The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1920-04-20

Maxine M. Kalaw ,,a.r IN bla
and white?
Senator Shotgun may think no people
is capable of self-goyernment that does
not establish the judicial recall. or that
has no Billy Sunday. John Smith of
SomeryiIle may think no people is
capable Of self government that does
not vote his democratic ticket. or 20 TO
church on Sundays
capacity for selfgovernment" is as
broad and elastic as the world and if
that should be the criterion for the
granting Of Philippine independence.
America might as well say TO the Fill
pinos. I will give yoe independence
when il pleaSes me to do so
Fortunately. the American promise
To the Philippines is not based on such
obscure and abstract conditions II IS
based Oh definite sezable thing
When America. through her Congress
officially told the Filipino people that
they would be granted their independ-
ence aS soon a. they could establish u
stable government. no abstract or Oh
scure condition was meant Stable
government. according Il American
usage, means a certain. definite Thing
The United States promised the Gu
bans the same thing that when they
lave established stable governments.
then American troops would be with
drawn. As soon as the Cuban people
elected d government suited to them
selves, capable of maintaining order
aud fulfilling all international obliga-
tons there was stable government
In Cuba. and American troops We're
Withdrawn
When Congress passed the Jones
law. it 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 it meant,
the Filipino people accepted the Jones
law and Immediately began setting up
the stable government required by Con
gress as prerequisite TO independ-
ence The stable government is now
fact 1t is indeed more than that; il
is an undisputed fact
The official representative of the
United States in the Philippine Islands.
the Governor General, reported TO the
American Congress and the administra-
ton that the Filipino people have eS-
tahliShed the stable government de
nanded by Congress as q requisite
lt,, r
namely. a government elected by the
suffrage of the people. which is sup
ported by the people, which is capable
of maintaining order and Of fulfilling
It's International obligations"
The Philippine question is therefore
no longer a question of politics. argu-
ment or supposition To the Philip
pine mind. at least, II is now ques-
ton of whether the United States is
ready 10 discharge its own obligations
fully and completely America went
before the world in the recent war as
the avoWed champion II self -determi-
nation" and Filipinos cannot see how
America can consistently refuse to act
The Filipino people, however. have
nb grudge or grievance against the
American people. Theirs is a message
Of friendship and gratitude They seek
independence as IT,, natural and log
ical outcome of Americas policy In
promise to them. They come willing
10 give privileges and concessions not
Incompatible with their national wei
fare
The Filipino people are willing to
accept Independence under any OF the
following conditions Under ii League
Of Nations, guaranteeing its territorial
integrity; under the craftsmanship
OF the United States for tho first few
years under ii treaty of neutrality be
tween the United States. England. ia
pan. France and oiher powers, or ever
without any condition whatever 20
lute and complete independence. The;
have no fear of Japan Philippine In
dependence, In our opinion, is not iuim
ical 10 japanese interests The .Iaua
nesn are now free to como 10 thp nhfl
ippines, but at the present time therl
are less than 10000 japanese in tax
islands. There are six times as many
japanese in California as there are in
the entire Philippine Archipelago
The Filipinos are willing 10 take
their chance as a nation Smaller M
tons beset by graver problems and
dangers have taken more hazardous
chance at freedom and have sue
seeded.