Evening star., 1946-07-04
Macarthur Stresses
Problems Philippine
Republic Must Face

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With this ceremony a new nation
is born-a nation conceived in the
centuries-old struggle of people to
attain the political liberty to embark
upon its own national destiny-a
nation dedicated to the furtherance
Of those rights and those principles
which serve to compose and advance
mans dignity upon the earth-a ma
ton upon whom the eyes of all op-
pressed peoples are tod6yScast with
the burning light off, new faith.
Forty-eight years ago the mantle
OF American sovereignty fell over
this land and this people. American
benefcient sovereignty of a liberator
pledged to be withdrawn as soon as
the well-being of the people would
safely permit. America never
wavered in that purpose-America
today redeems that pledge.
For 48 years our Army has stood
on these shores, an Army of free
men dedicated to humanity's high
er service. Its role has never been
to rule, never been to subjugate,
never been to oppress. These years
have seen many men come and
many men go-men truly represent
ing a cross section of that land be-
yond the seas who brought with
them better understanding of the
West and carried back with them
better understanding of the East
and through it all helped develop
a relationship of mutual under
standing, mutual respect and mu-
tual affection
Nations Bound Together.
The qualities which now bind our
two peoples together, founded upon
a community of interest and dedi-
cation to common purposes and
common ideals, will not diminish
with the sovereign change this day
has wrought. For 48 years, as our
two peoples have marched forward.
shoulder to shoulder toward a COM
mon destiny, through the bitter
years of war and the oft-times
onerous adversities of peace, a pur-
poseful relationship has been welded
which will not yield to sovereignty.
nor to any man-made convention,
nor to any artificial political dis
tinction-a relationship which will
last forever.
For 48 years since my father first
led our army down the long road
to liberate this great city of Manila,
close Identification with you has
been my personal privilege. Through
these years I have witnessed with
admiration the magnificent progress
in self-sufficiency and your long,
earnest and unyielding aspiration
for independence. Through these
years of steady and advancing prep
aration, by your resolute persever-
ence in holding firmly to the course
long charted by the architects of
your political future despite SEEM
ing unsurmountable obstacles which
barred the way, the world must bear
witness that you have earned the
right that this day of destiny
might be.
Differences Overcome.
Let history record this event in
flaming letters as depicting a new
height of nobility in the relation
ship between two separate and dis
tinct peoples of the earth, peoples
of the East and peoples of the West.
Decrito rocjol o,,It,,rol o,,J 1o,,1,,oro
differences and great distances of
geographical separation, they forged
an affinity of understanding which
survived both the vagaries of peace
and the shock of war. They shat
tered for all times the deceptive
philosophy that East is East. and
West is West, and never the twain
shall meet" by demonstrating,
through complete and effective CO.
hesion, that peoples of the East and
peoples of the West have common
cause in human progress-and can
live together and work together and
strive together toward a common
destiny.
Let history record this event in
the sweep of democracy through the
earth as foretelling the end of mas
terry of peoples by power of force
alone-the end of empire as the
political chain which binds the un-
willing weak to the unyielding
strong. Let it be recorded as one
of the great turning points in the
advance of civilization in the age
long struggle Of man for liberty, for
dignity and for human betterment.
Courage Urged on Nation.
AS this infant republic stands at
the Threshold of an adventure in
the society of other nations upon
an identical sovereign plane, it's po-
litical destiny depends upon the
courage and wisdom of its leader
ship and the unity of its people.
Never before in history have more
vital and complex issues stirred
mankind than today.
Never have issues weighed more
heavily upon the destiny of the hu-
man race. In their solution, this
new republic will be called upon to
take its stand. God grant that it
may raise its voice firmly and fear
lessly in alignment with those great
forces Of right which seek to avoid
the destructive influences which,
despite our past victories, still harass
the world.
I rejoice with you that your great
political goal has this day been
reached, and shall watch your for
ward march under the banner of
your own sovereignty with deep
pride in the achievements of your
past and with abiding confidence
in those of your future. In behalf
of the great army which I here rep
resent, I stand at salute to the re-
public and the people who proudly
compose it-this land and this peo-
pie that I have known so long and