The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-10-15
THE PHILIPPINES AND INDEPENDENCE
The Capacity of the Filipino Is Now Being
Measured and Ills Future Lies in
His Own Hands.

all, and to educate, the Filipinos and
uplift them and Christianize them. and.
by Gods grace, do the very best we
could by them, as our fellow-men for
whom Christ also died. And then I
went to bed, and went to sleep, and
slept soundly, and the next morning /
sent for the chief engineer of the war
department (our map maker), and
told him to put the Philippines on the
map of the United States; and there
they are, and there they will stay while
I am PRESIDENT"
Most Americans now believe that the
lamented Mckinley was honest in this
humanitarian declaration, yet at the
time the occupation was undertaken,
there We're many who disputed the
good motives which he proclaimed.
There was plenty of opposition to- the
policy at home, and other nations with
possessions in this part of the world
made merry at the mere suggestion Of
our philanthropic principles. AS
manifest of good intentions, the pro-
gram of administering the Philippines
for the benefit of the F'ilipinos was
outlined at once.
CIVIL GOVERNMENTS HARD
TASK.
Civil government was instituted
and the native given an opportunity to
take part therein. The civil admin
istration has indeed had stormy time
of it. 1t has been more sorely tried
than Job with all his boils. It has had
to withstand the combined fire of hos
tile military influence, impatient
American exploiters, ambitious native
politicians, the anti-expansionists in
America, the critical foreign powers,
and disgruntled Spaniards. While it is
admitted that its Inauguration was
premature. it was political necessity
to fulfill the pledge that had been
made, and to try the capacity of the
Filipino.
Although many still contend that
the F'ilipinos are incapable of ever be-
ing able to manage themselves, and
that the attempt to prepare them for
that end can only result in failure, the
good intentions of the American gov
eminent are established. Many mis-
takes have been made in the admin
istration here, but the country has not
been looted to fatten the treasury at
Washington. None of those who aues-
ton the ultimate success of our rule
and who have INDUCED in such ex-
say that we have diverted the sub
stance of the land to our own profit.
The resources of the country have
been used in the commendable en-
deavor to better the condition of the
people.
AMERICA HAS KEPT FAITH.
No matter what measure of failure
may result from the extraordinary
work we have attempted here, the gen.
crosby of the motives that prompted
the effort will always be an honor to
our country. The straightforward pro-
cedure of the American government
has cleared its skirts of suspicion. It's
period of probation is past; it is the
Filipino who is now on trial. The ma
tive has been favored in every par
ticular. Every good man that could
be found has been given an oppor-
tunity to engage in the management of
affairs; in fact this ehcoura cement
has been carried so far that incompe-
tent men have been put in office.
Yet the questions at the beginning of
this article, are constantly going the
rounds The impression seems to exist
that there is some uncertainty in Amer
lea as to.what to do with the Philippines
This is wrong. The American congress
has declared itself without equivoca-
ton. It has said that the Filipino
shall have the management of his af-
fairs when he demonstrates his capac-
Ity. The question when he will de-
velop sufficient ability to secure his in
dependence is really where the differ
encel of opinion arises. One man is
quoted as having set one date, and
some other authority is quoted as hav-
ng appointed another.
WORD OF CONGRESS FINAL.
The fact is that no one mans word
S final in the matter. The authority
les solely with the American congress.
!. a L . Il a Il n i. q Il a i, a i. a l. a i. a l. i. L~s.