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.

320 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

we all desire to see concerted action, but we can not resist a
tendency which creates dissension between Consolidados, Democratas and Veteranos.
Is this division due to lack of patriotism? Certainly not,
because every Filipino loves his country and is ready, if need
be, to die for her. Is it because of failure to understand the
need of union? No, because every utterance by spokesmen of
all parties and groups recognizes the dire consequences of disintegration.
Then, my countrymen, why do we continue to work at
cross-purposes in our common cause, the sacred legacy of those
who have fallen so that our country may stand with head
erect among the nations of the world? The reason, it seems
to me, is to be found in our own weakness which prevents us
from doing that which our heart and our mind tell us to do.
If we had the force of character and the staunch determination
to forget our mutual grievances, our beloved mother, our adored
Philippines, would not be weeping to-day till her heart seems
to break, because her own children are quarrelling while the
house is on fire.
The need of the hour is a searching of our own souls, to
discover and suppress those thoughts and sentiments which,
like weeds in a garden, smother the plant of union and keep the
flower of national solidarity from blossoming under these
tropic skies.
Fellow countrymen, the existence of political parties-the
Consolidados, Democratas and Veteranos-is unsuited to our
condition as a subject race, struggling for national freedom.
From the very nature of things, there should be only one party
here, the party of the Filipino people as against the imperialist
interests. The theory that for the sake of democracy, we
should fight over domestic issues while uniting ourselves on the
independence movement has proved to be impossible. Because
of the resentment caused by internal questions, we find it difficult to rally the national character for united action in the
independence movement.