Evening star., 1948-04-17
President Roxus Passes

The last words of President Manuel A.
Roxas are laden with great significance.
Just before the acute heart seizure which
proved fatal, the Chief Executive of the
Philippine republic spoke to an audience
consisting mostly Of officers of the Amer
lean Air Force at Clark Field our largest
military base in the islands. The text of
what turned out to be his valedictory was
a strong denunciation of worldwide to-
talitarian aggression, coupled with the
ringing pledge that, If war came, the
Philippines and the United States would
fight ,together for the cause of liberty and
human rights. This assurance undoubt-
edly reflects the sentiments of the great
majority of the Filipino people and is
convincing testimonial of the close and
friendly understanding existing between
the two nations.
The late President represented the first
generation which grew up under American
influences. Born in 1892, he was only six
years old when the Philippines passed
from Spanish to American hands. And
young Roxas made the most of the edu-
cational opportunities and wider freedoms
brought in by the American regime.
benefits Of the American connection. Yet
he envisoned them as stepping stones to
the attainment of eventual national inde-
pendence. Hatred Of foreign oppression
had been instilled into him from his early
years, notably by the death Of his father
who was killed by the Spaniards In re-
bellion against Spanish rule. However,
Mr. Roxas was never hostile to America,
his nationalism being tempered by an
appreciation of the benefits which the
American connection conferred upon his
country.
This statesmanlike approach to the
problem of Filipino national evolution was
tested as by fire in the Japanese invasion
after Pearl Harbor. Fighting gallantly
beside the Americans in hopeless strug-
gle, he stayed behind at the request of the
then President Quezon, and though ulti-
mately forced to accept an official post
under the japanese occupation he secretly
aided the Filipino underground" Cen
eral Macarthur has specifically cleared
him of the charge of collaboration"
Mr.. Roxas attained the presidency in
1916, when he ran as head of the Liberal
Party and won in hot campaign against
his opponent, Sergio Osmena, leader of
the Conservatives who had previously been
elevated from the vice presidency to the
presidential chair by the untimely death
of President Quezon. 1t was in the early
days of his administration that the Philip
pines ceased to be a commonwealth and
became an independent republic.
The new President succeeded to trou-
bled heritage. Liberation found the
Philippines plundered, devastated and
impoverished by years Of war and Japa
nese misrule It is tribute to Mr..
Roxas' ability that despite these grave
handicaps, so much progress has been
made toward national rehabilitation. And
it is a tragic circumstance that the re-
public is deprived at this critical moment
of leader who inspired such popular
confidence and loyalty.
Mr.. Roxas' successor, Vice President
Elpidio Quirino,> appears to be a worthy
continuer of the late Presidents ideals
and policies. Unfortunately, his health
is repeatedly not good while his private
life has been saddened by the brutal
murder of his wife and children by the
Japanese in reprisal for his activities in
the Filipino underground. A strong hand
is needed in the Philippines these days.
Unrest is prevalent and adds to the diff
culties OF national reconstruction. We
may feel sure that the new President will
do his best and will have American
support.