New-York tribune., 1908-06-20
THE PHILIPPINE "DECL8R41ION."

The ..Declaration of Independence" of the
pbiliDnipe Assembly was curously-perhaps
not intpntionally-tmed. 1t was sprung upon
the Assembly at the close of the session, at
almost the very moment when there was being
nominated for the Presidency of the United
States and therefore for the chief magistracy
over the Philippines. that man who is generall!
recognized 10y representative Fl1iplnos as the
hest friend those islands have had in our time
II might have been supposed that even the
most precipftate advocate of insuar indepen-
dence would have been willing to wait until
William H. Taft had had an opportunity to
dpyelop his policy toward that possession.
The attempt to inject the matter of Philip
pine independence into the domain OF active
consideration at this time is not, however,
likely 10 prove embarrassing. In SO far as the
declaration" is an assertion of Filipino asp-
ration 10 independence it may be regarded with
entire compIacence and indeed with large
measure of sympathy and appreciation. An
aspiration to independence is praiseworthy in
anv people 1t is eminently fitting in any peo-
ple under the government which had its origin
in the worlds greatest Declaration of indie
neudeDce But with whatever sympathy and
aunroyaI NAV he given to if should be cOnjoined
equally earnest congratulations upon the great
measure of independence which has already been
gained and is now enjoyed by the Filipnos,
measure of independence far greater and more
real than any ever before known TO them.
So far however, as the resolution Of the As
sembly was a demand for immediate indepen-
dence or declaration that the islands were
ready for it. and so far as by independence
was meant separation from the United States,
il will generally be regarded as I'll advised and
certainly futile. Dispatches state that con-
siderable minority party in the Assembly OPP
Dosed the declaration, on the ground that the
time was not ripe for IL and that the people
were not ready for it. With such an opinion
so largely held and expressed by representa-
tive FilipinOs, it Is surely permissible for us
to decline TO accept the resolution as unim-
peachable truth and inerrant wisdom. 1t should
also occur TO the Filipinos that their own de-
sire is not after all, entitled TO be omnipotent
I'm the matter. The wishes and the judgment
of the United States must be considered. Hav-
ing delivered the islands from the Spanish gov
ernment against which they had vainly been
rebelling at intervals for centuries with no
prospect of success; having subdued and pla-
Gated intertribal feuds which threatened the
islands with anarchy; having spent large sums
of money and many valuable lives in our work
for the welfare of the islands, and having in a
material measure readiusted our Asiatc rela
tions upon the basis of possession of those ISL
ands, which fully, as truly and right
eously as any rood Of ground over which
our flag flies today, it would certainly seem
that the United States should have something
to say, and indeed should have the dominant
and deciding voice, concerning the future status
of those islands.
The Fliipinos already have. We have
said the largest measure of independence they
have ever known, and they owe it entirely to
the United States. They have it because of
American Intervention in their affairs and
American acquisition Of those islands They