Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-10-07
TH1IRMONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, OCTOBE
Declares Filipinos All
Want independence
Former Illinois Congressman, Back From Philippines
Gives Interesting Views Island Affairs.
By FORMER CONGRESSMAN CLYDE \ reveNNER

pr,ncipall, TO the fact that In the
Jones law America gave the Filipinos
her word of honor that as soon as a
stable, government could be eslaoIlsh-
ed we would Withdraw our sovereignty
from the Philippine Islands.
II might at first thought, seem
strange that In their sincere appre-
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 cam
moi be successfully denied that on the
whole the United States has treated
the Filipino people better than any
nation ever treated dependent alien
people In all the days since the curtain
rose on the dawn of civilization. u
we DO not spoil II. II Ia record that
we can be proud of.
But It really isn't so strange that
the Filipino should love us more Tor
our promise to give them sovereignty
over themselves than for our other
GOOD works, fOI which after All. out
side of army and navy expenditures.
the t'ilipinos have been taxed. und
Properly so. foi every cent OF the cost.
II we but reverse the situation, aud
piuce ourselves ~ The shoes OF The
t'ilipinus. which cannot he said TO he
AN unfair Way uf getting at the other
fellows viewpoint. we shall see that
II u moi SIrun2e.
Suppose that Great Britain or any
other power that you can thinS OF by re-
frrrins to your geography or history.
should impose its sovereignty upon US
against our viii and then give us an
,ninlel, better government than we
now en!oy2 Could any such foreign
power ever succeed IN convincing US
that 1t had our welfare more al heart
than we have ourselves.
But TO ret urn 10 my story. the I'm
pinos heartily thanked US for the
Jones law, considering 1t a sort OF
covenant between the Filipino and
American peoples, and lmnledia'ely
applied themselves to the TASK OF SET
LlUS up Tue ~ S'''pNo S'ho'N $751;"
ment. And they set II up II Is IN
the Philippines now Americas own
representative IN the ISLANDS. The gov
ernor general. officially reports II rs
there ana recommends that since the
Filipinns have earnestly fulfilled their
puri of The agreement, America should
be US prompt In carrying out It's part
of the contract.
So that, In few words, II 10 not
the Philippines tina, 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 II. 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 proinptness 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 o
monument to themselves that will
stand throughout eternity. On that
day the beacon light of hope, humanity
and justice will fash around the world.
Such an example by America will &C.
complsh 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.