The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-01-11

F11plno people.
"The United States has assumed
responsibilities with respect to the
Philippines, which, in the highest
spirit OF self respect it must dis
charge rightfully at whatever cost.
1t is a useless waste of time to dis
cuss whether we should have sc-
quired the Philippine islands, or
Whether having acquired them, we
should have set out upon the course
of improving the material prosperity
OF their people, educating them, ip-
Producing means OF communication
and transportation and building up
commerce, internal and external, as
We have done. 1t is equally profit
H. SIS to discuss whether those who
spoke on behalf Of the United States
should have made the repeated
statements concerning our ATTITUDES
with respect to the Filipino people,
which statements are in their nature
dSN vi GiHtSS ~ l"NueNo 'ph1''"'''S
cur intentions. We have done these
things and must abide by them. We
have no right now, TO measure our
duty or our obligations by what
would have been our rights had we
not pursued the course we did pur-
sue.
We deliberately chose to assum"
an erroneous responsibility, with o
self abnegation unparalleled, SO far
as | know. save in the somewhat
similar case OF Cuba. 1t was finely
conceived, and it behooyes the nation
Il SEE that it is finely carried out.
ignorance and prejudice increase the
difficulty, and attempts to reap par
tisan advantages adds to it.
Our citizens know so pitiably
little about this great problem. They
do not realize, save in very vague
way, how the honor of the nation
which is collectively their honor, a
thing which they individually hold so
dear--Is yitally involved in a proper
consideration and treatment of this
matter. If they did SO il would re-
quire great effrontery to attempt to
divert them from its proper settle
ment by paltry lies and shameful
Misrepresentation. That such do
now affect the public mind is due
entirely to lack of knowledge on the
part of the public.
THE terms and provisions OF the
bin you have before you are not
known or understood by our people.
II they had its provisions in mind
they would laugh in derisiOn at those
who suggest that ii is inadvisable to
consider this bill now because OF
the existing war The very slightest
consideration of the actual provisions
of this bill would convince any in
quirer that there was nothing what
ever in it which made IL inadvisable
| or inappropriate to consider the mat
ter al this time. II Is not too strong
statement to say that were every
nation on earth. including our own,
Mt war, there is nothing in this
bill which would make its considera
ton inappropriate on that account
The bill Is SO framed as to pro-
vide another step along the line of
self government The wisdom and
propriety OF il can only be deter
mined by keeping In mind the two
viewpoints first adverted to and by
considering the history OF our rela-
tions to the Philippines and the
present situation therein
Here Secretary Garrison traced the
history of the Philippines-some s.
| islands with total population OF
between eight and nine million,
mostly Of Malay Origin-pOinting out
that the revolt against Spain and,
later, the rising against the United
States were the only occasions which
had tended to produce homogeniety
among the islanders. He quoted at
length from messages and speeches
by former Presidents Mckinley, Taft
| and Roosevelt. to show that in each
succeeding administration after the
Philippines had come into the hands
of the United States. the Filipinos
had been taught that the Philip
pines are for the Filipinos,' that
satisfaction over the progress of the
islanders had been expressed, and
the hope of ultimate self government
held out.
Mr.. Taft he quoted as saying in a
message in 1912: I'VE should
endeavor to secure for the Filipinos
economic independence and to fit
them for complete government,
with the power to decide eventually
according to their own largest good,
whether such government should
| be accompanied by independence.