The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-02

10 describe the PnlnpplneS IN
short letter like this is like crowding
the contents of an entire library into
a paragraph. Therefore l can only
"hit the high places as it were, and
let details remain in the same obscu-
rity in which they have always re-
mained TO the great mass of Ameri-
cans. Very few people know the Phil
ippines. There are many even in the
Islands who know SO little about what
takes place outside the small circle
around them, that it is small wonder
that a supposedly intelligent congress
man presents a bill to grant the Is
lands their independence in 1920, on
the ground that the Filipino people
will be qualified by that time to enter
the ranks of the nations and govern
themselves as such.
Is a Great Mistake.
Greater mistake was never made.
Now if all the United States wants is
an excuse to let go of the Philippines
gracefully; If we have no interest in
the future of that people; if we don't
care whether they can keep the status
of nation for more than generation
or not; If we merely want out, and
give their eagerness and their "spe-
cial preparedness" for independence
as a plausible reason, then l withdraw
my objections, and say that it is well.
But l have my doubts as to the game
being as deep as that Those argu-
ments of his sound sincere, if pain
fully in error, and l merely feel. sorry
for him. l have however seen famous
statesmen, and people not so famous,
who have at great expense toured the
Islands. visited for fully a month,
touched at even half a dozen of the
chief ports of the archipelago, atten-
ded as high as two dozen receptions,
bales and dinners, junketed about in
a palatial coast guard, and listened
to the oily eloquence of score of
prominent and successful Filipinos,
who assured them that the Filipinos
were ready for independence-and
1t was true, because they said it was
true-and read of how they came
home and painted in glowing colors
the progress of the Filipinos, etc, etc.
Bryan did that some years ago;
Fairbanks did it less than two years
ago; and only last August I had the
pleasure of seeing Secretary Dickin-
son do the same, to the tune of the
popping of corks and the strains of
"Aguinaldo's March," Yes, and now
the Filipinos in Cuba insult the Amer
lean flag and the American nation, but
so accompanied by the fervent clas-
ping of hands, and so indirectly, that
Dickinson tipped his hat as he rode
in his carriage and congratulated the
citizens Of Cuba on their loyalty. He
was fooled nicely and SO were the 9th.
ers. In fact. nowhere can be found
as consummate liar as the Filipino
and especially the political liar.
Where the Trouble Is.
Now here was the trouble. The Phil
| ippines are not small group of is.
lands with large cities. They stretch
over thousand miles, with eleven OF
it's islands each larger than several OF
our states. and two of them, Luzor
and Mindano. enormous. There are a
few visitable cities-Manila, Cebu
Sloilo, Zamboango. Dumaguete. etc.
but out of nine millions of inhabitants
you will find seven or eight millions
living away from the cities. The Wis
itor meets the educated FiIpinos (the
most highly educated of whom
couldn't take diploma in Richmond
High School, though rs clever and un
scrupulous politicians they are unsur
passec), sees the special improve
ments constituted by Americans anG
goes away with the erroneous impres
sion that the Filipinos have learned te
do these things, and that the --LATEST
man on earth is going to keep on do
ing them as soon as the American:
| gets out of the way.
l have lived over two years away
| from the cities. out among the Fill
lpinos, where saw a white man once
month and white woman once &
year. l have worked. eaten. talked
with them. stayed in their homes twill
ever get clean againD guided ant
advised them. kicked them, and done
nearly everything one can do to be
come intimately acquainted with theil
condition and the inner workings O.
their minds. ! have travelled all ovel
\ Do Steh