CONTENTS A. INTRODUCTION B. ARGUMENTS FOR IMMEDIATE PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE. PAGE 5 7 (a) Other Smaller Nations Already Independent. II. THE FILIPINOS DESIRE INDEPENDENCE... (a) Armed Struggles... (b) In the Realm of Peace.. (c) Independence Missions to the United States. 11 (e) To Be Elected One Must Be For Independence. III. THE UNITED STATES IS UNDER MORAL OBLIGATION TO GRANT INDEPENDENCE..... (a) American Promises of Independence.. 13 13 335 (b) Effect of Delay Upon Filipinos and Upon America.. 15 IV. THE FILIPINOS HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED A STABLE GOV ERNMENT THE ONLY CONDITION REQUIRED BY (a) The Promise... 15 (b) Certification of the Fulfillment of the Promise. 16 16 (1) Elected by the Suffrages of the People.. 17 17 17 (g) Civil Service Efficiency. (4) Capable of Fulfilling International Relations... 18 V. THE FILIPINOS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR CAPACITY FOR SELF GOVERNMENT (Comparative figures during period of Filipino autonomy and the period previous when the government was practically in the hands of Americans). (a) Education.. ..... (b) Administration of Justice. (c) Transportation.... (d) Public Health. (e) Trade.... (f) Agriculture. (h) Legislation.... (i) Foreign Trade. 22 (j) Circulation.... 22 PAGE VI. FILIPINOS HAVE ALL Elements NECESSARY FOR A STABLE NATIONAL EXISTENCE.. (a) Literacy... (b) Homogeneity. (c) Common Language. (d) Religion.... (e) Suffrage.. (f) Public Opinion. (g) Philippine Unity. (h) Character of the People. (1) The Filipino Women.... (j) Property Evenly Distributed. (k) Size and Population... VII. LONG DISTANCE GOVERNMENT IS UNDESIRABLE.. VIII. THE PHILIPPINES IS A SOURCE OF WEAKNESS TO THE UNITED STATES... (a) From the Military Viewpoint. 34 (b) Military Preparedness.. 35 (c) Pacific Arms Conference Protects the Philippines... 35 (d) The So-called Japanese Menace.... 36 39 C. STRUCTURE OF THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT.. INTRODUCTION The increasing interest that the people of the United States are taking in the Philippine problem, as evidenced by the numerous articles appearing in the press of this country, by the adoption by state departments of education, universities, colleges, high schools, and even grammar schools of the Philippine independence question as topic for debate, and by the numerous inquiries on the Philippines and their people received from day to day by the Philippine Press Bureau and by the offices of the Philippine Resident Commissioners, has made necessary the compilation of the latest data and figures bearing on the Philippine Independence Question. This Mr. Vicente G. Bunuan, director of the Philippine Press Bureau, graduate of the University of the Philippines, and ex-president of the Philippine Press Congress, has successfully done. This booklet clearly sets forth the arguments of the Filipinos in their demand for immediate independence. No sweeping generalizations nor gratuitous remarks are made. Every argument advanced is supported by facts that cannot be challenged and figures that cannot lie. In the development of each argument, Mr. Bunuan has cleverly interwoven answers to arguments against independence, so that in reality this pamphlet is not only an able presentation of the case of the Filipinos, but, also with facts and figures, refutes arguments against our cause. To the newspapers and magazines, especially those that have written much of the Philippines, we ask them to use this booklet as reference. It contains material that the fair-minded journalist and the unprejudiced student of politics cannot afford to overlook, if they would deal with the Philippine problem fairly and squarely. To the university, college or high school student taking part in a debate on the independence question, this book will be of great help in the preparation of his or her discourse. To the ordinary reader, to the great mass of the people of this great Republic, this pamphlet will furnish both interesting and instructive reading. We only ask you to read on and on until the end and see if you cannot attune yourself to the yearnings of 11,500,000 people for that freedom and independence for which your own forefathers have laid so costly a sacrifice to achieve. ISAURO GABALDON, Resident Commissioners from the Philippine |