Will America Fulfill H er Solemn Pledge To The Filipino People INDEX Page Will You Follow Their Advice? 3 What the Filipinos Say 4 What the American Press Says 7 Preamble to the Jones Law 13 Official Statement of the Governor General. 12 From President Wilson’s Last Annual Mes- sage 13 Some Facts About the Philippines 13 Loyalty of the Filipino People in the World War 14 First Christian Republic in the East 1.5 Greatest Example International Square Dealing 15 Gratitude 15 Vt lLL YOU FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE ? George Washington: “Observe good faith and jus- tice toward all Nations. ” Daniel Webster: “No matter how easy may be the yoke of a foreign power, no matter how lightly it sits upon the shoulder, if it is not imposed by the voice of his own nation and of his own country, he will not, he cannot, and he means not to he happy under its burden.” Abraham Lincoln: “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for them- selves, and under a just God cannot long retain it.” Thomas “The people of every country Jefferson: are the only safe guardians of their own rights.” Grover Cleveland: “The government of remo’e and alien people should have no permanent place in the pur- poses of our national life.” William McKinley: “The Philippines are ours not to subjugate, but to emanci- pate.” Wm. Howard “The Philippines are for the Taft: Filipinos.” Theodore Roosevelt: “* * * The time will com.e when it will be wise td take their own judgment as to whether they (the Filipinos) wish to continue their as- sociation with .\merica or not. * * * If, after due time, the Filipinos decide that they do not wish to be thus governed, then I trust that we will leave.” 3 Admiral “In my opinion, these people Dewey: (the Filipinos) are far superior in intelligence and more capable of self government than the natives of Cuba. I am familiar with both races.” * * * Woodrow “Everj" people should be left Wilson: free to determine its own policj', its own waj" of development, unhindered, unthreatened, unafraid, the little along with the great and powerful.” WHAT THE FILIPLXOS SAY: “Gladly do I go to expose mj^self to peril and to myself offer the example of which I have always preached. I hold Dr. Jose duties of conscience above all P. Rizal, else. Besides, I wish to show Martyred those who deny us patriotism Hero, in His that we know how to die for Farewell to duty and principles. Whatever His People: be my fate, I will die blessing my beloved country and wish- ing her the dawn of her redemption.” “Thou shalt strive for the in- Mabini, the dependence of thy country; for Brains of the only thou canst have any real Revolution interest in her advancement and Against exaltation. Her independence Spain: constitutes thy only liberty; her advancement, thy perfection; and her exaltation, thy own glory and immor- tality. 4 “Thou shall strive for a Republic and never for a Monarchy in thy country; for the latter exalts one or several families and founds a dynasty, while the former makes a people no- ble and worthy through reason, great through liberty, prosperous and brilliant through labor." “I have kept the oath I made to the United States not to talk politics, but now that the Americans are asking the views Emilio of the Filipinos, I will reply: Aguinaldo, Our people are happy, content- President of ed and more prosperous than Philippine they ever dreamed of becoming Republic, as the result of American rule. 1898-1901. The schools have taught them to think, and industries and commerce have shown them the rew'ards of work. Now we want the independence which was promised to us.” .\ddressing Senor Gabaldon, said: “We urge you in your capacity as Resident Commis- sioner to the United States to tell the Congress and the peo- ple of that noble country that we who are gathered here to- day would prefer to be the low- est and humblest citizens of the Philippines with independence in our hands, than the leaders that we now are in our country under the tute- lage of another country.” Sergio Osmena, Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives: 5 “Independence is the national ideal of the Filipino people. Agitation for it will never end until it is granted; therefore, Manuel L. early action is in the interest of Quezon, both peoples. If we are grant- President of ed our independence there never the Senate: will be the slightest discrimina- tion against American citizens and American business. They will have every protection accorded our own people and our own business.” Jaime C. “The American promise of in- de Veyra, dependence for the Philippines Resident is not the exclusive patrimony Commissioner of any political party. Both to the United Republicans and Democrats are States: responsible for it. It is the policy of the American people." “I wish to be careful to emphasize that the Filipino people have very friendly feelings to- ward the United States. We Isauro realize more than any one else Gabaldon, that you have rendered us a Resident great service in assisting us to Commissioner prepare ourselves to take over to the United the responsibilities that will States: come with independence. We are practically unanimous, how- ever, in desiring a Philippine republic, and we desire it for precisely the same reasons that you Americans desire a republic.” 6 HAT THE AMERICAN PRESS SAYS: National * * It will be in line with Sincerity our traditions as well as our Not a promises, to grant independence Fiction: to the Filipinos. To do this will set a good example to im- perialistic nations and prove to the world that national sincerity is not a fiction.’" * * * — Record. Seattle, Wash., February 18, 1920. “* * * The Filipino to date has shown rather unusual forbearance in the face of our delay in meeting his demand, or Not even considering it in the light Ungrateful: of altered world conditions. He is not ungrateful for all that we have done for him, and speaks of us as a ‘no- ble nation.’ ” * * * — Herald, Washington, D. C, April 2.1, 1920. “Philippine independence is not a problem for the .American people to solve. The ques- tion of independence for these Liberty islands has already been settled Bell: affirmativelj’ in the minds of most of the .American people. Independence Hall, with its Libertj' Bell, would fall to the ground if we took any other view of the matter.’’ — Times, Berkeley, Cal., Febru- ary 23, 1920. The “♦ ♦ • But ultimately the Philippines principle laid down by President for the Taft when he was governor Filipinos: general, ‘The Philippines for the Filipinos,’ will be vindicated and they will take their place in the family of na- tions.” — Herald, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 27 , 1920 . Independence “The people of the Philippine for Islands should have their inde- Philippines. pendence. Are we ready to play the role toward the Philippines that England plays for the retention of Ire- land?’ — Times, South Bend, Ind., December 11 , 1920 . America “We believe, really, in the Sincere. policy of self-determination and the right of a people to control the conditions under which they live.” — News Index, Evanston, 111., December 9, 1920. “* * * Give the Eilipinos their independence now when they are asking for it. Don’t wait until we turn their patience into Don’t Wait: hatred. America has done a great thing for the Filipinos in releasing them from Spain and in helping them toward self-government. We believe these people appreciate this service by the United States. We should crown the service by mak- ing good on the promise to set them entirely free.” — Republican, Plymouth, Ind., December 7 , 1920 . ♦ * "phe solemn pledge of the United States has been given the Filipinos. This pledge will be kept surely as ' United States was the promise made to Cuba Keeps Its to respect its independence. The Word: United States frequently adds proof to the well established fact that it keeps its word.” — Star News, Pasa- dena, Cal., June 29 , 1920 . 8 “* * * It is inconsistent for Americans to boast of true liberalism and to prate about the right of independence of other Inconsistent: peoples and then close their ears to the claims of people under its own Hag. The giving of the Fili- pinos independence, even if they are clearly demonstrated to be capable of going it alone, will be hard eiiough because it is the history of the world that nations or people, once get- ting a grip on another's territory, hate to ever let go. We in .\merica have our share that has that characteristic.” — Times, Scranton, Pa., July 2, 1920. “* * * The Philippine Islands are rich in resources, ’tis true, but the people who inhabit that country have as much right Right to to guide their own destiny as Guide Own this country did in running her Destiny: own affairs when it threw off the yoke of the English oppres- sion.”— Wincham Leader, Fergus County, Montana, October 3, 1919. “Somewhat belated is the action of the .\merican Chamber of Commerce at Manila declaring in favor of territorial Pledged government for the Philippines to Let under .\merican sovereignty. Filipinos * ♦ ♦ position now taken Go: by these commercial interests is a reversal of policy they have followed for years. They have been against any e.xtension of home rule for the Philippines. They have opposed proposals for placing the islands under colonial rule or territorial gov- ernment. They have urged rather that there be no concessions made to the Filipinos, who. they claimed, were unfit to participate to any large extent in conducting their own affairs. * * * No better evidence that the Filipinos are progressing rapidly in government ability could he given than the declaration of the .American Chamber of Commerce that the na- tives are ready now for territorial government. 9 * * * We have pledged ourselves to let the Filipinos go if they so desire. * ♦ * They should have the option of all choices — indepen- dence, territorial rule and becoming a do- minion. It is not a fair test to us or them to confine them to two choices.” — News, Newark, N. J., August 18, 1920. Government “* * * There are many who Similar believe that the best interests to Cuban of both the islands and this Government: country would be served if they set up a government of their own, under our protection, similar to the Cuban government.” — News, Shreveport, La., October 2, 1920. “* * * Every evidence seems to point to the fact that a stable government has been es- tablished in the Philippine Is- Sacredly lands. The governor general of Promised: the islands, an American of- ficial, has officially certified to that fact, and his conclusions must be accepted as authoritative. The Jones Law. passed after we took possession of the islands, definitely promised the Filipinos their independence just as soon as they had established a stable gov- ernment of their own. They now claim that that time has arrived. We have been in pos- session of the islands so long that we have begun to assume that they are ours of divine right, and that our authority over them ought not to be and cannot be questioned, forgetting that even in the flush of imperialism that swept over the country after the Spanish American war, we definitely and sacredly promised that we would withdraw from the islands as soon as we could be convinced that they could look out for themselves. * * *” — Herald, Miami, Fla., October 25, 1920. Will Be “* * * No matter how well Stronger in a subject people is treated, it Orient Than still hankers after running its We Are Now: own affairs. * * * M'hen we do turn the Philippines over to the 10 Filipinos we will be stronger in the Orient than we are now. * * — News, Hutchinson, Kan., November 17, 1920. “* * * The Filipinos want their indepen- dence, and they are entitled to it exactly as the thirteen .American colonies Distinct were entitled to their indepen- Race; dence in 177(i — because they wanted it. Of course, the United States is not misgoverning the Filipinos, nor is it oppressing them. The fact that a people desires independence is sufficient cause for giving it to them, particularly when that people is a distinct race, far separated geographically from the governing power. By all means, let us give the Filipinos their independence with- out tempting them to fight for it. ’ — Eagle, Wichita, Kansas, December 2, 1920. "* * * Though the Filipinos now are our friends and are tractable and may remain so for a considerable period, a time Let Them will come when their plea for Have It Now: independence will be revised into a demand. demand it cannot recognize and retain its self-respect. In such an event it would have to suppress a rebellion, and such a war would not enhance either the dignity or the self-respect of the United States. \Ve might have an Ireland on our hands. .And as the Filipinos hold they arc well prepared for independence why not let them have it now and avoid prospective trouble?” — Press, Grand Rapids, ^lich., De- cember 1, 1920. For It: granting inde- pendence to the Filipinos, we are heartily for it. * * *” — Chicago Tribune, December 9, 1920. \ 11 Preamble to the Jones Law August 29, 1916. “* * * Whereas, it is, as it has always been, the purpose of the people of the United States to withdraw their sovereignty over the Phil- ippine Islands and to recognize their indepen- dence as soon as a stable government can be established therein, * * Official Statement of the Governor General of the Philippine Islands “* * * In my opinion, during these two and a half years, the Filipinos, having been given an opportunity, have satisfactorily demonstrat- ed the fact that they have already established and are maintaining the stable form of gov- ernment which is prescribed in the preamble of the Jones Bill as a prerequisite to their inde- pendence.” — Francis Burton Harrison, April 17, 1919. From President ilson’s Last Annual INIessage to Congress: “* * * Allow me to call your attention to the fact that the people of the Philippine Islands have succeeded in maintaining a stable government since the last action of the Con- gress in their behalf, and have thus fulfilled the condition set by the Congress as precedent to a consideration of granting independence to the islands. “I respectfully submit that this con- dition precedent having been fulfilled, it is now our liberty and our duty to keep our promise to the people of those islands by granting them the in- dependence which they so honorably covet.” — December 8, 1920. 12 SOME FACTS ABOUT THE j PHlLlPPli\ES Population; The Filipino people number I 10,350,640, of which 9,495,273 are Christians and only 9 per cent non-Chris- tians. Christians: They have been Christians for 300 years and have a culture and refinement that will compare very favoraljly with that of other nations. English is taught exclusively in the Philip- pine public schools. Two million natives now speak English fluently, and i| English: there are 800,000 English-speak- i ing children in the public ! schools. It is destined to be the national lan- guage. I Seventy per cent of the inhabitants of the Philippines over ten years of age, according to a census just completed, are Literacy: literate. This is a higher per- centage of literacy than that of any South .American country, higher than that of Spain, and higher than that of any of the new republics of Europe, whose independence is being guaranteed by the .Allies. The Filipino people are unanimous in their desire for independence. Whenever they are called upon to deposit their bal- I Unanimous lots they have always ratified I Desire for this aspiration. No candidate Independence: can be elected to any office whatsoever in the Philippines, no matter how rich he may be or how pleasing I a personality he may possess, unless he makes a clear and frank statement to the electorate ' that he will work for immediate independence. I Every session before adjournment representa- I tives in the legislature go on record officially I as desiring independence. 13 The Filipinos declare the^- have no grudge or grievance against the American people. Their appeal is accompanied by a Filipinos Are message of friendship and grati- Grateful tude for all that America has to U. S. done for them. Thej' point out that Uncle Sam gave indepen- dence to Cuba, and they hope that they, too, will receive that boon, without which, they de- clare, no civilized and patriotic people can en- joy the maximum of happiness and self-respect. On October 16 , 1917 , the date of its open- ing session, the Philippine Legislature by joint resolution pledged its loyalty and support to the United States, sending the following mes- sage to the President; “The Philippine Legislature deems it a duty incumbent upon it to voice the unequivocal ex- pression of the loyalty of the people of these islands to the cause of the United States of America in the present war and in this solemn manner to ratify and transmit the same to thi- .•\merican people. We realize that in this war there are being tried in the balance the great- est principles of humanity and right which in future will be the foundation of the stability, peace, and security of all nations, whether they be great or small, or belong to one race or another. “Our loyalty to the cause is based on the evident justice of the enforced intervention of the .\merican people in this Loyalty of war, in which thej’ have been the Filipino guided solely by the supreme People in the interest of defending universal World War; democracy and upholding the right of small nations to live in confidence and security under their own gov- ernments, safe from the threats and perils of autocracy' and imperialism. “We firmly believe that the final triumph of democracy, in securing for the world the prin- ciple of nationality for the benefit of the small nations, will, finally, enable our people to at- 14 tain the ideals for which we have struggled, namel 3 % our constitution into a free and inde- pendent nation, with a democratic government of law and order, ready to be another instru- ment of democracy and universal progress.” First The raising of the Philippine Christian Hag over the First Christian Republic Republic in the East, will go in East: down through the ages as a monument to the glory and al- truism of the American People. The plea of the Filipinos should not be frus- trated. The granting of Philippine Indepen- dence will be the greatest ex- Greatest ample of international square Example of dealing in history. The sooner International it is granted, the better it is Square for democracy’s processes; the Dealing in better for the cause of weaker History: states throughout the world; the better also for that new type of colonization which was staged by Vmerica through the might and valor of her valiant sons who followed the Stars and Stripes on many a battlefield, and who died in the faith that the world would thereafter witness a better day. Gratitude: “Gratitude (says the Philip- pine Legislature) shall be the fundamental factor in the future relations be- tween .'\merica and the Philippines.’’ DON’T THROW THIS AWAY. PASS IT ALONG TO A FRIEND. (.Additional copies may he obtained from the Philippine Press Bureau. 5.51 Munsey Build- ing, Washington. D. C.) RANSDELL INCORPORATED. PRINTERS WASHINGTON. D. 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