Evening star., 1924-03-10
Sees Aid to Filipinos.
Writer Says Bringing Issue to
Front Will Help Cause.

is brought among the major Amer
ican public questions of the day. 1t
looms high as probable issue in the
next presidential campaign. 1t should
be taken up for campaign issue. To
do so will be for the good of both
America and the Philippines. 1t is a
service that political parties in
America can render for the Filipinos
and their cause. Discussion Of the
Philippine question under the cir
cumstances of a national election will
be most edifying. 1t should not be
used as a mere petty partisan issue.
but rather as the sincere manifesto
ton of an honest conviction on a
great cause. Such a discussion will
result to: 1. A thorough study of
the question, resulting in a knowledge
among Americans of the actual con-
ditions in the island possession; 2.
The Filipinos will learn from and in
that discussion any Of their short
comings and will urge them to the
avenue OF perfection; 5. On the whole
. campaign discussion Of the Phil
ippine problem will make Of the Fill
ipinos better applicants and Of the
Americans the better judges.
This writer has every reason to
believe that many in America are
on the true conditions in the Philip
pine Islands. For instance. l was
talking before congregation in
Seattle in 1919. when. after the sery-
ice was over, lady. apparently well
read and well bred. came up to me
chnnl- handS and remarked her
surprise that I could speak English.
and much more so to know that there
are Christians in the Philippines.
This incident was multiplied in my
experience as / travelled and resided
in many and different parts Of con-
tinental United States. I have every
reaSon to believe that many in Amer
lea have yet to know the true things
about the Philippines and its peoples
before a decision to grant or with
hold Independence can be taken as
If the Philippine question should
become a campaign issue it must be
the issue carved out OF the Jones
law promising independence when
stable government shall have been
established therein. The Presidents
letter made public extends that issue
of stable government to wider
bounds. It suggests standards that
must be reached, by the Filiptnos
before tAey COuIu Cidlil ItDcitS.
Those standards as set forth are
ideal indeed for any race of men. But
they are much broader and much more
indefinite than the requirements set
forth in the Jones law. So long that
the Jones law remains unrepealed
ment on the independence of the Phil
ippines The promise set forth in
that law and its requirements on the
part of the Fflipinos and Americans
will be the basis of any claim on the
part Of the former and upon 1t alone
must revolve the defenses of the lat
ter. If America intends to set forth
other standards than those set forth
in the existing law. she can do SO.
But that will result to humiliation
they have fulfilled the requirements
Of that law, remaining for America
alone to do her part.
1t would be impossible of accom-
plishment to require the Philippines
to be progressive and as strong as
The Philippines will never and can
never become the continent of Amer
lea or vice versa, and the Filipinos
can never become Americans nor
Americans become Filipinos TO set
must come up to before claiming In
dependence may result in an eager
ness on the part of the Filipino to
work for that standard and to tend to
retard thereafter. To set down no
standard at all will result in rest
leSSness.
To set down requirements that arc
impossible of accomplishment is q
denial of indepe ndence and will re-
suit to the worse. 1t Is best that
the Filipinos be placed in a posi-
them in the thorny road upon which
free nations must tread and there
to learn their own lessons. Ex-
perience therein and such an -ex-
perience alone can make q people
truly worthy of their liberty. It will
lead them to better appraisal Of
the obligation of a free people. It
is sufficient that they have reasonably
enough to start on, In that peri1ous
but much coveted voyage.
America should know whether or
not they have a stable government
over in the Philippines and not
whether or not they are friendly to
ment reasonably fitted to play it's
part in the circle of sovereign ma
tions; II they have a government fit-
ted to insure peace ana prosperity
and happiness among its own ctti-
gems: can best be known by an &C.
a people who themselves have fought
for freedom and who have lived sin
the school of actual sovereignty. If
they have that kind Of government
they must be froe;s II not they must
know its dangers and must be taught
to know that they are wrong. They,
the Filipinos, will not be satisfied by
mere opinions from individual sources.
They willingly rely on the judg-
ment of all America arrived at in
.PRosPERo C., .,sAY1DAD.-