Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-12-08
Declares Filipinos All
Want independence
Former Illinois Congressman Back From Philippines
Give. Interesting View. Island Affairs


principally to the fact that 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.
1t 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
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, it Is 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.
II 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.
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 sort Of q
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 II
the Philippines now. Americas owl
representative in the islands, the gov
ernor general, officially reports 1t l:
there, and recommends that since thu
Filipinos have earnestly fulfilled theil
part of the agreement, America should
be as prompt in carrying out Its par
of the contract.
So that, in a few words. a is no
the Philippines that now arr On trial
but the United States.
There is but ons answer. America
} will carry out in agreemeo1 An'
since we are going 70 do II, 10 canno
J afford to bubble and split aairs AM
! hesitate until our Iardlness robs u
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 Unite
States set up the Philippine RepubIi
} as the first Christian democracy o
the Far East, they will be building
= monument to themselves that wi
3 stand throughout eternity. On tina
!; day the beacon light Of hope, humanit
e and justice will flash around the worlt
e Such an example by America will a.
j. complish more for the weak and strut
0 Cling peoples of the earth than tn
), four year world war, with all its co:
e in life and treasure.