The Washington herald., 1913-10-20
That Filipino 'Independenee. .

AAot AnPAe AnoSFS.SS'
Mr.. Harrison, the newly appointed
Governor General of the Philippines,
in his inaugural address at Manila
pledged himself to do his utmost to
carry out the present national admin
istration's policy to achieve the inde-
pendency of the people of that larchi-
pelago, which has been outlined by
the President as follows:
Every step we take viii be taken
with view to the ultimate independ-
ence of the islands and as prepara-
ton for that independence, and we
hope to move toward that end as rap
idly as the safety and permanent in
terests of the islands will permit.
After each step taken, experience will
guide us to the next. The administra-
ton will take one step at once. It will
give to the native citizens of the
islands a majority in the appointive
commission, and thus in the upper as
well as in the lower house of the leg
islature. It will do this in the conf
dent hope and expectation that imme-
diate proof will thereby be given, in
the action of the commission under
the new arrangement, of the political
capacity of those native citizens who
have already come forward to repre-
sent and lead their people in affairs.
In return for the concession Mr..
Harrison asked for self-restraint as
proof of the awakened national self
consciousness among the Filipinos, in
order to satisfy the American govern
ment that they are capable of auton-
omy. 1t was wise, indeed, not to have
gone so far as to set date for the
establishment of such independence;
for a party platform cannot override
the Constitution, nor can it repeal the
authority of Congress to dispose of
our Territories. And the present ef-
fort on the part of the President,
therefore, can be nothing else than
paving of the way to secure from Con-
gress the necessary authorization to
put the promise of the Democratic
party into effect. With a Republican
Congress he would have hard road
to travel should that party make his
aim an issue.
But there is another thing that per-
haps may have been overlooked by
Mr.. Wilson, or if it has not, he must
be very sure of being able to carry his
independence policy through. The
Philippines plank of the national plat
form of his own party has a string
tied to it in this way: The independ-
ence of the Filipinos is to be glaran-
teed so soon as the naturalization of
those islands can be obtained by treaty
with other powers. And still another
setback to absolute independence, such
as Mr.. Harrison, in the name of the
President, has promised, is the res
ervation that "the United States retain
such lands in the Philippines as may
be necessary for coaling stations and
naval bases"
The statement, made by the Phila-
delphia Record, that it was so easy to
accomplish all that the President in
tends to do, because there was no
legislation by Congress needed, there
fore, is quite illogical The very
changing of the membership of the
Filipino Commission, substituting two
of that people for two Americans, will
add to the difficulties of gaining the
end desired. Formerly that commits
sion, having veto power, kept a check
upon the territorial legislation. Now,
since that body will be Filipino in the
majority, such veto power can only be
exercised in Washington; and, again,
with a Republican Congress, having
full authority over Territories, it may
turn out that our promises to that
people may have been a triAe too alb
solute, though made with the best of
intentions.