The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-12-08
THE PHILIPPINES.
Making Progress, but Not Yet Fit
ted For Self Government.

Real progress toward self govern
mcnt is being made in the Philippine
Islands The gathering of u Philippine
legislative body and philippim, assem-
bly, marks process absolutely new IL
Asia, not only aS regards Aslatic colo
uies of European powers, but as re
CARDS Asiatic possessions of other Asl-
attic powers. aud indeed. always ex-
ccpting the striking aud wonderful cN-
ample afforded 10y the great empire OF
Japan. It opens au entirely new de-
parturc when compared with anything
which has happened among Asiatic
powers which are their own masters.
Hitherto this Philippine legislature
has acted with moderation and self re-
strant and has seemed In practical
fashion to realize the eternal truth
that there must always he government
and that the only way In which any
body nr individuals can escape the me-
ccsSity of being governed 10y outsiders
Is tu show that they are able to re-
strain themselves. tu keep down
wrouyduing aud disorder The Filipi
No people. through their officials. are
therefor" making real steps in the di
rrction of self government hope
and believe that these steps mark the
beginning Of course which will con
tluue till the lilipiuos became fit To
decide for themselves whether they
d"Sir" to Ice an independent nation.
liut II iS we'll for them, ana well also
for those Americans who during the
past decade have done 50 much dam
az" Ia the FllipiuoS 10y agitation for
an Immediate Independence for which
they were totally unit. to remember
that self government depends and
must depend upon the Filiplnus them
selves. All We can do Is To give them
HE opportunity 10 develop the capaci-
~ for self government. If We had fol
lowed the advice uf the foolish doc
trluuircS who wished us AT any tirIe
during Ia" last ten year, 10 turn the
Filipino people adrift we should have
Shirkcd the plaiueSt possible duty and
have inflicted u lasting wrong upon
The Filipino people. We have acted In
exactly the opposite spirit. We have
given the Eiliplnos constitutional gov
ornmcnt. - government based upon
Justice, an, 80 have shown that we
have governed them for their good and
not for our aggrandizrmcnt
At the present tluM as during the
past ten years, the lncXorable logic Of
facts shows that this government must
be supplied Icy us aud not 10y them.
We must bc wise and generous. We
must help the filipinos to master the
difficult art of self control. which IL
simply another name for self govern
mcnt. liut We cannot give them self
government save in the sense Of gov
crnlng them So that gradually they
may, If they are able, learn to govern
themselves. Under the present system
of Just laws and sympathetic admin
iStratiOn We have every reason to be
licve that they are gradually acquiring
the character which lies at the basis of
self government and for which. II IL
he lacking, no system Of laws. no pa
per constitution, will in any wise serve
as substitute. our people In the
Philippines have achieved what may
legitimatoly be called marvellous sue
ress in giving To them government
which marks ON the part of those in
authority both the necessary under
standing Of thc people aud the neces-
sary purpose 10 serve them dslnter.
sstedly and In good faith. trust that
within n generation the time will ar
rive when the Philippines can decide
Tor themselves whether It Is well for
them TO become independent or To con.
tinue under the protection of strong
and disintereSted power, able to guar.
antee TO the Islands order NJ home and
protection from foreign invasion But
no one can prophesy the exact date
when II will be wise TO consider I'm.
Continued on page seven)