Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-04-07

ambitions and ra- a. rrear OF Wis
cial conditions, have consin.
made the most wonderful development
in all history. Their achievements
justly entitle them to a fulflIment of
our solemn pledge to give them indie
pendence upon the establishment Of q
stable government.
The Philippines have 1O,5OO,OOO in
habitants, 81 pei cent of whom are
classed as Christians, with a complete
form Of stable government, maintained
by officials selected at popular cleo
tons, by people 70 per cent of whom
are literate.
Before the Pilgrim Fathers landed at
Plymouth Rock the Santo Tomas Uni
versity at Manila was graduating it's
Filipino students in the arts and sci
ences. When Dewey sailed into Manila
Bay, in 1898, over 2,1OO private schools
existed On the Islands. Today over
$500 schools and colleges are instruct
ing the Filipinos, young and old, taught
by over 1900 Filipino teachers and
341 Americans. Over $4,000 scholars
are enrolled without any compulsory
educational law. There has existed in
the Islands for some years a complete
government functioning from Governor
General down to Sheriff and Supreme
Court of high standing down through
the lower courts to Justices of the
Peace; Senate and Assembly elected
by the people regularly meets and has
enacted many wholesome laws: a con-
stabulary force of over ten thousand
trained men, with large force Of eff
Gent police and other civilian law Off
GERS, maintain order. A foreign trade
Of over quarter of a billion of dol
lars; modern railways, highways and
bridges and over 5000 factories indi-
cate a marvellous industrial develop
ment which is supported by 1,955OOO
farms Of hectare or over (21a acres)
in size, for an agricultural back
ground; modern hospitals and health
regulations, strong religious training
and law-abiding disposition, all COM
bine to explain record Of growing
self-government that during twenty
one years development records no rev.
olution or rebellion. That is their evil
dence Of stable government.
Undoubtedly the Filipinos would well
come having our government retain the
modern Gibraltar at Corrigidor, the
key to Manila Bay, in order that we
may maintain haven at Manila for all
Americans in the Orient. Some of
their leading statesmen have SO pro-
posed, with offers of coaling stations
and whatever else we may desire.
Every interest that hopes to exploit
the Philippines urges indefinite post
ponement of their independence, al
though the Filipinos are practically
unanimous in expecting us to keep faith
with them.
The same arguments now used in op-
posing Filipino independence were
urged in England against the Ameri-
can ColonistS during our own history.
They all sound strangely familiar to-
day. The Filipinos are our friends,
with us and they insist our interests
will be welded together closer than
ever before when we invite their conf
dence by granting the promised indie
pendence. Apart from our own gov
ernmental ideals and altruistic claims
repeatedly made to the world, as
matter of justice and right, in my judg-
ment, we should grant the Philippine
people what we have pledged them and
have already given Cuba-independ-
ence-without strings.