Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-06-03

the American republic, or naturaliza-
ton, is not generally agreed upon.
Self-goyernment, however, is the Fill
pinos' unanimous desire.
Americans Against It.
The Americans and foreigners, resi-
dent on the islands, are almost though
not quite so unanimous against further
extension of the privileges of self-gov-
eminent to the Filipinos They are
equally as unanimous in denouncing
with much vehemence the administra-
ton at Washington and its local rep
resentatives at Manila. These peo-
pie do not know what is good for
Them said Manila merchant Look
what we have done for them and how
ungrateful the wretches are. They
want to take the government into their
own hands. 1t will ruin our business"
And he naively added: Last year
made 40 per cent on my investment"
The newspapers reflect the discord-
ant views. The American journals are
filed with denunciation of Governor
General Harrisons policy, though his
gracious personality has won him
friends even among his opponents,
while the Filipino press is correspond
ingly laudatory.
Can FiIipinos Govern Themselves?
The question of the duty of the
United States in regard to these islands
and their peoples solves itself into
whether or not they are capable of
governing themselves and maintaining
law and order as an independent ma
ton. If they can do this, even thase
persons in Manila most violently OPP
posed to self-government would agree,
though with reluctance, that it should
be granted. No one here-at least in
public-is opposed to ultimate indie
pendence or self-government, when
the Filipinos are capable of self-gov-
eminent" to use the phrase of COM
mon speech. The difference is as to
the time. TN two centuries at the
present rate of progress" said one
American. In a generation or two"
said another, while a third shrewd
observer without the conservatism of
capital invested in the brewery or
timber or other local business, said:
The F'ilipinos are capable Of govern
ing themselves and maintaining peace
and progress on the island now. And
how can we say for certainty that
they are not unless we give them a
chance to demonstrate their capacity?
AS to maintaining themselves against
outside aggression, that is another mat
ter. AS for self-government, look at
the work of the Philippine assembly.
That throws light on the problem, if
it does not solve it."
Good Work of the Assembly.
The Philippine assembly, the legis-
lature of the islands, had just adj
journed. 1t is composed of two houses.
The lower house consists of members
elected from the various provinces by
voters who have certain educational
and property qualifications. It's mem
bership is, of course, entirely native.
The upper house, called the commits
sion, is composed of the governor gen.
eral and eight commissioners, appoint
ed by the president Of the United
| States. Until recently, five of this
commission were Americans and four
Filipinos Under President Wilson's
administration, however, five of the
| commission "a majority - are Fill
pinos. The work of this assembly
was equal to that of legislative bodies
in other and Western lands. 1t com.
pares favorably, in discussion of meas
ures and final decision, with the stats
| legislatures in America. There was
harmony between the two houses and
each passed about the same number
of bills originating in the other house.
In appropriation of money the assem-
bly, was notably careful and discrim-
mating. Osemena, the speaker, from
Cebu, would have easily been leader
in any legislative body, and Palma, the
senior member of the commission,
would rank among the foremost men,
bers of any upper house. The whole
assembly was characterized by fine
public spirit.
Show Fast-Growing Capacity.
In local civil government, in the
judiciary, on commissions, in the con-
stabulary, and as soldiers, the Filipino
has shown an unexpected and growing
capacity In this view the opponents
of independence agreed, but insist they
succeed only when they are under
some white mans authority. Thomas
A. Street, formerly professor in the
law school of the University of Mis-
souri,, now member of the code COM
mittee of the Philippines, bears wit
ness to their rapid growth in the quail
ties needed for successful statehood.
Maj. B. B. Buck of the regular army,
formerly commandant of cadets at Mis-
souri,, testifies to their ability as sol
diers. Indeed, the universal opinion
classes the Filipinos as the most su-
perior of the Malayan peoples.
There are several different peoples
among the 100000 Christians who
inhabit the 1000 or more islands
making up the archipelago. Some are