WEBVTT 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:05.306 Yeah, 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:09.267 it was my privilege to attend a special session of the first Congress of 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:12.847 the Philippines in Manila, during which the Congress was addressed by 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:16.907 General Douglas Macarthur for absolute devotion. I have never witnessed a 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:20.677 more stirring demonstration on the part of the people nor have I ever 00:00:20.710 --> 00:00:24.296 heard a more eloquent tribute and challenged to a people than was given by 00:00:24.329 --> 00:00:28.087 General Macarthur. Thanks to the cooperation of the public relations 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:31.637 office at General headquarters in Manila, I was able to acquire a 00:00:31.670 --> 00:00:34.667 transcription of the general's address which you will hear in just a 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:38.807 moment first. Let me give you something of the atmosphere of the occasion. 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:41.946 It was a sunday morning, typical of the better days in this part of the 00:00:41.979 --> 00:00:45.266 Philippine world. Four blocks along the approach to the Congress building 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:49.326 , the streets were lined with idolizing citizens, eager for even a glimpse 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:53.226 of their greatest hero. Inside the halls of the Congress building, every 00:00:53.259 --> 00:00:56.946 possible standing room spot was occupied by men and women whose faces 00:00:56.979 --> 00:01:01.156 showed an almost unbelievable anticipation. At the appointed hour, the 00:01:01.189 --> 00:01:04.167 president of the Congress dispatched an official committee to escort the 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:08.316 guest of honor to the congressional chambers. The tension increased. There 00:01:08.349 --> 00:01:11.656 was a shuffling for better points advantage every I being glued to the 00:01:11.689 --> 00:01:15.497 doorway through which the general was to enter. Yes, I shared some measure 00:01:15.530 --> 00:01:18.736 of that excitement for after all, I was about to see for the first time in 00:01:18.769 --> 00:01:23.107 person, one of the most celebrated personalities, the world has ever known. 00:01:23.140 --> 00:01:26.807 His entrance into the circle of our stairs was tremendously impressive. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:30.576 The general is rather a tall man and as he stepped through the doorway, he 00:01:30.609 --> 00:01:34.656 was immediately in command of the situation with an easy grace. He nodded 00:01:34.689 --> 00:01:38.227 to the members of his military staff and accepted with a broad smile the 00:01:38.260 --> 00:01:42.546 tremendous ovation of the expectant crowd, cameras clicked and ground out 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:46.557 the general's approach to the stand and the brief personal acknowledgement 00:01:46.590 --> 00:01:50.426 that preceded the seeding of the official party. Almost immediately there 00:01:50.459 --> 00:01:54.036 began one of the most inspired routines of introduction I have ever heard 00:01:54.069 --> 00:01:58.647 in my life. The filipino has a genius for words and a spiritual zeal that 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:01.876 rose to its greatest heights. In the presentation of the speaker on this 00:02:01.909 --> 00:02:06.337 unforgettable occasion, an odd stillness held every face in nothing short 00:02:06.370 --> 00:02:10.587 of a trance. As the speaker of the House began this day, shall stand out 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:14.147 with the sacred halo in the history of our nation. We pause on this 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:17.916 occasion to pay homage to one of the most distinguished men of all time. 00:02:17.949 --> 00:02:21.677 The peerless military genius whose pledge of ultimate redemption sustained 00:02:21.710 --> 00:02:25.677 the Filipino people through their darkest hour. The military statesmen 00:02:25.710 --> 00:02:29.547 whose sagacity and wisdom have made his spectacular campaigns more than 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:34.316 military exploits. The soldier whose courage cannot be daunted by fire and 00:02:34.349 --> 00:02:37.967 steel, The apostle of Light, whose gallant forces have restored the 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:42.497 country. He has made his home to peace and freedom. General Douglas 00:02:42.530 --> 00:02:46.506 Macarthur. 00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:48.807 Mhm 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:56.840 Gentlemen of the Congress of the Philippines. Mm hmm It is called or 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:03.807 profound satisfaction. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:08.897 See this legislative body 00:03:08.930 --> 00:03:13.606 instrument of democratic expression 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:19.006 restored to the people. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:24.006 You convene at a time 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:30.307 when we are still locked in mortal kombat 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:38.340 with an enemy. Yeah. Who vigorously seeks to exploit racial prejudice and 00:03:40.530 --> 00:03:48.530 to suppress human freedom as the ideology of mankind 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:54.006 since the beginning of time. 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:58.006 Then 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:02.207 have crusaded for freedom 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:05.207 and for equality. 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:11.307 Yeah, it was this passion for liberty 00:04:11.340 --> 00:04:16.806 which inspired the architects of my own government, 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:19.606 coupal claimed 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:25.306 so immutable. E I'm so beautifully 00:04:25.339 --> 00:04:32.306 that all men are created a 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:36.507 and that they are endowed by their creator 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:41.806 with certain inalienable right 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:49.839 that among these life liberty. I'm looking through that 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:58.639 on such rights, arrest our basic concept of human freedom, the defense of 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:07.666 which we have four and still continue to fight on the battlefields of the 00:05:07.699 --> 00:05:10.207 world. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:12.806 These right 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:16.507 all the Guy antipasti 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:20.406 to the totalitarian doctrine 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:28.439 which seeks to regiment the people and control the human will as the price 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:34.207 or presumed efficiency in government. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:37.007 The recent collapse 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:44.267 of one people after another, dedicated to this totalitarian theory of 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:50.306 government offers complete and eloquent proof 00:05:50.339 --> 00:05:58.339 that the enduring strength of a body politics arising from the degree of 00:05:58.610 --> 00:06:06.106 freedom accorded its individual members not from any seeming efficiency 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:12.306 gained the sacrifice. Also last Freedom 00:06:12.339 --> 00:06:16.707 for whose you therefore 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:20.906 to thank God these sacred rights 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:24.606 no less zealously in peace. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:32.207 Then you have defended them in war. 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:36.806 You convene at a time 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:40.306 when you are soon to realize 00:06:40.339 --> 00:06:42.806 your long 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:48.207 political independence 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:54.207 prior to the start of hostilities in the present war. 00:06:54.240 --> 00:07:02.240 Those who oppose your independence, it's so on the ground, 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:10.839 that's you get black the stature as a race essential to self government. 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:14.040 That you lack the economic stability to sustain self government 00:07:20.139 --> 00:07:27.399 and that you lack the resources essential to defend a self government. 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:29.639 Always contention 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:34.606 are untalented. 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:38.806 Yours is a culture 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:43.406 which For 400 years 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:51.106 has progressively become a blend between the culture of the east and the 00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:59.046 culture of the West with resulting racial character influence. Why the 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:02.007 rest of the 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:06.007 your combat record on Bataan, 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:12.817 the magnificent spiritual and physical resistance of the great masses of 00:08:12.850 --> 00:08:17.207 your people to the enemy. Efforts at classification 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:24.507 have given to the world the true measure of the strength of your character 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:29.007 and established, 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:32.106 you're undisputed 00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:37.606 spiritual capacity for self government 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:45.639 under any standard. 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:52.807 That strength of character 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:57.407 has been manifested time and again 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:03.067 when your people were brought under the extreme tests of enemy brutality 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:08.807 and otherwise subjected to the horrors of war. 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:14.006 During the battle for Manila, 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:22.039 I have seen mother anguished soul for their dead Children. 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:27.807 I have seen fathers 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:35.840 rest of all who may held dear and with all material possessions gone, 00:09:36.940 --> 00:09:43.976 I have seen a continuous line of refugees from South Manila throwaway 00:09:44.009 --> 00:09:52.009 touching north over the pontoon bridge on the passing without food for her 00:09:52.139 --> 00:10:00.139 or shelter and knowing not whether to go in search of sanctuary, 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:07.207 but through the stark terror and tragedy of it all. 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:15.240 There is one thing I have never heard one thing I have never seen. I have 00:10:18.169 --> 00:10:26.169 never heard a whimper. I have never seen a tear. 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:40.840 It is just that courage and I wanted to and resiliency of your people, 00:10:42.340 --> 00:10:49.907 permitted this city of Manila. The wise problem in the february last 00:10:49.940 --> 00:10:56.236 without starving without food, riots or other disorder and without 00:10:56.269 --> 00:11:04.269 epidemic. Yeah, was exemplified the strength of the filipino character. 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:13.639 The height of your stature at a race. Adequate answer to those who would 00:11:13.809 --> 00:11:21.809 question your spiritual capacity for self government. 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:30.366 Those who would say 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:35.467 that the economy of the country will not sustain a free and independent 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:37.807 nation 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:45.557 would appear to anticipate arbitrary tariff barriers to drastically 00:11:45.590 --> 00:11:51.707 restrict or eliminate your trade with the United States. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:59.740 I am pull a con that the american people, we'll extend you the full 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:07.677 measure of trade advocated by your late great President Manuel Caison, and 00:12:07.710 --> 00:12:14.256 do everything else within their power to assist you along the road to your 00:12:14.289 --> 00:12:22.289 nationals just 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:26.907 Mhm. 00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:30.707 Prior to this great war. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:38.740 Okay, the question of national defense offered the most serious obstacle 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:46.106 to the reality of your political independence, 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:51.807 altered world conditions resulting from the war. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:59.840 Have removed this up defense. It is no longer not. It has become 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:04.106 international 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:11.817 no nation. However, power may in the future with safety, rely exclusively 00:13:11.850 --> 00:13:17.596 upon its own defense potentiality, but must resort to international 00:13:17.629 --> 00:13:25.629 defense in consort with other nations. This does not mean that you may, 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:33.356 with impunity, failed to take such defensive dispositions as all 00:13:33.389 --> 00:13:39.587 reasonably within your power, what I want to. That, in addition to such 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:47.620 disposition, you must bring yourself into such international alignment 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:54.437 that offers best hope for the preservation of future peace in the pacific 00:13:54.470 --> 00:13:56.470 basin.