The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-10-24
ASPIRE TO SOLVE
THEIR OWN DESTINY
FilipinOs Emphatic in Their
Rights to be Free Citizens.
IN ANSWER TO WILSON.
Assembly Declares Its Faith i'm JUS
tice of American People-Have
Waited in Patience.

~ e.shNhNV.
Washington, Get. 22.-The answer
of the Philippines to President Will
sons message delivered through
Governor General Harrison came by
cable yesterday in the form of
resolution adopted by the Philippine
assembly. Emphatic belief in the
right of the Filipinos to be free is
expressed in the resolution and the
Presidents words are gratefully ac-
cepted as ga categorical declaration
of the purposes of the nation to
recognize the independence of the
islands,"
The text of the resolution, made
public by the war department, fol-
lows:
eve the representatives of the
Filipino people constituting the
Philippine assembly, solemnly de-
clare that it is evident to ue that the
Filipino people have the right to be
free and Independent so that in ad-
vancing alone along the road of pro-
gress it will on its own responsibility
work out its prosperity and manage
its own destinies for all the purposes
of life. This was the aspiration of
the people when 1t took up arms
against Spain and the presence of
the American flag first on Manila bay
and then in the interior of the Archi-
pelago did not modify but rather en-
couraged and strengthened the as
piration despite all the reverses
suffered in war and difficulties en-
countered in peace
Being called to the ballot box the
people again and again ratified this
aspiration and since the Inauguration
of the Philippine assembly the ma
tional representative body has been
acting in accordance with the popu-
lar will; thus in the midst of the
most adverse circumstances the ideal
of the people never wavered and was
respectfully and frankly brought be-
fore the powers of the sovereign
country on every propitious occasion
| On the other hand, our faith in the
| justice in the American people was
as great and persistent as our ideal
We have waited in patience, confident
that sooner or later all errors and
/ injustices would be redressed.
HAVE NOT WAITED IN VAIN.
"The message of the President ot
the United States to the Filipino peo,
pie is eloquent PROOF that we have
not waited in vain. We accept the
said message with love and gratitude
and consider it categorical declara
tion of the purpose of the nation tc
recognize the independence OF the
islands. The immediate step o.
granting us a majority on the com
mission places in our hands the in
struments of power and responsibility
for the establishment by ourselves
| Of CT Lilfninn =.
fully appreciate and are deeply CRATE
full for the confidence reposed in III
by the government of the United
States. We look upon the appoint
ment of the Honorable Francis Bur
ton Harrison as Governor General a
the unmistakable harbinger of tn,
new era in which we expect the atti
tude OF the people to be one of co
operation and finally we believe hap
PLY the experiment of imperialism
has come to an end and that colonia
exploitation has passed into history
"The epoch of mistrust has beer
closed and the Filipinos, upon havinl
thrown open the doors of opportunit,
are required to assume the burdel
of responsibility which ii would b.
ineXcusable cowardice on their par
to avoid or decline. Owing to thi
a few days have sufficed to brini
about a good understanding betweel
4 Americans and Filipinos which
had been impossible to establish dur
ing the 13 years past. We are con
vinced that every onward step Will
relieving the American government
of its responsibilities in the islands
will as in the past fully demonstrat
the present capacity of the Filipino
people to establish a government o
its own and guarantee in a perma
nent manner the safety under sucl
government of the life, property an,
liberty of the residents of tn
islands, national as we'll as foreign
I'VE do not wish to say by thi
that there will not be difficulties an
embarrassments, nor do we even eX
pect that the campaign open or con
cealed. OF the enemies of the Filipin
cause will cease soon but we fee
sure that through a conservative us
of the powers entrusted to us tn
Filipino people will, with Gods favo
, and the help of America. emerg
: triumphantly from the test, how
/ ever difficult 1t may be"