Jackson County journal., 1919-06-13
SHALL The Philippine
HAVE INDEPENDENCE

Washington, June-''It is for the
best interest of both the United
States and the Philippines that the
independence Of the latter country
be recognized and established at
this time
This was the keynote Of the re-
quest Of the Philippine Mission for
an immediate and final solution of
the Philippine problem, made be
fore a joint meeting Of the Philip
pine Committee Of the Senate and
the Insular Affairs Committee of
the House which was called specially
to receive the memorial and argu-
ments Of the representatives Of the
Philippine government and the Fill
ipino people.
Manuel L. Quezon, President Of
the Philippine Senate and chairman
OF the Philippine Mission, presented
the memorial, and declared that
the Filipino people would be "sorely
disappointed" if independence was
not granted soon. He declared that
the Filipino people had no fear that
Japan had designs upon the Isdalns
and were perfectly willing to accept
independence either with or without
a guarantee OF protection by the
United States, as the latter might
think best.
Francis Burton Harrison, for six
years Governor General Of the Phil
ippines, urged that Congress carry
out its promise of independence. He
said that the people in his opinion
were fully able to maintain stable
government. He declared the Fill D no
officials were as intelligent and
trustworthy as any men he had ever
met anywhere in the world.
The memorial was a formal pc
tition that the sovereignty Of the
Filipino people over the Philippine
lsla ds be recognized by the United
States without further delay.
Such STEP" declared the Deti-
ton, will insure the maintenance
of firm and lasting friendship be
tween the two people, and will fos.
ter the free development of their
commercial relations in the future.
it will place on a high level the
honor of America BY the fuihllment
of her repeated promises to grant
freedom to the Filipino people, and
thus perpetuate in the hearts of the
FilIpinos the sentiments Of gratitude
and affection which they now en-
tertain towards the American people.
It is confidently hoped and be
ieved that the Congress will not
suffer this opportunity to pass by
at time when the whole world is
50 anxious TO establish international
relations upon newer and more
solid foundations Of universal JUS
tice and liberty America has con
situted herself, and has justly been
recognized, as the champion Of the
rights Of humanity in the pres .nt
war, and due n a great measure to
Ter heroic efforts and generous aid,
the world has been saved from the
tnraldom Of greed ard oppression
and the rights of small and weaker
nations to exist in like manner as
the great nations, vindicated.
The recognition OF the indeDen-
dence Of the Philippines at this time
will constitute an object lesson to
the whole wolld in respect of the
lofty and alrruiStic aims which have
prompted America to take part in
the great war, for it will furnish a
practical application Of the doctrine
proclaimed by her Of giving to all
p ople the right ofself-determinatior.
/ For the first time in the history
Of colonial relations subject and
alien race comes to ask the sever
ance Of their political connection
| Will lll0 oOfStiSI Hdt1Ol WITHOUT
recountin9 any act Of injustice done
to them and demanding reparation
therefor; but rather with a feeling
Of gratitude and affection, and with
the object and for the purpose OF
Strengthening the bonds Of moral
and material union which have
bound the two peoples together in
an endeavor to establish the reign
Of justice, democracy and peace
in the world.
It is, therefore, our purpose tc
base our petition not on the injus
tice which might be found by rea-o or
Of the forced suhjection Of the Fl
iplnos, but on the justice OF oul
claim that the national sovereient,
Of our people be fully recognized
in order that we may freely fulf
orr own mission and oort-Ih,,t r.