The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-02-10

~ cient education
What do they
Maxine II. Kalaw. mean in h1acI
and white?
Senator Shotgun may think no people
Is capable of self government that does
not establish the judicial recall, or thai
has no Billy Sunday. John Smith OF
Some rville may think no people is
capable of self-gdVernment that does
not vote his democratic ticket, or go to
church on Sundays.
~"Capacity for self government" is as
broad and elastic as the world, and If
that should be the criterion for the
granting Philippine independence,
America might as well say to the Fill
pinos, II will give yoH independence
when 1t pleases me to do So"
Fortunately, the American promise
to*the Philippines is not based on such
] OBSCURE and abstract conditions 1t is
| based on a definite seizable thing.
When America, through her Congress,
officially told the Filipino people that
they would be granted their independ.
eRce as soon as they could establish
sable government, no abstract or OBJ
IL
| government, according to American
| usage, means certain, definite thing.
1.-The United States promised the Gu.
bans the same thing, that when they
have established stable government.
then American troops would be with
drawn" AS soon as the Cuban people
et@cted O government suited to them
selves, capable Of maintaining order
and fulfilling all international Obliga.
tons, there was a stable government
In Cuba, and American troops were
withdrawn.
When Congress passed the Jones
law, 1t simply borrowed the phrase
stable government from the Cuban
history and applied it to the Philip. |
pines. The history Of Philippine leg
islat1on shows that in black and white. |
With full knowledge Of what 1t meant. |
the Filipino people accepted the Jones |
law and Immediately began setting uu
the stable government required by Con-
gress as prerequisite to independ.
ence. The stable government is now
@ fact. It Is indeed more than that: II
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 adminfstra.
ton that "the Filipino people have es-
tabl1shed the stable government de-
manded by Congress as prerequisite
Tor the granting Of Independence
namely, government elected by the
outrage OF the people, which is sup
ported by the people, which is capable
OF maintaining order and of fulfilling
Its international obligations"
Inc Philippine question is therefore
no longer question of politics, argu-
ment or supposition. To the Philip
pine mind, at least, it is now O ques-
ton OF whether the United States I'm
ready to discharge it's own obligations :
fully and completely. America went
before the world in the recent war as
the avowed champion IF "self-determi.
nation" and Filipinos cannot see how
America can consistently refuse to act
The Filipino people, however, have
no grudge or grievance against the
American people. Theirs is message
If friendship ana gratitude. They seek
Independence as the natural and log
cal outcome Of Americas policy In
he islands and OF Americas solemn
promise to them. They come willing
o give privileges ard concessions not
Incompatible with their national vel
are.
The Filipino people are willing to
ccept independence nnder any OF the
conditions: Under a League
4 Nations, guaranteeing it's territorial
integrity; under the protect0rateship
{ the United States for the hrst few
ears; under treaty Of neutrality be-
ween the United States, England, ia
an, France and other powers, or even
7ithout any condition whatevee-abso-
lite and complete independence. They
ave no fear Of Japan. Philippine In
ependence, in our opinion, is not fnfm.
al to Japanese interests. The Japa-
csc are now free to come to the Phil
,pines, but at the present time there
re less than 10000 Japanese in the
LANDS. There are six times as manS
apanese In California as there are I'm
he entire Philippine Archipelago.
The Fflipfnos are willing to take
leir chance as a nation. Smaller ma
ons beset by graver problems and
ans>rs dave taken more hazardous
lance at freedom, and have gwe-
,eded,-