The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-04

people who have been stationed in
Washington. He also praised the CO
operation of the Filipinos during the
war and their restraint in abandon
ing, during that period, all agitation
for independence. He described the
steps by which the original military
government imposed by the United
States has been gradually replaced
by civil government, which step by
step, has been transferred to the
shoulders of the Filipino people and
is now substantially conducted by the
inhabitants of the islands.
Baker remarked that this was per
haps the only state where such
thing has been done without revo-
luton by force and that now the two
peoples are bound only by the formal
tie of governor general who is the
connecting link between Two govern
ments. Pride was expressed by Baker
in the fact that there had been
genuine development of Filipino civil
lization and not a mere shaping on
of American customs.
He dwelt on the development OF
| the principles of liberty and self
government which the Filipino people
have achieved under American super
vision. He said that the people of
! the United States would be even
iprouder of the Philippines when they
| had achieved their independence en-
| tirely.
| THE Philippine islands are almost
independent now; your legislature
/ governs the islands," Secretary Baker
/ told the delegation. THE strongest
! tie between the Philippines and the
!; United States at the present time is
1.-THE tie of affection, rather than the
| political. ] know that ] express the
feeling Of the PRESIDENT certainly
iexpress my own feeling think | ex-
press the prevailing opinion of the
people of the United States, when
Isay that we believe the time has sub
istantially come, il not quite come.
when the Filipinos can be allowed
| to sever the mere formal political tie
remaining and become an indepen-
dent people.
/ II am myself in favor of Philippine
| independence. / trust the day is very
close at hand when it can be formally
accomplished and when it will no
longer be necessary for your children
I in your public schools to write essays
/! and make orations on the aspirations
| of your people and when all the
energy OF your people can be devoted
to the further development of the
/ fine civilization which is already in
augurated there.
! II think you win be able to say
THAT you discover that Americans
! love liberty too dearly to deny it to
anybody; that America is proud of
the Philippine islands and that her
pride win increase rather than cease,
when she ceases to be her political
lpossession and becomes her political
sister in the sisterhood OF nations"
I Baker expressed the hope that as
/ the Philippine mission toured the
United States and as members made
addresses they would describe to the
American people their desire to be
Z free.
The mission, after leaving the war
department, called at the white
house to pay its respects to Secre-
itary Tumulty. II has left no further
communication for the president.
Very satisfactory and very en-
couraging," was the comment of
President Quezon, of the Philippine
senate on the attitude of President
Wilson toward independence of the
/ islands as given the mission by Sec
Rotary Baker.
| enforcement through parliament
1 ~, IItfpyaru Ia pf aurianf oripip hnipu