The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-11-04
Declares Filipinos All
Want independence
Former lllinoi. Congressman, Back From Philippines
Gives Interesting Views on Island Affairs


principally to the fact thar IN the
Jones law America gave the Filipinos
her word of honor that as soon as
stable government could be establish
ed we would withdraw our sovereignty
from the Philippine Islands.
It might, at first thought, seem
strange that in their sincere appret
citation Of all that we have done for
them the Filipino people should place
most emphasis on the promise to grant
them their independence. For 1t can
not be successfully denied that on the
whole the United States has treated
the Filipino people better than any
nation ever treated a dependent alien
people in all the days since the curtain
rose on the dawn of civilization. II
we do not spoil it, 1T is a record that
we can be proud Of.
But it really isn't so strange that
the Filipino should love us more for
our promise to give them sovereignty
over themselves than for our other
good works. for which, after all, out
side of army and navy expenditures,
the Filipinos have been taxed, and
properly so, for every cent of the cost.
If we but reverse the situation, and
place ourselves in the shoes Of the
Filipinos, which cannot be said to be
an unfair way OF getting at the other
fellows viewpoint, we shall see that
it is not strange: y
Suppose that Great. Britain or any
other power that you can think of by re-
ferring to your geography or history,
should impose its sovereignty upon US
against our will and then give US an
infinitely better government than we
now enjoy? Could any such foreign
power ever succeed in convincing US
that it had our welfare more at heart
than we have ourselves.
But to return to my story, the Fill
pinos heartily thanked us for the
Jones law, considering it a sort of
covenant between the Filipino and
American peoples, and Immediately
applied themselves to the task of set
ting up the prescribed stable govern
ment. And they set it up. 1t is in
the Philippines now. Americas own
representative in the islands, the gov.
ernor general, officially reports 1t is
there, and recommends that since the
Filipinos have earnestly, fulfilled their
part Of the agreement, America should
be as prompt in carrying out its part
of the contract. -
So that, in few words, it is not
the Philippines that now are on trial,
but the United States.
There Is but one answer. America
will carry out its agreement. And
since we are going to do It., we cannot
afford to bubble and split hairs and
hesitate until our hardness robs us
OF half the glory Of our achievement
Let US act with a promptness and will
ingness really worthy Of America.
And when the people Of the United
States set up the Philippine Republic
as the first Christian democracy OF
the Far East, they will be building a
monument to themselves that will
stand throughout eternity. On that
day the beacon light of hope, humanity
and Justice will flash around the world.
Such an example by America will &C.
complish more for the weak and strug-
Cling peoples Of the earth than the
four year world war. with all its cost
In life and treasure.