Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-06
present to the United states Govern

present to the United States Govern
ment.
Very few take the time to consider
even the geographical facts In connec-
ton with those islands. They lie out
in the Pacific 1000 miles from the
nearest point of the American Pacific
Coast. Our ships take 81 days from
Pacific Coast port to reach the is
lands, and yet they are only 80 hours
sailing from the Coast of Asia. They
are part of the Asiatic Continent just
as is Cuba part Of the American Con-
tinent
Very few Americans realize that there
are more than 1000 of these Philippine
Islands. more than 1000 of which have
never been named consisting of small
islets: that they stretch along for 1000
miles just off the Asiatic Coast south
OF Japan; that they are but a short
ferry ride from the Japanese outpost
of FormoSa and not far removed from
the Isle of Borneo
There are IS millions of people on
these islands who are under the juris-
diction of the United States but who
are not American citizens under the
law. These people are Malays, living
in torrid zone, in a climate not suit
able for either the health or comfort
of the white race.
islands for the next 800 years as did
Spain, We would be powerleSs to change
the appearance of these people, the
color of their hair, the texture of their
skin, their racial customs, or their
traditions and aspirations.
Spain controlled these islands for
300 years which is almost twice as long
period of time as the period between
today and the day when we declared
IndonnnHpnNn IN
in all that 800 years the Filipinos have
remained Filipinos; they remained
Malayans; they remained Orientals.
Today there is a growing discussion
of the Philippines. and The average
American desires to know what these
problems are. In very brief way, to-
night, I shall try to explain. very
with respect to the Philippine Islands.
When we took possession of the Is
lands in 1898 we did so largely because
they were a possession of Spain, with
whom we had been at war.
In the treaty which followed the war
the Philippines became definitely ours,
and the first laws which we passed
relating to the Philippine Islands did
not touch upon the question of our
future policy with respect to the is
lands.
First u. S. Government Military.
The first government we set up was
a military government. The Army took
charge as it does in all occupations
of war. But We soon discovered that we
owed further and more enlightened
duty.
In 1901 the late Chief Justice William
H. Taft was made Civil Governor Of the
Philippine Islands.
In 1902 an act was passed authoriz-
ing the taking of census of the is
lands and also providing for the hold
ing of an election to select delegates
to a popular law-making body for the
islands.
The Philippine Assembly was estab-
lished in 1907.
All of these steps by the United
States from the time of the military
occupation to 1907 were found to be
necessary in the setting up of what
we considered to be some sort of
representative government for these
people under which they could be
developed.
But in 1916 Congress gave serious
attention to the question of our future
in the Philippine Islands. and in that
year there was passed what is known
as the Jones act, which gave to these
people practically all of the functions
of self-government with the exception
that we retained. through certain deSig-
mated officers, supervision over every
thing they did, and we retained also
the right to nullify any legislative act
they may pass.
The preamble to the Jones act of
1919 reads as follows-and, remember,
this is part Of the law of the United
States as passed by Congress. I quote
from the Jones act:
Whereas, it was never the intention
of the people of the United States. in
the incipiency of the war with Spain,
to make 1t war of conquest or for
territorial aggrandizement; and.
Whereas, It is, as it has always been,
the purpose of the United States to
withdraw their sovereignty over the
Philippine Islands and to recognize
their independence as soon as stable
government can be established therein;
and,
Whereas, for the speedy accomplish
ment of such purpose, it is desirable to
place in the hands of the people of the
Philippines as large a control of their
domestic affairs as can be given them
without, in the meantime, impairing
the exercise Of the rights of sovereignty
by the people Of the United States, in
order that. by the use and exercise of
popular franchise and governmental
powers they may be better prepared TO
fully assume the responsibilities and
enjoy all the privileges of complete
independence"
Then the act provides that. consider
ing the preamble which I have just