The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-05-07
nA..seA- I'd

Tc'"E~' What do thoy
MaxInqo M. KaIaw. mean In black
aAd whiteg
Aenator Shotgun may think no people
Is capable Of sek-xovernment That does
not establish the judicial recall, or tnAt
has no Billy Sunday. John Smith OK
HsnexviYe may think no people v
capable Of self government that does
net vote his democratic ticket, or 90 70
church on Sundays.
Capacity fer self-govsrnmont" u a.
bxood and elastic as the world, and u
that should be the criterion for the
granting of Philippine independence.
America might as we'll say TO the Fill
pinos, II will give vow Independence
when 1t peases me to do 80"
Fortunately, the American promfSo
to the Philippines is not based on such
ebscXYe and abstract conditions. 1t y
based on a definite Seizable thing.
When America, through her Congress,
ehicialIy told the Filipino people that
they would be granted their independ-
ence as soon as they could establish n
stable government, no abstract or oh.
scure condition was meant. Stable
government, according to American
usage, means a certain, definite thing.
The United States promised the Gu.
bans the same thing, that when they
have established stable government.
then American troops would be with
drawn" AS soon as the Cuban people
elected government suited to them
selves, capable Of maintaining order
and fulfilling all international obliga-
lions, there was stable government
in Cuba, and American troops were
withdrawn.
When Congress passed the Jones
law, 1t simply borrowed the phrase
"stable government" from the Cuban
history and applied 1t to the Philip
pines. The history of Philippine leg
islation shows that in black and white.
With full knowledge of what 1t meant,
the Filipino people accepted the Jones
law and Immediately began setting up
the stable government required by Con-
greas as a prerequisite to independ-
Snce. The stable government is new
a fact, 1t is indeed more than that; It
10 sn undisputed fact.
The Official representative Of the
United States in the Philippine Islands.
the Governor General reported to the
American Congress and the adminlatRa-
ten thnt "the Filipino people have e.
tabllgheA the stable government de-
handed By Congress as a prerequisite
for the granting of independence
namely, a government elected By the
suffrage Of the people, which IL sup
ported by the people, which is capable
Of maintaining order and Of fulfilling
ltG international obligations"
The Philippine question is therefore
no longer question Of politics, argu-
mept or supposition. To the Philip
piAe mind, st least, 1t is now cues
tien OF whether the United States IL
ready to discharge its own obligations
fully and completely. America went
before the world in the recent war az
the showed champion II "seif-detormt
RxtiOn" and Filipinos cannot see how
America can consistently refuse to act.
Ths Filipino people, however, have
NJ gredge or grievance against the
American people Theirs 10 message
Of friendship and gratitude. Fhey seek |
Independence as the natural and log
isal eNteosne Of Americas policy IN
the islands and Of AReriea's soleana
premise 20 them. They come willing
10 give privileges and concessions not
Reonpattbls with thei9 national vel.
bare.
Tas Filipino people are willing to
accept indepeadeneS under any Of the
following conditions: Under q League
Of Eationa, guaranteeing its territorial
tRtesFity; under the protectoratexhIpl
81 the Untted States fer the first few |
pears nader a treaty e neutrality be.
tween the United atates, England, ia.
paa, France and other powers, or even
without any condition whatever-abSo-
Iute and complete Independence. They
kavs no fear Of Japsn. Philippine IN.
dependence. In our opinion, 10 not min.
taAl to JApaRese interests. The Jana.
Aeee are now free to come to the PHI.
Ipplnes, but at the present tina there
aEs less thGA 1o,oeo japanese h tAs
islands. There are six tines % mann
japanese in California as there are n
Ehe entire Philippine Archipelago.
The Tiliplnos are willing to TAXA
Eheir chance as nation. Smaller NJ.
tons beset by gravsP problems aaa
dangers have taken more haEardeus
chance at freedom. and have su~
eeede&