| Show Education Before Independence I I I for Philippines I. I o By y STEPHEN P. P DUGGA DUGGAN Prominent Educator Educator and Member nf of Philippine Philippine Educational Survey 1925 The political and economic aspects of the tho Philippine Philippin question have been emphasized by Thompsons Thompson's investigation In this article ar ar- r tide Dr Dupa tn's first hand knowledge of educational educational edu edu- conditions in the tho islands brings out another an another another an- an other important factor in th th-a th case The Thc ml Ion which Pi evident Coolidge e has sent to the Philippine islands keeps the Philippine problem lem to the fore The American con congress ress and the American people practically for the first time since we have acquired the the Islands are giving proper consideration to the Uie problem of ot our relations with lh the Tn in Islands all probability therefore congre will ill enact legislation tion at th the next net session which will have ha momentous consequences both to Americans and Filipinos I What i is to be the nature of or that t legislation concerns concerns concerns con con- cerns ever every American To those of r us who have had the opportunity of bel being 1 In the Philippine islands and of having observed at length the conditions there to Justify forming an opinion tile the duty duly falls to advise e out our fellow citizens The accomplishment In the Philippines both materially I and spiritually Since e Inte we took them over has been I most astounding There is ta nothing like It in the h history of colonization A who for three and a half centuries had hod been under a despotism which had prevented pre their intellectual and e economic t ogress rog-ress and and any participation pal In the control of or th their lr own affairs have advanced ced to to the status comparable com com- parable to that of ot many man Independent 1 states stales The They The have arrived at a degree of oC self- self government beyond that of man many other othet- peoples But the democratic self government which we promised to e erect when we assumed control must be founded upon a widespread public opinion which is the true basis of all popular government Al Although Although Al- Al though English h i is now the language of government government govern govern- ment education and general comm communication it I i is under understood lood by only one one-el one eighth of the people 1 Moreover More More- over the newspaper reading public as yet amounts i to lo little li more than of the Inhabit ants Despite Daspit therefore the remarkable able progress made by the people In practically every form of human activity It is obvious that the control control control con con- by public opinion upon which democratic self self- government is based is not sufficiently widespread to have realized d the promise which we made when v. v we e took over 0 the islands The aspiration for Immediate Independence on the part of ot the Filipino Is to lo be regarded with the deepest sympathy Increased control of their own affairs ought to be extended as rapidly as possible and a time sc sot sett when the opportunity will be given them to state whether they prefer th the tie With the United States to be retained or severed The present present pres pros ent unrest due to doubt as to our Intentions Is bad bac for the Philippine Islands both both economically anc and politically It i is to be hoped that whatever action congress will take jake will wil be based upon the facts of the situation and a r regard gard for the feelings of the Filipinos as well as the duty of ot the Americans Copyright 1026 1926 1 Cosmos Newspaper Syndicate Inc |
