FULFILL PLEDGE OF PHILIPPINES
Wisconsin, Congressman J. A. Frear Of
Fulfill Pledge of Philippines By Congressman J. A. Frear of Wisconsin WHY has not the American Congress granted independence to the Philippine Islands? The question has been asked repeatedly by...
...They all sound strangely familiar today...
...Undoubtedly the Filipinos would welcome having our government retain the modern Gibraltar at Corrigidor, the key to Manila Bay, in order that we may maintain a haven at Manila for all Americans in the Orient...
...Over 892,000 scholars are enrolled without any compulsory educational law...
...Today over 6,500 schools and colleges are instructing the Filipinos, young and old, taught by over 17,000 Filipino teachers and 341 Americans...
...a constabulary force of over ten thousand trained men, with a large force of efficient police and other civilian law officers, maintain order...
...The same arguments now used in opposing Filipino independence were urged in England against the American Colonists during our own history...
...A foreign trade of over a quarter of a billion of dollars...
...a Senate and Assembly elected by the people regularly meets and has enacted many wholesome laws...
...Every interest that hopes to exploit the Philippines urges indefinite postponement of their independence, although the Filipinos are practically unanimous in expecting us to keep faith with them...
...Their achievements justly entitle them to a fulfillment of our solemn pledge to give them independence upon the establishment of a stable government...
...Court convenes at 9:30...
...Apart from our own governmental ideals and altruistic claims repeatedly made to the world, as a matter of justice and right, in my judgment, we should grant the Philippine people what we have pledged them and have already given Cuba— independence— without strings...
...The Filipinos are our friends, the larger part of their commerce is with us and they insist our interests will be welded together closer than ever before when we invite their confidence by granting the promised independence...
...modern hospitals and health regulations, strong religious training and law-abiding disposition, all combne to explan a record of growing self-government that during twenty-one years' development records no revolution or rebellion...
...The question has been asked repeatedly by the Filipinos, and exhibits have been filed wherein they furnish evidence that these islands, 10,000 miles away from our seat of government, with different interests, ambitions and racial conditions, have made the most wonderful development in all history...
...The Philippines have 10,500,000 inhabitants, 91 per cent of whom are classed as Christians, with a complete form of stable government, maintained by officials selected at popular elections, by a people 70 per cent of whom are literate...
...Some of their leading statesmen have so proposed, with offers of coaling stations and whatever else we may desire...
...This sign, conspicuously posted on several streets leading into Quincy, Massachusetts, is the police chief's warning to motorists of the danger of fast driving...
...When Dewey sailed into Mania Bay, in 1898, over 2,100 private schools existed on the Islands...
...Before the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock, the Santo Thomas University a Manila was graduating its Filipino students in the arts and sciences...
...That is their evidence of a stable government...
...There has existed in the Islands for seme years a complete government functioning from Governor General down to Sheriff and a Supreme Court of high standing down through the lower courts to Justices of the Peace...
...modern railways, highways and bridges and over 8,000 factories indicate a marvelous industrial development which is supported by 1,955,000 farms of a hectare or over (2 1-2 acres) in size, for an agricultural background...
Vol. 13 • November 1921 • No. 11
