The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1920-10-29
Declares Filipi1os All
Want Independence
Former Illinois Congressman, Back From Philippines,
Gives Interesting Views Island Affairs
sy FORMER CONGRESSMAN CLYDE II. rAvEnnga.

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.
It 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 it can
not be successfully denied that on the
whole the United States has treated
the Filipino people better thru any
nation ever treated dependent alien
people In all the days since the curtain
rose on the dawn Of civilization. II
we do not spoil it, It 10 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 enjoy7 Could any such foreign
power ever succeed In convincing us
that 1t 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 1t 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 1t up. 1t Is in
the Philippines now. Americas own
representative in the islands, the gov
ernor general. officially reports It il
there, and recommends that since the
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, 1t Is no
the Philippines that now are on trial
but the United States.
There is but one answer. Americ;
will carry out its agreement. Ant
since we are going to do 1t, we canno
afford to bubble and split hairs ant
hesitate until our hardness robs u
of half the glory of our achievement
, Let us act with promptness and will
J ingness really worthy of America.
And when the people of the Unite'
States set up the Philippine Republi
, as the first Christian democracy o
the Far East, they will be building
) monument to themselves that Wi
; stand throughout eternity. On tina
day the beacon light of hope, humanit
3 and justice will fash around the worlt
. Such an example by America will az
: complish more for the weak and strul
D Cling peoples of the earth than tn
!, four year world war, with all its Coz
q in life and treasure.