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.

28 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

itself, and it is sanctioned by the practices and the laws. Those
who are fond of legal inquiries can go on arguing as to whether
the promised independence consecrated in the Jones Law has
legal value or not. We say that the promise has been given,
and it cannot be withdrawn. Armed with this word of honor,
we will go on fighting. The greater the obstacles, the firmer
shall be our determination. Nothing shall hinder our steps
till we reach our goal.
The question of our independence is again before the Congress. The fight has scarcely begun. As our mission says,
quoting our friends in Congress, this fight might be long and
painful. It looks as if the wave of public opinion again begins
to move against us. It is possible that while this wave goes
high, we cannot get anything at once in spite of all that our
men and our friends are doing for us. But reaction will come,
and the tidal wave will subside, and we should be prepared to
cross the way which separates us from the ideal and grasp that
ideal with our own hands. The campaign should be organized
to include all Americans. Up to the present it is limited to
Congress and we have enough elements for it. But a campaign
in Congress only is not sufficient. We should attract on our
side the popular feeling awakened and well organized. Such
a plan requires great work, intelligent and constructive, a continuous force, and naturally, much expense. To undertake a
campaign of publicity in a country as big as America, to reach
and maintain contacts with various parts of the land cannot
be carried out with no pecuniary expenditures. A vigorous
and intelligently directed offensive is being imposed upon, and
it is necessary that our country should stand united behind
our representatives in America and should be determined to
make all kinds of sacrifices. Thus, as in war a battle cannot
be won without ammunition, so an extensive campaign in
America cannot be undertaken without organization and appropriate means.
It is evident that in this Congress there are two important
purposes to fulfill; one is the declaration, that is, the reiteration of the national will in favor of independence; and the
other, is the facilitation of the organization of our power, of