The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-04-22
Former Illinois Congressman, Back From Philippines,
Gives Interesting Views on Island Affairs.
sy EoaMER coNeagssMAN eLYDg 3. rAvENNga.

principally TO the fact that In the
Jones law America gave the Fillpinos
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 1t can
| 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 1t, 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.
If we but reverse the situation, and
place ourselves in the shoes of the
FHllpinOs, 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 al
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 FiA-
pnos heartily thanked US for the
Jones law, considering it a sort of a
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 iii
the Philippines now. Americas own
representative in the islands, the gov
ernor general, officially reports it is
there, and recommends that since the
; Fiiipinos have earnestly fulfilled their
; part of the agreement, America should
be as prompt in carrying out its part
: of the contract.
: SO that, in a few words, it is not
: the Philippines that now are on trial,
but the United States.
= There is but one answer. America
, will carry out it's agreement And
! since we are going to do it, we cannot
5 afford to bubble and split hairs and
4 hesitate until our tardiness robs Us
: of half the glory Of our achievement
) Let us act with promptness and will
D ingness really worthy of America.
/ And when the people of the United
States set up the Philippine Republic
o as the first Christian democracy o.
= the Far East, they will be building
s monument to themselves that viii
e stand throughout eternity. On tina
day the beacon light of hope, humanit!
q and Justice will fash around the world
e Such an example by America Will &C
l. complish more for the weak and strug
O Cling peoples of the earth than tn
5, four year world war, with all its cos
e in life and treasure.