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.

20 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

how to employ the weapon of persuasion attracts toward him
the favorable opinion of other altruistic peoples; in short, the
man who knows how to enhance virtue and paint even the
defects of his people is the man who will finally attain victory.
I believe this is the most opportune moment, gentlemen of
the Congress, to appeal to the conscience of all the civilized
world, that this is the most propitious moment to present to
the North American Nation the right of our country to be
free and independent.
I repeat that because of the racial prejudices on one side,
and the economic interests of American workmen and farmers
on the other, serious offenses have been inflicted on Filipino
workers in California to the point that the unfortunate Tobera
was killed. This is the moment to remind them and other
altruistic Americans, Americans of good-will, of the need of
granting us our independence in order to prevent a repetition
of serious excesses which more often than not may culminate
in murder, not of a man but of a whole people entrusted to
the generosity and magnanimity of the great North American
Nation, thereby besmirching with an ignominious and eternal
stigma its history as a big-hearted nation whose motto is to
champion the cause of freedom, of democracy and justice.
It is high time, I repeat, that we should rise as a single man,
politicians as well as civilians, military men of the revolution,
men and women, educated and illiterate, the old and the young,
from the valleys to the mountains, from Batanes to Tawitawi; all solidly united, let us present a joint resolution asking
America to fulfill her sacred pledge, to grant us the independence of our people.
As a means to obtain it at the earliest possible moment, I
suggest that this Congress:
1st-Approve a resolution for the Congress of the United
States asking for the approval of the King Bill which would
grant Philippine independence in eighteen months and that
copies of this resolution be sent to the Congress of the United
States and all newspapers in Manila and the provinces and to
the newspapers not only in America but also in the capitals of
the most important nations of Europe;