Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-29
FILIPINO INDEPENDENCE.

IN response to the direct request
l for Filipino independence made
by a delegation from the Philip
pines, President Harding gave
them many sugared words. In sub
stance he told them that if they in
sisted on it this republic would
carry out it promise to grant them
independence some time when they
were properly prepared for it. but
whether that time would be dur.
ing the next few years, or a thous-
and years from now he refused to
say. He did say however that he
hoped that the Filipinos would
come to like the imposition of a
foreign government on them SO
we'll that they would never want
US TO redeem our promise OF full
independence for them. The pres.
ident admits that 1.-THE majority OF
the citizens Of the Philippines de-
sire independence ard self sover'
eighty" He further 1rr=iits that
THE Filipinos progress is almost
without parallel anywhere in the
world" He admits that "the prog
ress made in self government under
the Jones act of 1916 president
Wilson's act that was SO denot.nc.
ed by the white population of The
islands a few years ago. lis not
to be challenged" and he add
that. there is no American author
ity in congress or out of it sug'
costing any backward step" But
all that does not bring them any
carer independence according tc
the president.
AS God hardened the heart OF
Pharvah, so that he refused to lie,
the children of Israel 60 until
various disasters changed his heart
SO the republican imperialists re.
fuse to talk about redeeming their
promise to the Filipinos now or al
any other stated time. Apparently
the. will never get their independ.
ence unless they fight for it and
make themselves an expensive
nuisance as the Irish have done
with the English, and Moses and
the Israelites did with the Egyptian
government. Then we may let
them go. and redeem our promises
to them, made by both republican
and democratic administrations.
It is not denied by anyone tina,
congress. promised the Filipinos
independence as soon as they were
fitted for it by training under our
tutors. Wilson discharged the
tu,ors ard put natives in their
place for the most part. The ma
tives hold the offices. They are
teachers in the schools. They elect
a native congress to make their
laws. They appoint native police
men to enforce these laws. They
control their own judiciary, even
up to a supreme court. They levy
their own taxes, collect them and
spend them. They even have a
deficit in their treasury, thus copy
ing the example of the United
States and most of the civilized
countries Of the world. No won
c. the Filipinos think they have
Geraonstrated their ability to gov
ern themselves and that the time
has come for Uncle Sam to keep
his promise to them and go away
and leave them to their own in
dependence.
The Filipinos have been quie,
and courteous and good natured SO
far. They admit that they have re-
ceived great benefits from the
United States, but they want to be
independent. Is it strange? India
has received great benefits from
English rule but they want to be
independent also. Probably they
would not rule as we'll as the Eng
lish would rule them, but they wan,
their own national life. So do the
little brown men in Manila.
We are of the opinion that they
won't get their independence until
they make themselves obnoxious
and expensive by a few rebellions
and other manifestations of hostil.
ity. Then the heart of the Ameri-
can Pharoah will be softened and
he will be inclined to listen to
Filipino Moses and let the little
brown brother 60.
We do not know why this reluc,
lance to give them their ~independ.
enc should exist. We never made
any money out of the Philippines
They have cost lie vastly r,ore thar