Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

LAST PLENARY SESSION

319

It is hoped that this Congress shall also influence in order
that the missions which would be sent to the United States
would work there in a permanent character during a time
which should be fixed; and if, after an intensive and extensive
campaign for our independence, they find out that it is impossible to obtain it, by the means employed, they should come
back to the country to give us account of the results of their
labor and their failure in order to be able to invent other means
more efficacious and more effective to obtain such independence
within the order and the law.
Blessed be the hour in which the Philippines, warned by the
failures of the past campaigns, will decide to unite themselves
in a compact and vigorous bundle in order to pursue the fight
for our emancipation!
Let that union be frank, sincere, and enduring. And if,
by bad luck, that union be destroyed, it would be better for
America to revoke all the concessions given to the Filipino
people; to implant here a strong and tyrannical government;
and thus when the country tastes the bitterness of foreign yoke.
its sons will unite, without doubt as they united during the
sad days of the revolution. For there is no better bond of
union than pain. When we feel that a common disgrace torments us, ill-will, envy, and mutual jealousy disappear, and
these mixed passions will melt in the crucible of adversity under
the destructive action of the sacred fire of sublime love as a
consecration of all loves; such is the love to our unfortunate
fatherland.
After Ex-Senator Tirona, Dean Jorge Bocobo,
arose and addressed the members as follows:
ABOLISH THE POLITICAL PARTIES!
By JORGE BocoBo
Dean, College of Law, U. P.
FELLOW COUNTRYMEN:
Divided counsel is the tragedy of our independence movement. Our hearts are aflame with the love of freedom, and