Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1907-11-07
EXTRA IOWA THURSDAY, NOVEMBER I, 1907.

papers that Secretary Taft was coming
here to open the initial session of that
body, and having always taken an in
terest in the political advancement OF
the Filipino people, and in the attain
ment of the ultimate independence OF
the Philippine Islands, / thought that
l must come to witness the event that
meant so much to the Philippine Is
lands and held so much of happiness to
the Filipino people.
"Then 1 heard that there were GER
tain groups of people who intended to
ask the United States and the nations
of Europe for the immediate independ-
ence of the Islands and I saw that il
they continued i'll this course they
would circumvent the plans of Secre-
tary of War Taft. 1 was very sorry.
Then | decided to come because 1 did
not think that such an act could be to
the best interests of the Filipinos, but
would be to their everlasting detriment.
| saw that it would delay what 1 most
hoped for my people, the attainment OF
self-government
I'm my opinion the Philippine AS
sembly is the beginning of self-govern-
|
their own laws, and if that is not the
commencing of self-government then [
do not know the meaning of the term.
'I thought that the Filipinos should
place themselves on the side of the
American government TO carry out the
plans of the representatives of that gov
| ernment.
"Then [ came to talk to my fellow
countrymen, my compatriots, and es-
Pecially to the Nationalists, whose
ideas, up to a certain point, are my
own. But when l arrived here | was
greatly surprised and content that all
those announcements were not true.
!, If there be two or three personages
who may insist in their support of such
an unpatriotic scheme, the great bulk
of the Filipino people are decided to
counteract any such intentions of these
few persons.
"Since my arrival here many people
have come to see me and | have found
nearly the whole of them in the best
sense quite ready to cheer and receive
with all honor and gratitude the Secre-
tary of War. / still expect that this
will be and that there will be no mis-
taking the sentiment of the people
| mheit 'hey eoiic w Welcoiiie lueli
81 have received invitations from
several provinces, among them Pam
lilo to go to them and explain to the
and regret that am unable to accept
any of the invitations.
"But | have hope and I firmly be-
1inVa that fha Fi1ini,oc will COO 4 bo 4
their highest duty is to be true to the
President of the great Republic, and
true to the representatives of the Amer
lean government in the Philippine
/ Islands.
"The authorities could not have done
better toward the Filipino people than
they are now doing. The first day l
was out of bed after arriving here / con-
ferred with the Governor General. |
found him to be the kindliest and the
most just of men, truly interested in
the welfare of the Filipinos and truly a
friend of the people.
The Governor General honored NE
with an invitation to dine at historic
old Malaconang. | found there the
other members of the American Com
mission, the members of the Supreme
Court and other gentlemen, Americans
and Filipnlos, and they were all of the
same opinion as myself regarding the
situation here.
'When the war came between the
United States and my people | was
with the Filipinos in my sympathies
4 was aware of the conferences al
Hongkong, at Singapore and at Other
places beween Aguinaldo and the for
eign consuls and 1 sympathized with
the Filipinos because | did not believe
that the American people would do as
they said they would, lit all seemed sc
magnanimous, so unbelievably gener
tous. But when | saw that the Filipi.
nos Were no match for the Americans
in either diplomacy or in the field !
lost heart and hoped for the best.
81 have watched and waited and
now that l have witnessed what has
been done during these nine years o
transition from military government tt
the convention of the Assembly | say
that no one could ask more
'When / know of what is being done
in Paris, in Tokyo in Berlin and other
capitals to interest foreign powers, es
the Philippines from the control of the
groups. [ wish to be considered apart
from them, for they are enemies to the
Islands.
'We should rest our faith in the
American government, we should con-
slider that further liberties will be given
us when the general circumstances adj
wise. We are not entitled to doubt the
/ American government, " said 81. Regi-
dor, and the palm of his hand on the
arm of his chair empasized his thought
the while his firm lips and bright eyes
carried the conviction that was in his
heart. 'America has given us the pub
lie schools, the freedom of conscience
and of thought, liberty Of public speech
and of press-what more can we ask?
We never could have dreamed of get
ting these things under the former sys-
TEN of government.
"My opinion is this: That the Amer
lean nation is a serious and sincere ma
ton and will not deceive or cheat the
Filipinos. firmly believe that when
we shall have attained the proper plane
of learning they will raise us to the
hipheSt DOint of civilization i'm tho