Evening star., 1925-09-07
Asserts Natives
Qualified to Rule
Selves.
Warns That Congress Can
not Kill Cry for
Liberty.

pines. but, III SuCn a cOnJuHcluTe, d
stage is certain TO be reached at which
the dominating country begins to
stand in the way of the interests,
dominated
Hampering Progress.
Let US call America the most gen
erous. as she is the most powerful,
nation in the world. She always.
none the less. must remain America.
America must come first with Ameri-
cans American sovereignty must be
inViolate. There must be no fiscal ar
ransements, no fixing of channels of
commerce, not concordant with Ameri-
can interests, though such arrange
ments or direction might promote
Philippine interests. We claim the
right on behalf of the people of the
Philippines to consider their interests
first, just as America has the right
to consider American interests first.
We want to make our own tariff laws
and our own commercial treaties and
do everything else belonging to ma
tional sovereignty exclusively with a
view to what is best for the Filipinos.
That is the material side Of the
matter. Now the moral side, in my
opinion, is still more vital from the
standpoint of the welfare of the Fill
pinos. As il is deadly to an individual
to lack liberty, reasonable liberty, the
liberty stopping only at the boundary
Of the liberty of others, so it is deadly
for a nation To lack that liberty which
stops only at the boundary of the
liberty of other nations.
Learning Democracy.
when we have our unfettered self
rule, dare say we shall make mis-
takes, but in that respect we shall not
be original or monopolistic. 1t is by
our mistakes that we shall learn.
America has aided us to learn much
of the art of government, but we can
master that art only by self practice.
In politics, as in law or medicine or
music or painting, concrete achieve
ment is not in the scholastic sphere,
but only in the sphere of scholasticism
applied. And, anyway, even in the
United States and in England, democ-
racy is still on its trial
1T is better for the Philippines TO
be il-governed by the Filipinos than
well-governed by the Americans?"
by the Americans or any other
n-Filipinos."
Have the diverse people of the
islands, with their varied dialects, a
recognizable psychic homogeneity-a
national soul?"
.'Indisputably This national soul
already has crystallized in striking ma
tional decisions-for independence, for
joining America in the World War,
against huge landed estates. against
applying United States coastWise ship
ping laws TO the Philippines. Our
people are politically keen and pecul-
tarly democratic.
FilipinOs' Aspirations.
There is not a barrio (city, town,
village or rural district without its
political vigilance, interest and dis
cussion. Ten per cent. over l 600 900.
OF our people have the franchise and
between so and 80 per cent of the
registered electors go TO the polls on
election day. You speak of dialects.
We have many. But our major dia-
lects are only three-Tagalog, Bisava
and llokanO-and whoever commands
these can make himself understood in
every part of the Philippines. All
of our people speak one of these Ian
guages, which have an extensive
printed literature.
To regard the Filipino peoples as
sentimentally and mentally diversified
in proportion to their diversities of
n1lilS VI iSiISlOIi OI Is TO
misunderstood them completely They
all are Filipinos. They all have ma
tlonalstic emotions and aspirations
They are intelligent and proud and
ambitious. independence they know
would mean equality of opportunity
for Filipinos. OF political or social
caste depriving them of their liberties
or otherwise wronging them thew
have no fear. Such reports they dis
miss as contrary to their experience
and knowledge. Have they not seen
their humblest neighbors rise to posi-
tions of dignity and influence in the
country? Do they not know that
nearly all their leaders have been and
are of the people?
Acceptance of Democracy.
Take myself, for example. Hold
ing the premier elective position in the
Philippines, / am a farmers son, born
on the soil, born poor and without in
huential friends, reared in one of the
remotest villages in these islands, com
PEELED TO climb over trackless noun
talnS TO come to college in Manila -
so it will be mettle that will count
in free Philippines?"
1t viii be mettle, just as it is met
tie In the United States and in every
other country where men are free
You say you are peculiarly demo-
cratic"
I'VE are so because we are unin-
numbered by monarchic or oligarchic
traditions or institutional inheritances.
We have nothing of that sort to de-
stroy. Our ground upon which to
erect pure republic is clear
1T is alleged that freedom of speech
in the Philippines is suppressed-that
the people fear their leaders"
That word fear should be changed
TO respect If respect be fear, then
the F1llpinos fear their leaders, as
they nave shown on many occasions.
Political Alertness
My advice to any honest inquirer
who wishes to know whether free
speech is or is not suppressed in these
islands is to go out among the people
and sound them on any of the burning
questions of the hour. He will get
their opinion without any trouble.
And, if he be Filipino politician, and
venture to speak or vote against inde-
pendence, he Will discover on election
day that while the Filipino people
have no reason to fear and do not
fear their leaders, their leaders have
some reason to fear them. Public
opinion in the Philippines is not only
unsurpassed, but vocal and militant
We have two parties and they must be
careful to learn what the people want.
Our electors do not vote by ethno.
graphic group nor by language or dia-
lect nor according to their religion;
they vote as their hearts and minds
tell them is right and for the good of
the country"
"One is told that an independent
Filipino government would solve the
Moro problem by stamping out the