The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-12-10
PHILIPPINES

Real progress toward sclf-Foyern-
mcnt Is belng made In the Philippine
islands. The gathering Of a Philip
pine legislative body and Philippine
assembly marks a process absolutely
new IN Asia, not only as regards
Aslatlc colonies Of European pow
ers but as regards AsIatic possessions
Of other Asiatc powers; and, indeed,
always excepting the striking and
wonderful example afforded by the
great Empire Of Japan It opens an
entirely new departure when COM
pared with anything which has hap
poned among Aslatic powers which
are their own masters, Hitherto.
this Philippine legislature has acted
with moderation and sel-restraint,
and has seemed In practical fashion
to realize the eternal truth that there
must always be government, and that
the only way in which any H)dy Of
individuals can escape the necessity
OF being governed by outsiders is to
show that they are able 10 restrain
themselves, 10 keep down wrongdo-
ing and disorder The Filipino peo-
pie, through their officials, are there
fore making real steps in the direc-
ton Of seifgovernment. ! hope and
believe that these steps mark the be-
ginning OF course which will con-
tinue till the Fillpinos become tit to
decide for themselves whether they
desire to be an Independent nation.
But II is we'll for them land well al
so for those Americans who during
the past decade have done so much
damage to the Fillpnos by agitation
for an immediate independence for
which they were totally unfit, to
remember that self-government de-
ponds, and must depend, upon the
Filipinos themselves All we can do
Is TO give them the opportunity to de-
velop the capacity for self-govern-
ment. II we had followed the ad-
vice OF the foolish doctrinarles who
wished us at any time during the
last ten years to turn the Filipino
people adrift, we should have shlrk-
ed the plainest possible duty and
have inflicted lasting wrong upon
: the Filipino people. We have acted
in exactly the opposite spirit. We
have given the Filipinos constitu-
tional government; a government
based upon justice; and we have
shown that We have governed them
for their good and not for our ag-
/, grandizcment. At the present time,
as during the past ten years, the in
exorable logic of facts shows that
this government must be supplied by
US and not by them. We must be
wise and generous; we must help
tho Filipinos to master the difficult
art of self-control, which is simply
another name for self-goyernment.
But we can not give them self-gov-
eminent save in the sense Of govern
ing them so that gradually they may,
/ if they are able, learn to govern
themselves, Under the present sys-
TEN of just laws and sympathetic
administration, we have every reas-
on to believe that they arc gradually
, acquiring the character which lies
at the basis of self-government, and
for which If II be lacking, no sys-
tenn Of laws no paper constitution,
/ will in any wise serve as substi-
tute. our people in the Philippines
have achieved what may legitimately
be called marvellous success in Civ
ing to them government which
marks on the part Of those in author
ity both the necessary understanding
of the people and the necessary pur-
pose to SERVO them disinterestedly
, G0d IN good faith. | trust that with
, in a generation tne time will arrive
when the Philippines can decide for
themselves whether it is we'll for
them to become independent, or to
continue under the protection Of a
strong and disinterested power, able
to guarantee to the islands order
at home and protection from foreign
invasion, But no one can prophesy
the exact date when it will be wise
to consider independence as fixed
and definite policy. 1t would be
worse than folly to try to set down
such date in advance, for it must
depend upon the way in which the
Philippine people themselves devel-
op the power OF self-mastery.
URGES CITIZENSHIP
FOR PORTO RICANs.
| again recommend that American
citizenship be conferred up9n the
people OF Porto Rico.