Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-06-10

zN>S N, ty" and "sutfi-
Gent education"
What do they
Maxine N. <aiaW. mean in black
and whitei
Senator Shotgun may think no people
10 capable Of self-government that does
not establish the judicial recall, or that
has no Billy Sunday John Smith OF
Somsrville may think no people is
capable Of self-government that does
not vote his democratic ticket, or go to
church On Sundays.
capacity for self government" is as
broad and elastic a. the world, and If
that should be the criterion for the
granting Of Philippine independence,
America might as we'll say to the Fill
pinos, II will give yoN independence
when It pleases me to do so"
Fortunately, the American promise
to the Philippines Is not based on such
obscure and abstract conditions. 1t is
based on q definite seizable thing.
When America, through her Congress,
omcially told the Filipino people that
they would be granted their independ-
eace ~ soon Is they could establish a
stable government no abstract or OBJ
Dcure condition was meant. Stable
government. according to American
usage. means certain, definite thing.
Tho United States promised the Gu
bans the same. thing, that when they
have established stable government,
then American troops would be with
drawn" A soon as the Cuban people
elected government suited to them
selves. capable of maintaining order
and fulfilling all International obliga-
tioas. there was a stable government
In Cuba, and American troops were
Withdrawn.
When Congress passed the Jones
law, It simply borrowed the phrase
stable government" from the Cuban
history and applied it to the Philip
pines. The history Of Philippine leg
islAtion shows that in black and white.
VIII full knowledge Of what it meant,
the Tlipins people accepted the Jones
law and Immediately began setting up
the stable government required by Con-
orsss % prerequisite to independ-
snes. The stable government is now
fact It 10 indeed more than that; 1t
10 an undisputed fact.
The Official representative Of the
United States in the Philippine Islands,
the Governor General reported to the
American Congress and the administra-
ten that "the Filipino people have es-
tablished the stable government de-
manded By Congress as a prerequisite
Tor the granting Of independence
namely, q government elected by the
suffrage Of the people, which is sup
ported by the psople, which is capable
Of maintaining order and Of fulfilling
1ts International obligations"
The Philippine question is therefore
no longer a question Of politics, argu-
ment OF superstition. To the Philip
pine mind, at least, 1t is now a ques-
doo Of whether the United States is
ready to discharge Its own obligations
fully and cempletely. America went
before the werld in the recent war as
the avowed champion IT "self-determi-
nation" and Filipinos cannot see how
A1esica can consistently refuse to act.
The 1lipino people, however, have
no srulge or grievance against the
Anss1Nn people. Theirs is message
Of fhsndship and gratitude. They seek
Independence 40 the natural and log
teal outcome Of Americas policy in
The lslands and of Americas solemn
premise to them. They come willing
70 dive privileges and concessions not
Incompatible with their national vel
faEa.
The Filipino people are willing to
eoeeDt Independence under any Of the
following conditions: Under League
Of Nations, guaranteeing It's territorial
Integrity; under the protectorateship
e ths United States for the first few
pears; under treaty of neutrality be.
tween the United States, England, ia
peo, France and other powers, or even
| without any condition whatever-abso.
tuts and complete independence. They
have no fear Of Japan. Philippine in.
! lspendsncs. In our opinion. is not inim.
~ b japanese interests. The Japa.
0ass are now free to come to the Phil.
lpolnAA but at the present time there
aRs lees than 10000 Japanese in the
hlaaAs. There are six times as many
Je0aasss In California as there are ir
the entire Philippine Archipelago.
Tie Filipinos are willing to take
49, chance 90 a nation. Smaller ma
t3sas beset by graver problems ant
AAAgoss have taken a more hazardou.
ehA0ae at freedom. and have sue
ooodol