The Jasper news., 1909-06-10

i odDNhAOtJ fOACStAOn aDu WlbA q budION
but popular platform carried ma
iority OF the seats. It demanded Inn
| mediate independence, charged that
the American government was extrav.
agant and expensive, condition that
| 1t promised to reform, and, despite the
fact that the great majority Of the
Offices In the government have been
voluntarily turned over to Fflipinos in
sisted that more Filipinos have office.
Like its teacher. 1t proposed to work
backwards; 1t wanted immediate indie
pendence, and was willing to take the
chance of learning afterwards how to
use 1t and how to maintain 1t, But
these were popular cries in the limited
number who are active In politics and
the party scored victory. 1t has
reckoning, however, when 1t again
faces the people, because Its promises
| OF independence simmered down to
! vote In the assembly on the abstract
principle, that was not made as either
demand or even request, that the
Filipino people aspire to independence
and that they are capable of conduct
ing an independent government. The
TACT is that great many of the men
who voted on the abstract resolution
know that their people are not capable
of self-government and would have
preferred to have not voted. The is
sue was raised by one of those mis-,
chances that happen in every legisla-
ture, and they voted on it and for 1t
because they must account to their
constituents. They also found that
the American government was not ex-
travagant and failed on their financial
reform program. They did land some
political offices for members of their
party, as Governor General Smith has
decided for the principle of recogniz-
Ing the dominant party in the appoint.
of public officials. The party
has in Speaker Osmena developed one
man Of conspicuous ability and mum.
Der Of men who show marked ability
and capacity for government.
Labor has organized in Manila and
elsewhere and has taken some part In
politics, but evil leadership has re.
tarded the movement. The labor lead
ers have generally been disreputable
professional men who have taken a
| part only for what there is In 1t for
them. But labor is learning and will
In time develop leaders who will lead
for labor's sake and not their own.
There is great conservative class
which has kept aloof from politics and
politicians. In some instances they
have given active aid to the American
| government, but the great majority OF
them seem to be awaiting eventuali.
| ties. They are not antagonizing the
! active politicians for reasons that are
obvious--their interests would be at
the mercy of the politicians II the Uni.
tted States should withdraw from the
| Philippines, and they are what the
American politician would describe as
"being right" There are many indica.
lions that they favor a maintenance
Tor that security to life and property
and that protection to credit which the
American government has estab'
| lished.
The active electorate is so far lin.
tied one, as the following figures will
chow: Population, 1886. 426; qualified
to vote, 1904; voted in the last cleo.
I, t!!cn. 1855.
! But small as 1t Is, 1t is very active,
and the politicians and the editors who
/ represent 1t have made Independence
the chief issue and the only one that
amounts to anything because 1t EN-
braces the whole question of Ameri
can participation. 1t is largely limited
to the fiat demand and contemplates
practically none of the important sub
! sidiary questions involved. You teff-
the advocates that 1t can only come
! by voluntary act of the American peo
Pile and only when the American PEG.
4 pie are convinced that they may with
4 security take the responsibility In.
volved In starting them alone, and they
/ answer by seeking to further antag.
onize American interest and belittling
the mission and accomplishment of
/ the American people here. You point
out future difficulties of maintaining
their craft In the stormy sea of Orien.
| tai politics and with g confidence that
| is seemingly ignorant Of the simpler
facts of the situation they tell you
! they can take care of themselves.
You urge that they are 20 peoples
without common means of commu.
4 nication and they tell you they are a
4 unit. The fact is that the Tagalogs
would either control or fight their
neighbors. providing the Moros did
not make combination necessity on
the part OF all the Christian peoples.
! Meantime YOUR Uncle Sam. working