Evening star., 1922-06-22
PRESIDENT LAUDS
FlLIPINOS' HOPES,
BUT DENIES PLEA
(Con,iru"d from First PageD

,
the government instituted by the
! people thereof
Tne moment was at hand for definite.
! decisive action. and the resulting
grant of complete and unconditional
independence. Manifestly the ma
jority in Congress did not believe in
Philippine readiness. because the
amendment was rejected by the re-
sponsible majority and no steps later
We're taken to hasten the grant OF
independence until the closing days
of the same administration, when it
was about to lay aside its respon-
sibility.
/ Without desire to invite contention
l recall these things to your mind
because independence has played a
country and ours, and in the ap.-
praisal of our relationship 1t Is well
for your people to know something
| of our politics. even as we ought
/ fully to know yours.
| Aspiration. Commended.
| I can only commend the Philippine
aspirations to independence and
complete self-sovereignty. None in
/ America would wish you to be with
! out national aspirations. You would
be untitled for the solemn duties OF
iselfgovcrnment without them. y is
I fair to assume that our only differ
, ence of opinion relates to the time
for independence. You crave it now
and | do not believe the time has ar
! rived for the final decision.
Manifestiy. so far as expression has
been made, the majority of Philippine
| self-sovereignty. There are, however,
many among you of differing opinion.
i There are petitions against independ-
ence. Our missions of investigation
pay unstinted tribute to your prog
ress. and commend your institutions.
- prN h q - n m IAN
at home Is more pleasing TO the
United States than the splendid adj
vancement Of the Philippine people.
Your progress is without parallel
anywhere in the world. From people
i who began with little freedom ana
more than half of one generation
you have progressed notably toward
self-reliance and lfgovernment.
And you have done 1t in spite of that
lack of independence concerning
! which you petition.
To the United States comes both
qualification for your Accomplishment
and justification for this govern
| ment's attitude. because you have
made this record under our sponsor
ship. and in the very atmosphere of
the highest freedom in the world. l
know of no parallel relationship.
We have given substantially every
! thing we had to bcstow. and have
asked only mutuality and trust in
return. We have extended your con-
troll in government until little re-
mains but the executive authority.
. without which we could not assume
our responsibility.
Decision With Congress.
1t is not possible for me as execu-
tive definitely to proclaim an Amerl-
can policy. for the decision must
ever be that OF Congress, but ! would
bc less than candid and fair II 1 did
not tell you we can assume no re-
sponsibility without that authority.
No other instance of beStowing or
recognizing Independent government
offers comparison. There is no other
, instance comparable 10 our relation
ship. Our interests are mutual under
existing conditions. There is no COM
plaint of abridged freedom, no sug-
sestion of oppression. no outcry
, against government BY force. we 90
not tax for our benefit On the con-
trary. we aid your treasury. out OF
which you expend. at your own free
will. In 1920 we collected in internal
revenues in the United states the sum
of more than 100000 pesos on Phil
ippine products and turned the money
into your treasury.
We exempt your bonds from taxa
tion in the United States, and anord
you a favoring market, and ask moth
ing in exchange. We open our mar
yours to US. in the mhtuality Of trade
under one flag. We have spared you
every burden of national defense. and
the cost of diplomatic representation
throughout the world, yet you have
! been secure in your peace and your
representations have been befittingly
expressed. If we have been remiss.
We do not know it. If mutually has
not been perfect, We choose to make
i it so.
changed conditions in the world. The
world situation has, indeed. changed
with a higher augury of peace than
we have ever known before. But we
are only entering the new order. II
| ia not vet fixed. Your international
| lationship, but you would be without
guaranty if complete independence
| were proclaimed.
!, Advantages Of Association.
! 1t will little avail to recite what
seems to us to be the obvious advan-
/ tages of association with the Ameri-
! can community These things do
NOT appeal to those who are bent on
the independent establishment. More
over, accord and concord are essential
TO the furtherance of community re-
! lationship Frankly, l had hoped,
probably l express the hope of many
of our people anu Ilkely Soihe ot
yours, that somehow we might de-
velop a relationship which assured to
| YOU complete self-control in your do
nestle affairs, and would enable you
| to rejoice with us in the economic
and political advantages which are
the rigktful possessions of great
and righteous nation.
1t would i'll become me to question
YOUR belief in readiness for the full
obligations you seek to assume. There
| is no such thought in my mind. But
/ am thinking Of our larger respon-
sjbtIity, Fate cast our relationship.
and we assumed responsibility not
only to all the Philippine people, but
to all the world as well. We have a
high respect for your majority, but
no less obligation to your minority,
and we cannot be unmindful OF that
world responsibility wherein your
fortunes are involved in ours.
No government is or can be per-
feet. from the viewpoint of every one.
We know ours is not, after nearly a
century and. a half of experience, but
| II is not unseemiy to assume that our
experience Is of great value. Long
training and universal education are
essential to the approach to perfec-
4 tion. We not only provide education.
| but we compel It. You have made
most cemmendable progress In edu-
cation, Perhaps the judgment Of your
| people today will be confirmed by
your better educated people on the
morrow, but we ought TO be very sure
| Of highly pfeponderapt and very in