The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1914-06-09
INDEPENDENCE FOR FILIPINos

| President Wilson has been discus
cling with Representative Jones Of
Virginia plans for Legislation relative
TO the Philippines the Virginia Cen
gresham has been working upon
tome time, and it is expected that
bills will be introduced early in the
next session to carry some Of the
ideas. into effect. Particularly Is the
question Of independence for the
Filpinos to be brought forward.
Mr.. Jones. It is said, has teDta-
tive draught Of bill which proposes
that the Filipinos be given independ-
once when. In the judgment of the
President Of the United States. they
shall have reached state 1T for self
government. That Is rather a modi
iication Of the program Representa-
tive Jones was working upon year
ago, which contemplated the fixing of
a definite date, some eight years
hence, for the setting free of the is-
landers and the islands and leaving
them to fend for themselves under
our watch and ward. 1t effectively
passes the buck" from the present
administration without putting 1t too
specifically upon any future President
to make decision on the question,
though hanging a sword above the
head Of each Of Mr.. Wilson's success
sors.
1t is safe enough 10 declare orr
purpose to make the Filipinos indie
pendent when they are fit to be, and
there is nothing Aew, either in such
a declaration. That has been the
general understanding In this coun-
try ever since he took the islands by
war and purchase from Spain. Il is
a long distance promise and beauti-
fully omits specification The time
may never come when the Flliplnos
are fit for independence and certain
ly will not II the islands should be
FOUND Of material advantage to this
country as possession and a parcel.
They are beginning to show some
value now, especially to the cotton
manufacturers of the South. In a re.
cent address to the National Trade
Convention, Capt. ellison Smythe OF
this State said that the Philippines
were enc q the most promising fields
Tor extension of The trade Of the
southern mills, and the commercial
statistics show great increase of
trade with them from the mills of
this section. Generally, however. the
possession Of the PHILIPPINES has not
been accounted of any great benefit
To this country, but there has al
ways been feeling that they might
become so, and that indispcsitior TO
iet them 20 that landowners always
have Of holdings whose value liz vet
undetermined, There are few gcod
parcels left In the world for ac1uisi.
tion aud there have been some DO ,r
trades made by nations IN the not
very recent past that warn against
too great haste In parting with pos.
sessions come fortuitously 10 hand.
Then there is the real and appar.
entity insupesable difficulty of getting
rid OF the Philippines effectively and
justly To all interests. with due re-.
safu to cur own concern and TO the
welfare of the pople Of the islands
themselves, We can't turn them whcl,
" adrift TO be scrambled for by 9th.
or powers. with Japan first In the
ring ,and, II We set them up In bust
ness we shall have to be guarantee I'd
Of their freedom from interference Nv
others. Compacts to that effect may
De made, but whether they win &c
kept is quite encthor matter. Wheth.
er they can be kept, in the face Of Ger.
tain conditions, Is indeed, serious
question. Mr. Bryan, who has always
been strong for Filipino lndepen,
dence, and-though he was largely
responsible fer the confirmation II
the peace treaty with Spain that put
us in possession of the islands. made
their holding and the policy IL i.
VOWED the paramount issue" az ,is
second campaign for the Presidency
Is negotiating new with Easla I'd