The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-11-08
WHAT THE FILIPIN0S ARE
THINKING

We desire no quarrel with the Epis-
copalian Church as an entity. But
now and then we see members of its
hierarchy writing articles for the
press of this country depreciating
Filipino capacity for self-govern-
ment, and we can not help but re-
tort. A certain Charles o. Ford, for
example, of the Episcopal diocese
of Michigan, has recently sent out
broadcast statements to the effect
that deterioration is plainly visible
in such of the beaureaus of the Phil
ippine Government as has been Phil
ipinized, and that, therefore, indie
pendence is too premature. We wan
der how much time the gentlemen
spent in investigating conditions in
the islands. We wonder also If the
goodly apostle of government affairs
is acquainted with the degree of
deterioration in the government of
his own country, especially in the
appropriation and expenditure of the
peoples money. 1t is the self-same
holier-than-thou pose that we are
sick and tired of seeing. Many sim
liar statements are being made-in
the face, mind you, of the testimony
of the official representatives of the
United States in the islands, substan-
tiating the claims of the Filipinos
that they are ready for their badge
OF sovereignty. Do Mr.. Ford and his
ilk pretend to know more about the
capacity of the PHILIPPINES than either
Governor Harrison or Vice-Governor
Yeater?
Luckily for the PHILIPPINES, there
are many Americans whose sense
of fairness is broader and wholly
untainted by interests unknown or
questionable. We quote from the
Sacramento (CaD Bee of April Is,
1913: "The American who says that
they (the Philipinos) are not fit to
govern themselves should read some
portions of the history of his own
country. 1t might lower considerably
his national vanity and egotism."
We refuse to indulge in surmises
as to the exact motive of many of
the representatives of the Episcopal
ian Church in thus mincing their
spiritual mission in the PHILIPPINES
with political jibes against the Fill
ipinos. But there are such things
as reading between the lines, and we
see volumes in the following uues-
ton of Mr.. Ford: What shall and
must be the policy Of the Church
the (Episcopalian) in the future if
the plea for independence is granted?
There are many proselytes of the
Eplscopalian creed among the Phil
ipinos. Still many sympathize with
1t for no other reason than that II
is a church nurtured beneath the
aegis OF intensely democratic insti-
tutlons. 1t remains to be seen what
attitude the PHILIPPINES will take once
the news is broken to them-it is
our duty to do so-that there are
many in the Episcopalian hierarchy
who are opposing Philippine indie
pendence at present. Once upon a
time another sect used it's influence
and power to defeat the movement
for independence. Its resulting loss
in prestige and support among the
inlanders Is something it can never
forget. The desire for independence
among the PHILIPPINES is not the mere
wild prank of raw. unbalanced
populace; it is national movement
to attain a dearly cherished national
ideal. The overwhelming majority
of the people are for it, and will ever
be. They know that they are fit Let
that blazing fact be emphasized. Let
it be written in bold letters across
the consciousness of America.