Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-25
F|[|P|NOS NOW SEEK
FULL INDEPENDENCE
Inquiry Discloscs They Havc Adj
vanccd During Past Twenty
Years.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE
School System at Nearly Every Point
OH Island Has Converted People
From Standardization to Marked
Civilization
ny IL sTIN McGRATH.

When Sident Mckinley used 1t as
DESCRIPTIVE Of Americas intention in
occupying the Philippine Islands
T%'n,y years have passed since Ad-
flag over Manila. after sinking the
Spanish feet in Manila Bay.
ne Filipino people are now asking
delegation visited Washington last
month TO make the plea for self-gov
The, Secretary o. War. who received
the plea. VIII forward it % Congress
and soon AS Congress meets.
In all past history when colonies
have sought Independence 1t has been
because their peoples thought them
selves oprrrR.ed.
den,e /. unique II is based not upon
oppression OPP ,sa "nt upon upiitt
House % TIE fiiipinos, in joint ses-
zion assembled. adopting a declaration
OF purpose for the guidance Of their
independencc commission. this state
Etent is ra.dc:
".ar from allowing policy of self.
there Islands. America proclaimed and
insisted that the interests and welfare
Of the rilipnos we're TO be considered
pie Of The United states"
In relating the facts showing how
1 1i,; saerSh lust was DISCHARGED; the
tn!s statement VT President Roose-
Colonel RoosevcIts Estimate.
~ question whether there is a
brighter mage in the annals OF inter
hatipnal dealings between the strong
End the weak than the page which
tells % Our doings in the Phiiippines' .
ne lillrinO people base their ella i'm
I" ,ndep' iiuenCc upon their develop
ment 'ducauonaliy, economically and
American administration or the island
inc record Of American achievement
detail Ills weak bS Bris as rven ~ IN
Iharies =. walcuit, Jr nctinS-chie,
OF the Rureal OF Insular Affairs, il a
shining example Of American good
Every American ought TO be inter
ested in the facts OF this wonderful
cause. undoubtediy, IL is the accn-
pli,hncnt OF the United States in Cuba
measure ex iPrHsS the whG riea IN a lns
which the peoples ali over the " orid
are 10" manitestins in the good in
its ability 10 make good in whatever
II undertakes.
any attempt TO show the progress
which has hccn made in the past de-
cade in developing the Philippines in
ScTernmentai educational. commercial
ne.tssat'l! must be prefaced by a
statement Of conditions with which
me Americam sovernment was con-
SPaliSh-A mcrIcan War.
What AmrrIcn Found.
must be taken into consideration
that inc r l!ipinos had been in rebellion
against the former rcsimc for "A mum
Der OF years, and practically nothing
Mas known Of america and Its people.
perienccs. when we undertook 10 re.
store order and take up the reins OF
government there was mistrust OF
by their desire 10 establish a govern.
ment Of their own. the result was a
ron" -, ana costly instruction, ending:
bitter feeling, However. STirioa the the
insurrection. as fast as territory was
government was estaSHshsh. The s tens
taken in this direction were slow hut
sure. and, as far as possible. Filip!nos
Eovernm~t thus established.
AS time Went on, and the Fiiipinos
ticipation IN al the affairs OF their
more and more that the real purposes
exploit the Philippine Islands for it's
own selfish ends. but that all the efforts
put forth We're not only for the
advancement OF the Filipino people
but TO prepare them for the Increased
responsibility given them and for the
further responsibilities which they
must assume in keeping pace with the
great strides which were being made
in the further extension of self gov
eminent. Gradually the suspicion and
bitter feeling began to disappear and
AFTER Few years there was the be-
ginning OF a feeling OF mutual conf
dence and respect.
Relations Vow Cordial.
There now exists most cordial and
friendly relations, and both Americans
and Filipnos are working for the
accomplishment OF deiinite solution
OF Philippine problems, and great
credit is due the Fiiipinos for their
excellent cooperation and help, with
out which the accomplishment. of the
past twenty years could hardly have
been possible.
There are in the Philippine Archi-
ps,i I something dn more than 5000
tance. though only eleven by their size
and population rank as of great i'm
portance.
over 100000 of people. divided into
eight civilized and twenty four So
called wild or non-Christian tribes.
There was even greater variety in
languages than in tribes. since many
OF the. tribal languages were divided
into dialects so different that under
standing between Flipinos Of the
same tribe and language. but speaking
different dialects; was impossible.
knowledge OF one dialect did not give
an undersian ,1nI "a to another Each
offers no medium of communica ton
with modern thought or civilization.
Brignndnge Was Rampant.
The Philippine Islands were in
surrection and to the brigandage that
had been picture in the life of the
Philippine people for many genera
tions.
THE discomfort of the people from
the conditions in which they found
themse resulted in the insurrec-
tion against Spain in 1895, and was
the United States in 1898.
From the breaking out OF the insur-
rection in, 1898 with the Spanish
ton in 1898. until the close Of the
guerrilla warfare in June. 1902. the
conditions of the country were not
peacea BILE. and agriculture could not
flourish, and for several years after
the insurrection against the American
authority conditions were not condu-
Give to peace and order, as farming
and other individual pursuits were
constantly Being interfered with by
rowing bands OF outlaws who had
KNOWN no other occupation for years.
u Profound Ignorance.
"Thc Islands were found to be In a
state OF wide ignorance. Only l.6 per
cent of tho population at that time