The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-10-22
FlLIPINOS
ASK FOR
FREEDOM

Washington, Get. 22.-The answer Of
the Philippines to President Wilson's
message, delivered through Governor
General Harrison, came by cable yes
terday, 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 accepted as "a category
cal declaration of the purpose of the
nation to recognize the independence
of the islands,
The text of the resolution, made pub
lie by the war department follows:
I'VE, the representatives of the Fill
pino people. constituting the Philip
pine assembly, Soler3rIy declare that
it is evident to us that the Filipino
people have the right to be free and
independent so that in advancing alone
along the road of progress, it will ef-
feet 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 they 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 radified this
aspiration and since the inauguration
of the Philippine assembly, the nation
al representative body has been act
ing in accordance with the popular will
only; thus in the midst of most ad-
verse circumstances, the idea left the
people, never wavered and was re-
spectfully and frankly brought before
the powers of the sovereign country
on every propitious occasion. On the
other hand, our faith in the justice of
the American was as great and per-
sistent as our ideal. We have waited
in patience, confident that sooner or
later all errors and injustices 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 in vain. We accept said mes
sage with love and gratitude and con-
sidered it a categorical decision of the
purpose of the nation, recognize the
independence of the islands. The i'm
mediate step of granting us a ma
jority on the commission places in our
hands the instruments Of power and
responsibility for the establishment
by ourselves of stable Filipino gov
are deeply grateful for the confidence
reposed in us by the United States.
We look upon the appointment, of the
honorable Francis Burton Harrison as
governor 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 experiments of i'm
perialism have 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 sufficed to
bring about good understanding be-
tween Americans and Filipinos which
had been impossible to establish dur
ing the thirteen years past. We are
convinced that every onward step
while relieving the American govern
ment Of it's responsibilities. in the is
lands, will. as in the past, fully dem
onstrate the present capacity Of the
Filipino people to establish a govern
4nent of it's own and guarantee in a
permanent manner the safety under
such government of the life, property
and liberty of the residents of the is
lands, national as well as foreign.
1--WE do not wish to say by this that
there will not be difficulties and en-
barrassments, nor do we even expect
that the campaign open or concealed
of the enemies of the Filipino cause
will cease soon, but we feel sure thai
| through conservative use of the
powers entrusted to us, the Filipino
people will, with Gods favor and the
l l.,
| NAV ha.o ElfS.5 ts