5. Our soldiers acting as "big brothers" to the poor people 7. Landing of ten thousand Russian troops at Marseilles to 6. The President and Mrs. Wilson at the ball game. Presi- THE PHILIPPINES NY hope which the Filipinos Scott-Obregon Conference at El Paso. ment from the Cabinet of Lindley M. Garrison. A may have entertained of an im- It does not now appear likely that minent release from American control was nipped with the defeat of the Clarke amendment. This amendment provided that our Far Eastern possessions should be set free within four years. It had received the endorsement of the President, and had already passed the Senate. But a revolt of thirty Democratic Representatives, who went over and voted with the entire Republican body, settled the fate of this measure-a measure which has aroused a storm of criticism, and which was instrumental in the retire Photo by Universal Animated Weekly any further efforts to secure a timelimit for the continuance of American sway will be started at this time. There are enough issues already before the country, and we may well be spared the responsibility of settling this comparatively minor problem just now. The problem in itself is of vast importance. But it is minor in comparison with those larger and more pressing problems which involve international responsibility. In place of the Clarke amendment, the Jones Bill was accepted by the Posing on the roof of the "Flatiron Building," New York. House. This bill, which includes an indefinite promise of ultimate independence, is far safer for the present. The clause containing this promise is generally looked upon as "vague." But vagueness is preferable to an out-andout act which could hardly but result in confusion-possibly in a terrible insular tragedy. The Jones promise of liberation from American rule is based upon the establishment in the Philippines of a stable and adequate government PAN-AMERICANISM IS AN OLD AS WELL AS A NEW IDEAL The Venezuelan historian, Dr. Vicente Lecuna, has published a manuscript written in 1826 by the great South American patriot, Bolivar, in which some interesting comments on Pan-Americanism appear. This document proves beyond question that the ideal of close and coöperative alliance for the Americas was glimpsed a good many years ago. Bolivar's plan was endorsed and built upon by the delegates who attended the recent Pan-American Scientific Congress in Washington, although perhaps not in all cases consciously. Dr. Lecuna has brought out this old manuscript at just the proper moment, and he is to be congratulated on his vision. The following is a translation of Bolivar's short treatise, which will be found of great interest at this time. T HE Congress of Panama will bring together all the representatives of America and a diplomatic agent of H. B. M. The relations of political communities would obtain a code of public law for their universal rule of conduct. 1. The New World would be formed by independent nations bound together by a common set of laws which would fix their foreign relations and would give them a conservative power in a general and permanent congress. 2. The existence of these new States would obtain new guarantees. 3. Spain would make peace through respect for England, and the Holy Alliance would recognize these new rising nations. 4. Internal order would be preserved untouched, both among and within each of the different States. 5. No one would be weaker than the other, no one the stronger. 6. A perfect balance would be established in this true new order of things. 7. The strength of all would come to the aid of the one suffering from a foreign enemy or anarchical factions. 8. Difference of origin and color would lose their influence and power. 9. America would have nothing more to fear from that awful monster which has devoured the Island of San Domingo, nor would there be any fear of the preponderance in numbers of the primitive inhabitants. 10. Social reform, in short, would have been attained under the blessed auspices of liberty and peace-but England should necessarily take in her hands the beam of the scales. Great Britain would undoubtedly attain considerable advantages through this arrangement. 1. Her influence in Europe would progressively increase, and her decisions will be like those of destiny. 2. America would serve as a wealthy commercial domain. 3. America would be to her the centre of her relations between Asia and Europe. 4. English subjects would be considered equal to the citizens of Ameri ca. 5. The mutual relations between the two countries in time would become the same. 6. British characteristics and customs would be taken by Americans as standards of their future life. 7. In the advance of centuries there would be, perhaps, one nation covering the world-the federal nation. |