Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-12

| while if there is any principle involved
in the matter it is just as wrong -
| deny independence for n few years as
to deny 1t for an indefinite period. But
in later and equally official utterancc5
| by our opponents the term self govern
| ment was substituted for indepeni-
| 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 a radical change Of
| policy; the later utterances indicated a
| continuance of the present policy. But
this caused trouble in their own ranks.
and in a still later although less formal
| utterance the self government promise
| was recanted, and independence ut
| some future time was promised iii 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 it
would not SO greatly matter. for the
| American people can take care OF
themselves. But the Filipinos are in 10
| such condition. Confidence IS with
| them Il 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 indie
| 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
1t as broken and will not again trust to
American faith. and it would be indeed
q wicked thing to deceive them in such
fashion. Moreover, even If the promise
were made to take effect only i'll the
distant future, the FilipinoS would be
thrown into confusion thereby. In
stead of continuing to endeavor to fit
themselves for moral and material adj
vanccmcnt in the present they would
abandon all effort ut progress and be-
gin fractional 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 n
frightful calamity TO the Filipinos
and in its larger aspect would amount
to an international crime.
During the last flve years more has
been done for the material and moral
we'll being of the FilipinOs than ever
before since the islands first came
within the ken of civilized man. We
have opened before them a vista of or
derby 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-
ceived il, while for the first time in
their history their personal rights and
civil liberties have been guara nteed.
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 guaran-
tee. Their individual rights of life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
are now by act Of congress jealousy
Eafeguarded 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 experimentation it is a
wholly new experiment in Asia-be-
fore we make promises which as a ma
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
Filipnos should not receive all the ben
Gifts guaranteed to our people at home
by the fourteenth amendment to tho
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 nullified? In this, rs 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 commemorative here in the
| United States we as n people now face
the complex problem Of securing fair
treatment to each man regardless Of
his race or color. We can do 80 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 10 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 citi-
zens 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 to
| the individual pride and Individual
we'll being Of our people. Under condi-
ftionS as they actually are good AmerI-
/ cars should refuse for the sake Of the
] IcnIfarn Of tie m inn tn channn the