New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-19
Softened. But Still Vicious.


The preamble Of the Philippine gov
eminent bill has undergone another SOFT
ening. Before reporting the bill the senate
Committee on the PHILIPPINES reamended the
text of the promise OF independence whlch
is to be made to the Filipinos. Such
action was needed to help out the soothing
arguments of Secretary Garrison that the
nledee of independence which Congress
was going TO give would harmonic
with our governments general attitude
toward the Philippines ever since their
acquisition.
The preamble, as it now stands, pro-
vides that independence shall be granted
"when in the judgment Of the United
States it will be to the permanent interests
of the people of the Philippine Islands.
In the bill which failed in the Sen
ate last winter independence was TO
be offered when the people of the
Philippines are fitted therefor" In the
preamble of the Jones bill, as it passed
the House of Representatives in the
last Congress, the promise given was to
recognize independence "as soon as a
stable government can be established"
This last form Of words was borrowed
from the Philippine paragraph Of the 1917
Democratic national platform, which said;
ave favor an immediate declaration Of
the nations purpose to recognize the IN
dependence of the Philippine Islands as
soon as a stable government can be estab-
hshed' The platform recommended fur
Their that such independence should be
guaranteed by us until the naturalization
of the islands can be secured by treaty
with other powers" But even Mr.. Jones
and Mr.. Quezon have found it convenient
to avoid committing the United States to
this additional and highly perilous diplo-
matte guarantee.
II is a long way from the Democratic
platform of 1912 to the proposed Philip
pine preamble of 1915-16. Yet is it really
worth the Democratic partys while to
give a pledge so whitfield down as to have
no definite meaning to Americans and at
the same time to offer only psychological
solace to hungry and thirsty Filipino poll
ticians? The new promise is doubly a
sham. 1t is an attempt to fool tie
American public--to redeem the pledge
of the Baltimore platform by run
ming away from it. 1t is also an
attempt to delude the nationalist leaders
in the Philippines who are now hand-in-
glove with the Harrison administration.
They are put off with promises made TO
the ear, but certain to be broken to the
hope.
The situation in the Philippines has
been bad for some time past and is rap
idly growing worse. Nothing could be
more unfortunate at this juncture than
to infame the cupidity Of the native poll
ticians, who are itching for a chance to
Mexcanize the islands under some form
of government Governor General
Harrison has done much TO whet the appe-
tite Of the local politicians by yielding
completely to the Nationalist faction and
satisfying its demands for spois. He now
has against him the Progressstas and the
Third Party leaders; but their only desire
is to turn the Nationalistas out in the
next Assembly and to seize the Offices for
themselves. All the patient effort of the
preceding ten years to create public
sentiment supporting genuine government
for the benefit of all the people has been
frustrated and neutralized.
II the Filip,nos are to make themselves
capable Of self-rule that uphill effort must
be renewed. Autonomy should not be held
out as an easy prize to a people who do
not try TO fit themselves for self-control
The process Of education must be slow
It will only be disturbed and impeded by
dreams Of short cut to political indie
pendence.
Any legislative promise Of independence
at this time, however vague. must there
fore be deusive and harmful. The only
sensible thing to do with the futile Phil
ippine bill preamble is TO cut it out.