The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-25

F|L|P|N0S WOULD Be FREE.
ACCEPT WILSON'S WORD AS
PLEDGE OF FAITH.
Gratefully Accept His Declaration
and Acts.

w NdSiilHStOn, OCt. Il.-lne answer
of the Philippines to President Will
sons message delivered through Gov
ernor General Harrison came by ca
bic today in the form of q resolution
adopted by the Philippine assembly.
Emphatic belief in the right of the
F'ilipinos to be free is expressed in
the resolution and the presidents
words are gratefully accepted as "a
categorical declaration of the purpose
OF the nation to recognize the inde-
pendence Of the island"
The text of the resolution made
public by the war department fol-
lows:
I'VE, the representatives of the
Filipino people, constituting the Phil
ippine assembly, solemly declare
that it is evident to us that the Fill
pino people have the right to be free
and independent so that in advancing
alone along the road of progress it
Will on its responsibility work
out it's prosperity and manage it's own
destinies for all the purposes Of life.
This was the aspiration Of the people
when it took up arms against Spain
and the presence of the American
flag first on Manila bay and then in
the interior of the archipelago did
not modify but rather encouraged and
strengthened the aspiration despite all
the reverses suffered in war and diff
ficulties encountered 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 popular
will; thus in the midst Of the most ad-
verse circumstances the ideal Of the
people never wavcred and was re-
spectfully and frankly brought before
the powers of the sovereign country
Jpn every propitious occasion. On the
other hand, our faith in the justice of
the American people was as great and
persistent as our ideal. We have
waitd in patience, confident that
sooner or later all errors and injus-
tices would be redressed.
THE message Of the president of
the United States to the Filipino peo-
pie is eloquent proof that we have
not waited i'm vain. We accept said
message with love and gratitude and
consider it Il categorical declaration
Of the purpose of the nation to rccog-
nize the independence of the islands.
The immediate step of granting us
majority on the commission places
power and responsibility for the es-
adjustment by ourselves for a stable
Filipino government. We fully ap-
preciate and are deeply grateful for
the confidence reposed i'm us by the
government of the United States. We
look upon the appointment of the
Hon. Francis Burton Harrison as gov
ernor general as the unmistakable
harbinger Of the new era in which
We expect the attitude of the people
to be one Of cooperation and finally,
we believe happily, the experiment OF
Imperialism has come to an end and
that colonial exploitation has passed
into history.
THE epoch Of mistrust has been
closed and the Filipinos upon having
thrown open to them the doors of
opportunity, are required to assume
the burden of responsibility which it
would be ineXcusable cowardice on
their part to avoid or decline. Owing
to this, a few days have suffced to
bring about u good understanding
between Americans and F'ilipinos,
which it had been impossible to es-
tablish during the 13 years past We
are convinced that every onward
step while relieving the American
government of it's responsibilities in
the island, will, as in the past, fully
demonstrate the present capacity of
the Filipino to establish a government
of his own and guarantee in a perma-
ncnt manner the safety udcr sucE
government of the life, property ana
liberty of the residents of the islands,
national rs well as Il foreign.
We do not wish to say by this
that there will not bo difficulties and
cmbarraSsmcntS, nor do we even cX-
poet that the campaign, open or CON
cealCd, of the enemies ,of the Filipino
cause Will cease soon but we feel
sure that through Il conservative use
ot TN" powers entrusted To us the
Filipino people will, with Gods favor
and the hclp of America, emerge tr-
from the test. however
difficult il may be-"