Evening star., 1942-01-04
End of q Chapter

llc ldll VI Nldll21d k1Ad1 Nd VAC SASoS
of a chapter. It must likewise mark
the beginning of another. The
chapter just ended is the story OF
vacillation between policies, good,
bad and Indifferent. It is the story
Of a curious mixture Of the highest
idealism and of Grass materialisn,
with devious political maneuverings
on both sides of the Pacific. The
new chapter just beginning, may be
written in blood. But It's theme
must be a high unity Of purpose,
fixed determination toward a goal
from which there shall be no waver-
ing, a realization that we have
part to play in world much smaller
than it used to be.
We took the Philippines in war
that need never have been fought
and we took them, not as conquerors
seizing the spoils Of war, but as
national responsibility. We took
them with little thought Of exploit
ing the people or the resources OF
their rich land, but to free them from
a rule that was abhorrent to our
democratic ideals. We regarded our
seizure Of the Philippines as the
assumption of an obligation, and IN
many ways we met that obligation.
We gave the Filipinos, for the most
part, good, clean government. We
brought them the benefits OF educa-
ton, with the thought that we must
free them from the handicap OF
ignorance. We brought them the
benefits of public health. OF scientific
invention, of modern engineering
and construction. Their interests
were to be our interests and we
pledged them that when they them
selves were ready for the hazardous
business of self government and
self-determination and self-support
in a cold and ruthless world. we
would withdraw.
It will always remain a misfortune
that the decision for withdrawal was
reached through the high-pressure
tactics Of the Filipino politicians,
plus the selfish interests Of those in
America who wished to proflt by
shutting out Philippine products
from the free markets of the United
States. The decision to withdraw
was not governed by the high altru-
ism of our original mission. And
with the decision to withdraw grad
ually as the Philippine Common
wealth approached its ten-year
maturity dn 1e45 our interest In
the Philippines cooled. They were
a long way OF. They wanted "free-
DOM: let them have it. We were
half in and half out Of the Philip
pines. For years the military experts
had said that we could not hold the
Philippines without great and ex-
pensive preparations. Our prepara-
tions were half-hearted. We could
not make up our minds to stay and
we could not decide not to stay.
In the past few years, as the Japa-
nese menace became something more
than a figure of speech, we doubtless
sent to General Macarthur what we
could spare and what we could trans
port. But it was too little-and too
late. We were unprepared. for we
had never seriously convinced our
selves that we should prepare.
We took the Philippines when we
did not need them. We face their
loss now when we need them vitality;
when their loss will make more
difficult the long war that lies ahead
We shall regain the Philippines Il
we have learned, from bitter expert
ence of the past, that the time fol
indecision and wavering Is gone anc
that we must play our part IN the
world with the energy and resource
fulness that are part Of our nationa
birthright.