The San Francisco call., 1904-08-31
NEW CITIZENS
SAY "COOD.BY"
EillpinOS Leave fer Homes
in the Distant Islands
With Feelings of Regret
KINDNESS APPRECIATED
New Debt of Gratitude Binds
People of the Archipelago
TO the American Nation

After visiting the ST. Louis Fai5 and
all the large cities of the United States
under the guidance of A w Fergus
son, the honorary board of Filipino
commissioners left yesterday %. the
steamship Manchuria for their hc.nes.
Governor Rosario of Bataan, a mem
Der Of the commission. did not accom-
panysthe party. He will stay in Amer
lea one month Longer and during that
time will go to Washington on an Of
fetal visit.
Before embarking Senor Legerda,
chairman Of the commission, handed
to Governor Rosario for publication a
letter of thanks. 1t was as follows;
- THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: The Gay
Tor our departure from these shores where we
pave spent three months as The guests q ms
American pe0ple having arrived ,se cannot
leave for cur distant home land without say
+ ing word expressive OF the profound gratl-
tuds we feel IN our hearts toward them for
7 the generous hospitality accorded US, who
. have mad the honor Of being the heTalds OF
the peace and amity which unite our breth-
ren in the Philippines and the cans oi this ma
ticn, founded by Washington and made pros
and Lincoln.
Through the many vicssitudes our country
;
grimsge 20 which-like all the other oriental
peoples-N has been subjected, unavoidably
and inevitably. in order 70 secure recognition
a civilized country, we have learned 10
appreciate a. providential the events which
pa ID the Philippines under the aegis OF "a
democratic republic. where the grand ideas
Of humanity and equality are ever germinat l.
ing under Fhosr influence the American ma
tion formed.
The history OF civilization assuredly will
mention the exposition being held this year IN
the city OF st. Louis 10 commemorate the no
table event OF the acquisition of Louis.4na
by the United states as one OF the most pow
erful strokes OF human genius in the present
age. because that universal exhibition is a
brilliant compendium OF the whole range o.
human activity employed solely in the interest
! Of the common welfare. thus realzing-how-
ever tempoTsriiy-the grand ideal OF universal
I brotherhood.
OF singular Importance to the Filipino peo-
pie is this Worlds Fair. The Philippine
Islands there figure beside the other nations.
1 like all the states OF the Union. displaying 10
I the world the splendid exhibition of its virgin
/ resources. its nascent industries and its beau
! tiful artistic productions But the true scope
I and the greatest significance the American c--
/ position holds Tor the philippines do not eN-
/ sctly rest on the latter having shown 10 the
/ civilized world its position in the speculative
/ field but rather on the fact that in this expo
! sition tSe Philippine Archipelago offers 10
/ the attention and investigation OF all nations.
! and particularly to the nation ruling the
/ destinies OF our fatherland the intellectual and
! moral status of that people, its Christian civ
! iliZation, which grasses almost completely the
1 remnants or the semi-primitive state in which,
!
| in those distant lands yet gTope:
Still more the St. Louis Exposition permits
/ Us the members Of the honorary Philippine
/ Commission 10 be proud that have been
] guests of the American people-tne generous
Z host that has offered US without stint the
/ wealth and well-being il enjoys. treating us
as brothers and co-p2rceners in the advan-
tages fits constitution and glorius flag Vouch-
safe
on this soil. where We have received these
benefits ana consideration, We have found the
4 wee best precepts in the exercise of true lib
I erty. az well as discovered a rival OF the Fill
I pino people I'm hospitality.
& The generous treatment OF the Americans in
1 spires in Us only words Of gratitude new
; debt OF gratitude binds the Filipnos to the
I Americans by reason OF the Worlds Fair the
latter have organized. inspiring in all OF US
the hope that the ideal OF universal brother
4 hood. based on commerce between men and
I peoples. has begun 10 be realized. and the
Filipino people is convinced that with its des-
tiny in the hands Of the American nation
the DAY is not far distant when its natural
] aspira ttOns VIII be realized.
on leaving this hospftabie land reiterate
Il the American Government and people the
/ expression Of our grateful Acknowledgements
fer the happy lays We have spent in America.
+ and express fe6vent wishes for the increase
{ prosperity Of the nation
! For the honorary Philippine Commission "a
the 81. Louis Exposition. B. LEGARDA,
] rh