The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-22

Singapore. Jan. %, 19O6.-Having in
lions as I found them in the Philip
pines, let us consider what the United
States should do in regard to the Fill
pinos and their islands.
First. as to the northern group of
islands-the islands north Of Minda-
mao. Have the Filipinos a right to
self-government? Do they desire self
government and independence? Have
they the capacity for eIf-government?
The first question must be answered
I'm the affirmative, if our theory of
government is correct. That govern
ments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed, is either
true or false; if true, we cannot deny
its application to the Filipinos; if
false. we must find some other founda-
ton for our own government.
The second question l am able to
answer. yes. My visit to the Philip
pines has settled this question in my
mind. / have heard people in America
affirm that the intelligent FiIfpinos
government, but this is unqualifiedly
false. Captain J. A. Moss, a member
Of General Corbin's personal staff re-
cC-S.-H made trip through the prov
iDces of Pampanga, Nueva EciJa and
Pangasinan and published a journal of
his trip in one of the Manila papers
upon his return. He concluded his OBJ
servations as follows: "The discharged
soldiers who are married to native
women and who are growing up with
the country and are, therefore, in a
most excellent position to feel the ma
tive pulse, alltold me the great ma
jCrity OF the natives have no use for
US EX-interpreters and other Filipi-
nos with whom I was on intimate
cordial relations while serving in the
provinces, told me the same thing. I
have, therefore. from the foregoing
come to the conclusion that the FIJI
pinos may be divided into three
classes: 1a) The precious few COM
prising those who are really friendly
towards the Americans and think our
government beneficial to the islands;
CD those who are in some way bene-
fCiaries of the government and enter
tain for us what may be termed 'ex-
peGient friendship (c) the great ma
jority have absolutely no use for us
and to please whom we cannot get
out of the islands any too soon"
Strong Feeling for independence.
The conclusion drawn by Captain
Moss is warranted by the facts, and
the feeling for independence is strong
er in Manila, if possible, than in the
Il h
official and unofficial, and while they
differed in the degree of friendIiness
which they felt toward the United
States, all expected ultimate independ-
ence. The college students of Manila
in the various law schools. medical COL
leges and engineering schools. number
ing in all about 1,000 prepared and
presented to me a memorial of more
than fifty printed pages. This was pre-
pared by subcommittee, and after
wards discussed, adopted and signed
by the students It presented an eIab-
crate review of the economic indus
trial and political situation, viewed
from the standpoint of these young
men. It criticised certain acts of the
American government thought to be
unjust and set forth arguments in IA
VOr of government and independ-
enCe-argumentS so fundamental and
so consistent with American ideals
that no American statesman would
have publicly disputed them ten years
ago.
The Filipinos point out that the
Americans lack that sympathy for
and interest in. the Filipino necessary
TO just legislation, and this argument
is no reflection upon the good inten-
tons Of Americans. In fact, good in
tentiOn is generally admitted but
Americans at home recognize, as do
F'iipinos here, that good intentions are
not all that is required. We have in
the United States men Of equal general
intelligence, but differing so in sym
pathy that no amount of good intent
can keep one from doing what the
others regards as unjust. Take, for
Instance, the representative capitalist
and the average laboring man; neither
would feel that the other, however
we'll meaning, was competent to speak
for him.
Argue for Home Rule.
The Filipinos also deny that the
Americans are sufficiently acquainted
with Philippine affairs to legisIate
wisely. We also recognize the force
of this argument at home, and we
leave the people of each state TO act
upon their own affairs. The people
of a city would resent Interference in
their local affairs by the people of the