The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-08-28

possessed Of cultur and civilization;
they found them running theor own
government; they found almost every
thing up-to-date-an contrary to the
representations of our unsympathtic
friends.
1t is what the Filipinos have been
waiting for all these years-congress-
men to visit teh islands that they
might see for themselves what kind
of people the Filipinos are and how
they conduct themselves, instead of
religiously accepting as truths the
many ISLANDERS against the race by men
who want the islands indefinitely for
purposes of their respective poets.
The whole incident is deplorabIe
but should be instructive par excel
lence to well-meaning America. 1t is
known now who the annihilators of
Philippine liberty are. Influences,
heretofore invisible. which had furn-
heretofore Invisible, which had frus-
trated the granting OF Philippine in
dependence by hoodwinking the Amer
lean people to the real facts, have at
last been unmasked. Henceforth
Amrica will know how to discount the
multitudinous statements being made
on the alleged incapaefty Of the Fiji
pinos for independence.
Congressman Of sterling integrity,
who have gone to the Islands with
unprejudice minds, men like Hon. S.
G. Porter, chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs committee and Hon.
]. A. Freer, of Wisconsin and Hon.
John H. Small of North Carolina,
have atested to the blazing fact that
Filipinos deserve and should have
have their independence.
The Filipinos do not pretend to be
a perfect people. Neither do they pro-
fess to be as intelligent, generally, as
tn American. But thy claim that they
should be judged on their own mer-
its.
This talk of incapaeity is self-asser-
ton pure and simple God in his wis
dom had never yet created a people
within a defined territory who can
not maintain a government of their
own. The record of the Filipinos is
an open book for the scrunity of fair
minded men. We invite comparison
our attainfnents and progress with the
progress and attachments Of other in
dependent countries of the world to-
day
Americans who have investments in
the Philippines and those who have
commercial interests generally in the
East have no reason to be panicky at
the mere mention of Philippine indie
pendence. Certainly, Philippine in
dependence and their interests can
not be incompatible. Surely arrange
ments can be made whereby those In
terests could be safeguarded. To adj
vooate for the retention of the Philip
pines on any pretext would be to per-
vert Americas Wanted policy of al
truism and to convert it into policy
If selifishness and greed, to her ever
lasting dishonor.
AS mater Of justice to the feelings
and aspirations of the Filipino people
negotiations should be begun imme-
diately for the granting of their indie
pendence. Commercial interests can
be considered afterwards, or stimuli
taneously. This is the only practical
course to take. 1t is the only sane
course.
The destiny of the Philippines is not
to be a perpetual possession Of the
United States but daughter republic
of hers. Americas merchants can ne
yer cmother the desire Of the Fill
pinos for their freedom. The Fill
pinos viii not always supinely sit by
to the maligned and insulted by adj
Toeates of the policy of retention
Solve this problem of independence
now and America will render whole
race of people happy. quick to CO
operate with her in all he international
endeavors. The Filipfnos cannot con-
seientiously attend to the economic
and industrial development Of their
country so long as the case Of their
Independence is not Dissolved in their
faYor-so long as the prospect is
gloomy for their ever becoming a
sovereign nation.
why is it that there are sons Of
this great democracy who, proud Of
their eountry's history, can sympa-
4hize with the aspirations for freedom
of all other peoples except the Fill
pino? Who is it that hey have always
looked down upon this unoffending
son of God? why is it that they have
alwys viewed everything Philippine
from a perspective -thta is distorted?I
why is it that hey have always dis
dained to behold the dawn Of grand
er day for the Filipino? Have they for
gotten Lincoln's rebuke: He who re-
fuses liberty to another deserves il
not himself and, under just God,
cannot long retain it?"-By Jose P.
Melencio.