The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-11
Declares Sec. Garrison in
Defending Plans for
Filipino Progress
TOWARD REALIZATION
OF INDEPENDENCE
Says That Every Little Up
rising Is Magnifed in
the United States

| Washington, d. c., Jan. u.-Why thu
administration is insisting upon passag'
of the pending bill to enlarge the meas
ure of self government of the Philippine
islands was explained to the Senate Phil
ippne committee to-day by Secretary
Garrison. In a long prepared statement
he declared the measure had been i'm
properly termed the philippine indie
pendence bill" and that it was merely a
/ step with proper safeguards, towards
self-government and exactly in line with
promises held out to the Filipinos for
years by the United States.
The preamble, which would declare the
intention of the United States ultimate
ly 10 grant complete independence to
the islands, Secretary Garrison said, was
but repetition Of pledges already made
over and over again.
"What the next step should BE-" r.
said, "when it should be taken, what
conditions would properly surround the
grant of absolute independence, and 9TH
er like speculations, ii seems TO me are
idle and their consideration at this time
would only be confusing"
In view of "the recent exaggerated ac-
counts of petty disturbances in the is
lands" the secretary said il was par
ticularly interesting to note that former
President TAFT, when governor general of
the islands, had said that as result of
the attitude of the American press and
of the American merchant in his hostil
ity TO the Filipino, every small Ladrone
fight, every discomfort the constabulary
suffered, was exaggerated and made the
basis for inference that conditions in the
islands were retrograding rather than i'm
proving"
''What the United States should do
concerning the Philippines" said Mr.
Garrison in opening his statement, "ean
only be determined properly by keeping
two things constantly IN mind One, the
duty OF the United States to itself; and
the other, its duty in view OF the pledges
and assurances il has made TO the Fill. I
Pine people.
"Thc United States has assumed re. I
with respect to the Philip I
pines. which. in the highest spirit OF self /
respect. i must discharge rigbtfully at 4
cost. II is useless waste OF I
lime To discuss whether we should have
acquired the Philippine islands or wheth.
T having acquired them. We should have
yet ont upon the course Of improving
he material prosperity OF their people,
them, introducing means az
and transportation and
building up commerce, internal and ex-
ernal. as We have done Ii Is equally 4
10 discuss whether those who
poke on behalf OF the United States
hould have made the repeated state
nents concerning our attitude with re-
peet 20 the Filipino people, which state
1ents are IN their nature assurances or
hedges concerning our Intentions We
ave done these things and must abide
y them. We have no right now 10
leasure our duty or our obligations by
hat would have been our rights had we
OF pursued the course We did pursue.
I'VE deliberately CLOSE to assume an
normous responsibility. with a seif-ab-
eRation unparalleled 80 far a. know
lye iu the somewhat similar case al
uhs. II was finely conceived. and il b.
Doves the nation to see that il 4 finely :
lrried ont. Ignorance and prejudice in. /
ease the difficulty, aud attempts 90
mp partisan advantages add 20 il.
"Our citizens know 20 pitiablv little :
bout this great problem. They do not
alize. save IN very vague wav. how
ie honor Of the nation which Is col 9
ctiyely their honor thing which thcv
diyidually hold 20 dear Is vitality Is
lived u proper consideration and Z
IF this matter. ~ thcy did 10 !.
would require great eHronterv 10 a.. 4
mpt 10 divert them from Ia proper
ttlement BY paitry lies and shameful