New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-12
IMMEDIATE INDEPENDENCE"

Probably not one man out of nun
dred who voted for Governor Wilson
realized that he was paving the way
for complete reversal of American
policy in the Philippines and for reyo-
lutionary changes in the status or the
United States as a power in the Orient
But the Filipino politicians realize II
and are quick to begin proceedings Tor
the foreclosure of their mortgage on
the incoming Democratic administra-
ton. Yesterday they celebrated MI.
Wilson's election in Manila with q
procession and mass meeting at which
Emilio Aguinaldo made his first public
appearance since the Instruction. He
and other speakers gave enthusiastic
expression to their faith "in the Demo
"cratic promises of immediate indepen-
science for the Philippines while the
marcherS carried banners inscribed
with the words Immediate lndepen-
dence"
Whether with the responsibility of
power upon them Mr.. Wilson and his
supporters will carry out programme
TO which his party became committed
largely for the sake of opposition re-
mains to be seen. The conservatism
which usually comes with office may
give them pause. Our international
relations, our growing interest as a
power i'm the Pacific our duty to civili-
cation and to the mixed races Of the
Philippines themselves, only in small
part represented by the Tagalog politi-
clans who expect to be the benehciarieS
of an independent government, may re-
ceive more serious attention than they
have yet received from congressman
who have been ready offhand to turn
adrift these millions of people whose
competence to maintain a just and
stable government and meet interna-
tional obligations is not believed in by
those best acquainted with them. In
what complications with other nations
they may involve themselves, or us, If
without control over the acts for which
we must stand sponsor, no man can
tell. Mr.. Wilson may come to realize
that that method of Withdrawing the
United States from ENHANCEMENT" is
itself most dangerously entangling.
But whatever the afterthoughts Of
the reckless promisers, the Tagalog
politicians have a right to take them at
their word. The Democratic platform
declared:
We favor an immediate declaration
Of the nations purpose to recognize
the independence of the Philippine
Islands as soon as stable govern
ment can be established, such inde-
pendence to be guaranteed by US until
the naturalization Of the Islands can
be secured by treaty with other powers
Mr.. Wilson in his speech Of accept
ance did not commit himself quite Sc
explicitly as that. He said: 1--WE are
mot the owners of the Philippine Isl
lands. We hold them in trust for the
''peOple who live in them. They are
"theirs, for the uses Of their life. We
"are not even their partners. 1t is
"our duty, as trustees, TO make what
sever arrangement Of government will
'De most serviceable to their freedom
"and development" 1t may occur to
him now that Mr.. Taft was right in
thinking that continued American con,
troll would be most serviceable to their
freedom and development, and that we
are trustees as much for the Visayans
and Negritos and MorOs as for the
Tagalogs who want to be launched as
the rulers Of new nation. But the
Manila agitators are evidently not
looking for such a development Of the
theory that a platform is not a pro
gramme.
SO as mere incident Of our do
nestle politics a question Of vast ma
tional and international significance is
brought to decision. And ironically
enough Theodore Roosevelt, one Of the
strongest advocates of our past Philip
pine policy, becomes the chief agent of
its prospective undoing. Perhaps he
did not think of it. His platform did
not mention the subject. At any rate,
other things interested him more at the
moment.