The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-22
To GET RID Of
GREAT BURDEN
Argument of Anti-ImperiaIist
League Against Keeping
Philippines.

BY last mail the following manifesto
in mimeographed typewriting came TO
the Advertiser:
To the Members and Friends of the
Anti-Imperialist League:
The Anti-Imperialist League, through
its executive committee. would suggest
10 its members and friends that this
seems an appropriate moment to urge
upon those within their influence an
especially timely argument against the
continued and indefinite retention Of
the Philippine Islands. The immense
and improbable burden of these pos
sessions has never been felt more
strongly than today, but, in the pop
ular apprehension that the United
States might become involved in war,
il is new realized that their defense
would demand an almost impossible
military and naval force on the other
side Of the globe. The absurdity OF
an enormous sacrifice of life and treas
ure TO defend a territory whose inhab-
itants are disconnected with their re-
lation TO the United States, a relation
ship which is deplored by the great
majority Of our own liberty loving cit
liens, has become patent. A sale TO
japan has been suggested in many
quarters as a method of escaping from
the dilemma. But TO sell 100000 peo-.
Die and their homes TO any one is clear
IL immoral and contrary TO American
principles There is no evidence that
Japan or any other country now wants
the islands. There is abundant evil
dence that the Fflpinos, especially
with the fate OF Korea before their
eyes, are bitterly opposed 10 q cession
TO Japan. The islands are clearly
bad ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in peace;
a dangerous burden in case of war.
our people want 10 be rid Of them. How
can it be done2
There is one simple, just and practl-
cal method of relief for both coun-
tries. which would turn a gage Of bat
tie into a bond of peace, and which we
urge with renewed emphasis, viz,
pledge of early and complete fndepen-
dence TO the Philippines (not the nm
tied sort foredoomed TO failure, such as
we gave Cuba), together with a "neu-
traIization'' by all the great powers, in
Guiding Japan.
The Secretary of War deplores the
.chaos and excuses which he thinks
night occur among the people If left to
themselves. But it is clearly demon
strated that there is a large and an
4uential class of educated F1llplnos
who are able to guide their fellow
citizens in elf-government. They
might reestablish the government
which. until destroyed by the armies
of the limited states, was successfully
conducted under Aguinaido's demo-
cratic constitution. They might deem
an oligarchy or even a dictatorship bel
ter suited to the genius and present
needs of the people. There might ana
rrohablv would be occasional disorder
and disturbances for time; but these
ca4,ld hardly equal the disorders arls~
ing from our attempt TO conquer the
3sIands and they always accompany
the struggle for free government. Inc
republic of France rests upon 1ouhda-
+ion built by many revolutions Mex
leo. now so prosperous ana oTdefls' Ao4
formerly a revolution or rising almost
every year. The United States "aseo
for four years the greatest clVh "af
in history. Our peace was broken ps
..chaos and excuses the coIhh1el10
and industry of the world We're 0ls-
turbed. Every people must work OUT
its own salvation and destiny aceoIo-
inc To its own genius. This is the as
piration of the Filipinos. Is not TINS
also the desire for them of the greal
majority of the people Of the Cnlleo
states, tired of a trusteeship which as
sumes that the welfare Of a people Is
something other than that which thes
desire. and anxious to get ria OF the
COSTLY and dangerous burden?
MORTIFIED STOREY, President.
FRYING wINSLOW, Secretary.
July 4. 1907.