Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-24
Fight for Filipino Freedom.


Erving Winsiow. secretary Of the
Anti-Imperialist league, which is back
ed by prominent men in every state of
the union, and is carrying on cam
paign for independence Of the Philip
pine islands, is confident that at the
approaching session Of congress the
democratic leaders will try TO obtain
the passage of a joint resolution re-
affirming the solemn pledge of early in
dependence to the Filipinos.
The original obligation" said Mr..
Winslow, was entered into By repre-
sentatives Of the United States when,
in taking over the archipelago, by the
payment of s20,0O0,000 TO Spain, it was
found necessary TO deal with a people
who had already virtually freed them
selves from the Spanish yoke. per
manent suzerainty by the United States
was never so much as limited at, but
the army and navy were employed in
subjugating a people who afterward
we're 20 be prepared for 'selfgovern-
ment' by the tuition of the congueror
1T was only during the administra-
ton Of President Taft. as governor
general, that he announced what, as
president he had so often repeated,
that, though independence must be of
fered to the Fflipinos. after the lapse
of generations Of preparation, it was
to be hoped and desired and expected
that they then would prefer to remain
in a dependent attitude OF course,
this wish and hope have controlled the
action of the president and that Of his
representative, w. c. Forbes. the pres
ent governor general of the Philip
pines, who. by the way. is a thorough
believer in the English colonial sys-
TEN. While claiming the credit of an
intention to keep faith with the Fill
pinos, by giving them their free choice
in an indefinite future. there is here
truly damnable hypocrisy seldom
equalled in the annals of American
history.
The PilipiDos have long seen through
it. and the democrats denounce it. The
method adopted, as exposed in the con-
gressional investigation demanded by
Hon. J. A. Martin of Colorado at the
last session Ct congress, was the pro-
motion of the development of the is
lands by sales of large areas of land
TO corporations and syndicates in the
United States. for the benefit Of a few
trusts and individuals. thus shutting
the Filipinos out from the opportunity
of the cultivation of small holdings.
and creating interests in the United
States which would effectually block
a movement for independence at any
time hereafter.
The condition of affairs in the
Philippines is aggravated by the fail
ure of the Benguet road, constructed
simply for the benefit Of American Of
ficials TO reach their summer resort,
which is about TO be abandoned, II is
said, after sinking more than a million
dollars of the poor Filipinos' money in
the costly experiment. The local pa
peTs are up in arms against the gov
eminent of the Philippines because it
Is prosecuting the native press by
the opportunities generally
afforded for obtaining official news I'M
less It refrains from criticism Of the
in the islands, awaiting the coming
session of congress TO see whether the
democrats. now in power. fulfill their
promise to pass the resolution ward
ing of investors and giving the Fill
pinos good hope for preparing for ear
y autonomy.
"Cupled with the disgust at the
present administration, the uncertain
y Of their future. a famine is threat
ened in the islands. Altogether the
situation is pretty dark. The friends
of the Filipinos hope it is the dark
ness which precedes the dawn. AMI
that. at the coming session. the rising
sun-the emblem Of Philippine indie
pendence-may really be able a. last
10 rise from the horizon behind which
4 so long has been Obscurad "