The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
Traffic in Human Flesh viii
Be Strongest Argument
Against Policy Of SeH-gov-
ernment Being Advocated.

A great political party once went into
ecIiuse for many administrations, follow
ing its championship of slavery. Again
the issue of human bondage hovers like
a tiny, but menacing, cloud on the politi-
cal horizon, for the strongest popular
argument against the new policy OF turn
ing the Philippines over to the Filipinos,
will be the prospect of encouraging the
frafic in human flesh.
The American people are sentimental.
Seldom reused over a material point, they
could be moved to enormous efforts by
the spectacle of a miserable slave girl,
lifting her pitiful shackled hands in the
market place, herself one of the articles
offered for purchase by whoever can pay
the price.
When the campaign of 1916 comes
around that appealing little slave girl
may stand beside every stump orator
critic of this administration
And the Democrats will rear a counter
figure, the spectacle of the enlightened,
civilized Filipino asking the world to free
him from bondage to the United States,
appealing for the American right of a
free people to govern himself.
The situation Today.
This is the situation today as it appears
to the experienced. unprejudiced observer,
countercharges, the agitatiOns, and looks
beneath to their true meaning for the
future.
Above is used the phrase turning the
Philippines over to the Filipinos." This
is just what large part of the native
inhabitants OF the islands are afraid will
be done. The United States took over
an empire fourteen years ago. In this
enormous archipelago are many nations,
ny Of ffa
There is the shy and ignorant mountain
pigmy, the rude and childish Igorrotc,
the intractable Moro, of Mindanao and
many others. But these are not Fill
pinos. The Eilipinos are the civilized in
habitants of certain sections of the
Islands, notably Luzon, whose leading
men are polished and brilliant, versed
In cabal and intrigue. Every other na-
ton OF the Philippines fears the Fill
pinos. A recent incident shows this in a
striking way.
When Francis Burton Harrison, the
new governor general of the islands,
reached one of the Moro villages a num-
ber of Moro chieftains met him with a
petition. What would one naturally sup
pose they were asking, as their dearest
boon? Freedom. the Withdrawal of the
troops, the restoration of things as they
were before the American occupation
sage. They pleaded that the Americans
Itay,
Wanted Americas Rule.
Remain with U.s." ran their message.
1.-THE americans have done wonders. We
would have them here forever. Do not
desert us. Do not leave us to the mercy
Of the Filipinos. Do not put a Filipino
governor over us"
Mr.. Harrison promised to protect the
Moros fully. but this affair probably did
not please him much.
Another little incident occurred a few
weeks before this. Senior OSmena, lead
er of the National Assembly. appointed
A certain popular Filipino politician a
member of the reception committee to
welcome Mr.. Harrison as the new chief
executive of the islands. This politician
had been a major in the army of Aguin-
aide. the insurgent leader. He once tor
tured a United States lieutenant to death
He deprived the soldier OF ipOi and
water and when the lieutenant begged for
them. the politician had pieces Of the
soldiers own flesh Topped off and Of
tered to him.