The Washington herald., 1911-06-25

.swill give what the F7Iipinos are unanf-
mousiy demanding. their Independence,
and It IS. think. the only right and Just
solution Of the Philippine problem.
Way 10 End soveresgnty.
'There are two ways Of putting an end
to the sovereignty Of the United States
over the islands," he explained "One n
to give the Philippines Independence as
soon as a stable government has been or
ganized there. This can be accomplished
by enacting legislation which shall pro-
vide that within two years OF the
passage OF the act the Filipino people
shall elect delegates to q convention
which shall draft constitution for the
Philippine republic, and sitter the con-
stitution shall have been adopted by the
Filipino people they shall proceed to elect
the officials Of the republic. When these
officials have been elected and duly quail
fed the sovereignty Of the United States
over the Philippines shall be turned over
to the Filiplnos themselves and the In
dependence Of the republic shall be recog-
nized
This Is the way which will best suit
the Filipino people," he exclaimed with
emphasis. for Commissioner Quezon
wants Independence right away and he
firmly believes that the little brown men
OF the Orient are capable and at to run
their own affairs.
The other way" he continued, '1s the
gradual transfer OF the government to the
F1lipinos. This can be carried out by
legislation which shall provide, hrst,
that Il is the purpose OF the United
States to give the Filipinos their inde-
pendence within eight years "a lesser
period would be more acceptable to the
Filipino people,: second, that after the
pessage of the law the Filipinos shall
elect the upper house OF the Philippine
legislature. thereby placing in their hands
Immediately the whole legislative power;
third, two years after the Filipino people
have been conducting their legislative
work there shall be held convention 20
frame a constitution for the Filipino re-
public. and after its adoption by the peo-
pie the power OF all American secretaries
shall cease and the American secretaries
shall be succeeded by Filipinos, duly
elected by the people.
Would Advise President.
The fourth proposition provides that
after the lapse Of another two years the
Filipinos shall have the right to elect the
chief executive OF the republic, who win
be named thenceforward the President Of
the Philippine republic After the Presi-
dent qualities there shall remain In the
Philippines for two years thereafter an
American official who shall be called a
United States commissioner to the Philip
pines and who shall act as adviser Of
the President. Two years thereafter the
full and absolute Independence Of the
Philippine republic shall be granted by
the United States and the full power and
authority over the Philippines shall be
given to the Filipino people themselves.
Bear this In mind" said Commissioner
Quezon. Both of my propositions call
for the naturalization Of the islands by an
international agreement before they are
given their Independence
"One OF these is the only solution to the
problem" he added, that viii do Justice
to the Filipino people and honor to the
United States. The world knows that the
Filipinos helped the American troops de-
feat the Spaniards because they were led
to believe, and did believe, that the
United States would not hold the Fill
pinos In subjection, but would free and
help the Filfpinos to establish an inde-
pendent government. It Is, therefore. q
moral duty Of the United States to the
Filipinos to give them their own govern
ment and assure them the free enjoyment
OF their independence. That the time Is
ripe for the liberty Of the FIlipinos and
for the naturalization OF the islands Is
evident. During thirteen years OF Ameri.
can occupation the Filiplnos have shown
that they are progressive, civilized, law
abiding. liberty-loving people. and the
sentiment of the civilized world In favor
of peace Is so strong that II will be an
easy matter for the United States to get
the strong powers to agree to neutralize
the PhiIippine Islands"