THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY HENCE

I.

In order to read the destiny of a people, it is necessary to open the book of its past, and this, for the
Philippines, may be reduced in general terms to what follows.

They gradually lost their ancient traditions, their recollections-they forgot their writings, their songs,
their poetry, their laws, in order to learn by heart other doctrines, which they did not understand,
other ethics, other tastes, different from those inspired in their race by their climate and their way of
thinking.

II

extend his hands to the chains, bow his neck beneath the yoke and accept the future with the
resignation of an invalid who watches the leaves fall and foresees a long winter amid whose snows
he discerns the outlines of his grave.

the present situation seems to be gilded and rosy--as we might say, a beautiful morning compared to
the vexed and stormy night of the past.

The derisive laughter penetrates like mortal poison into the heart of the native who pays and suffers
and it becomes more offensive the more immunity it enjoys.

We also said that this transformation will be violent and fatal if it proceeds from the ranks of the
people, but peaceful and fruitful if it emanate from the upper classes.

III

All the reforms of our liberal ministers were, have been, are, and will be good--when carried out.

A government that rules a country from a great distance is the one that has the most need for a free
press, more so even than the government of the home country, if it wishes to rule rightly and fitly.

The government that governs in a country may even dispense with the press (if it can), because it is
on the ground, because it has eyes and ears, and because it directly observes what it rules and
administers.

uprisings and revolutions have always occurred in countries tyrannized over, in countries where
human thought and the human heart have been forced to remain silent.

A nation acquires respect, not by abetting and concealing abuses, but by rebuking and punishing
them.

We, who endure and know all the false pretensions and petty persecutions of those sham gods, do
not need a free press in order to recognize them.