The Jasper news., 1920-04-22

What do they
Maxine M. Kalaw. mean in black
and white?
Senator Shotgun may think no people
is capable of self-government that does
not establish the judicial recall, or that
hns no Billy Sunday. John Smith of
Somerville may think no people Is
capable of self-goyernment that does
not vote his democratic ticket, or 60 to
church OH Sundays.
Capacity for self-government" is as
broad and elastic as the world, and II
that should be the criterion for the
granting of Philippine independence,
America might as we'll say TO the Fill
plnos, Il Will give yoY independence
when 1t pleases me to do So"
Forum tely, the American promise
to the Philippines Is not based on such
obscure and abstract conditions, 1t Is
based on a definite selzable thing.
When America, through her Congress,
officially told the Filipino people that
they would be granted their independ-
cncc az soon as they could establish q
stuhle government, no abstract or OBJ
scIlre condition was meant. Stable
govcrnipaut. according to American
usage, means certain, definite thing.
The United States promised the Gu
bans the samo thing, that "when they
have established stable government,
then American troops would be with
drawn" AS soon rs the Cuban people
clccted government suited to them
selves capable of maintaining order
and fulfilling ull International obliga-
tioHS, there was stable government
III Cuba, and American troops were
withdrawn.
when Congress passed the Jones
law, 1t simply borrowed tho phrase
"stable government" from the Cuban
history md applied 1t to the Philip
pines. !'he history Of Philippine leg
islarion shows that In black and white
With full knowledge Of what 1t meant,
the Filipino people accepted the Jones
Inv and Immediately began setting up
the stable government required by Con-
gress as prerequisite TO independ-
cHce, The stable government is now
fact. II Ia indeed more than that; 1t
is an und!sputcd fact.
The official representative of the
United states In the Philippine Islands,
the Governor General, reported to the
American Congress and the adminlstra-
ton TINT "the Filipino people have es-
taSiished the stable government de-
mandod by Congress as a prerequisite
for the granting of independence
namely, q government elected by the
suffrage Of the people, which is sup
ported by the people, which is capable
of maintaining order and of fulfilling
its international obligations" !
The Philippine question is therefore
no longer question Of politics, argu-
ment or suppositIon. To the Philip
pine mind at lcast, II is now q ques-
tion Of whethet the United States Is
ready to discharge its own obligations
fully and completely. America went
before the world In the recent war as
the nyowed champion II "self-determl-
nation" and FilipInos cannot see how
America can consistently refuse to act.
The Filipino people, however, have
no Grudgc or grievance against the
American people. Theirs Is n message
Of friendship and gratitude. They seek
independence as the natural and log
icol outcome Of Americas policy In
the islanos and Of Americas solemn
promise 10 them. They come willing
to give privileges and concessions not
Incompatible with their national wei,
fare
Tic Filipino people. are willing TO
accept independence under any Of the
following conditions: Under n League
OF Nations, guaranteeing its territorial
integrity; under the protectorateS,lip
OF the United States for the first few
years; under a treaty of neutrality be
tween the United States, England, ia
pan, France and other powers, or even
without any condition Whateyer-abso-
lutte and complete Independence. They