would be a
frighttul calamity 10 the Filipinos
and i'm It's larger aspect would amount
to an International crime.
During the last five years more has
been done for the material ami moral
well being Of the rilipinos than over
before since the islands first came
within the ken OF civilized man. We
have opened before them a vista of or.
derry development in their own inter
est and not policy Of exploitation.
Every effort is being made u lit the
islanders for self government and
they have already in large measure re-
ceiyed il. 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, thoy have been given courts
in which they receive Justice as alb
sOlute as il is in our power 10 guaran-
tee. Their individual rights of life
liberty ana the pursuit OF happiness
are now 10y act of congress jealousy
safeguarded under the American Has
and if the protection Of the tag 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 To-
suits Of this experiment for it is ii
wholly new experiment in Asia-be-
fore we make promises which rs mn.
ton we might be forced TO break or
which they might interpret one way
and we in another,
The Fourteenth Amendment.
Alarm has been professed lest the
Filipinos should not receive all the ben
cfils guaranteed 10 our people at home
by the fourteenth amendment to the
constitutions rs Il matter of fact. the
FilipinOs have already secured tie sub
stance OF these benefits This govern
meut has been true to the spirit of The
fourteenth amendment in tie Philip
pines. Can our opponents deny that
here mt home the principles Of the four
teenth ana fifteenth amendments have
been i'm effect nuiliiicd? In this, rs In
many other matters. we al home can
well profit by the example of those re
sponSihIe for the actual management
of affairs in the Philippines. In our
several commonwealth here in the
United States we rs people now face
the complex problem of securing fair
treatment to each man regardless OF
his race OF color. We can do SO only il
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 50
noble a work in giving 10 the Philip
pine people the benefit OF the true prin-
ciples Of American liberty,
Our appeal is made 70 all good citi-
2ens who hold the honor and 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 10
the individual pride and individual
well being of our people. Under cOndi-
tons as they actually are good Ameri-
cans should refuse for the sake Of the
welfare Of the nation 20 change the
national policy. We who are response
Bile for the administration and legisll-
ton under which this country during
the last seven years has grown 50
greatly in well being at home and in
honorable repute among the nations Of
the earth abroad, do not stand inert
~ upon this record. do not use this rec
ord as an excuse for failure of effort
to meet new conditions. On the con
trary, we treat the record of what we
have done in the past as Indictment 10
...1.. l.rttnt IN gIa ftfupa ITa In