Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-03
AFFAIRS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Prof. schurman Says the Natives Want
Peace.
Municipal Governments BEING Estab-
Cavite-sIanfla Public schools.

Prof. ]. G. Schurman of the United States
Philippine commission returned to Manila
yesterday from a three weeks tour of the
southern islands.
He takes hopeful view of the general
conditions there. The intelligent and SUBJ
stantial people, he says. desire an American
protectorate. The masses, he also says, are
awaiting the settlement of the war in Luz
zon before declaring themselves. and are
chiefly anxious to be undisturbed. The
president of the town of Santo Nicolas, in
the Island of Cebu, said to DIR. Schurman:
I'VE want peace, food and prosperity. We
do not wish to fight. We would be neu-
trail"
In DR.. Schurman's opinion, this declara-
ton fairly expresses the sentiments of the
people in the southern islands. Many of the
towns in that section are in the hands of
small bands of Tagalos and the people. DR..
Schurman states, fear to indorse American
rule until they are certain Aguinaldo will
be beaten. Let them once be convinced of
this, and the allegiance of the southern
| islands, DR.. Schurman thinks, can be Sc
cured by diplomacy
The gunboat Bennington took DR.. Schur-
man to Mindanao and the islands of the
Sulu and Visayan groups He Travelled
through the Island of Negroes with Col.
Smith and party of natives. In several
towns he was given banquets.
On the return voyage DIR. Schurman WIS.,
tied the town of Borneo, capital of British
North Borneo. where he was cordially re-
ceived by the British officials who afforded
him every facility in his study of the local
government and the customs of the people.
The population was found much like that
of the southern Philippine Islands. The
government is at present in a rather ele-
mentary state, but better organization is
being developed as rapidly as practicable.
Forming Municipal Governments.
Gen. Lawton and Prof Worcester of the
commission visited Saturday the principal
towns in the province of Cavite out of
which the natives were recently driven.
Their chief purpose was to direct the eiee-
ton of presidents of linus. Bacoor, Paran-
aque and Las Pinas. Under the municipal
system thus to be started the presidents or
mayors of the towns will be empowered to
appoint minor officials and to levy taxes,
which are to be expended solely in public
improvements.
Before acting General Lawtou and Prof
Worcester consulted the leading men in
each town and selected candidates whose
honesty and friendliness to American rule
were beyond question. Wherever they
went the Americans were heartily cheered
by the people.
Manila Schools Open Today.
The public schools in Manila will open
today, and it is expected that there will
be 5000 children in attendance. The teach
ers include Americans, Spaniards and Fill
pinos.
One of the instructors Is the widow of a
Filipino patriot. DR.. Jose Rial. who pre-
pared the statutes of the Philippine
League. Dr.. Rial. when about to board a
steamer at Barcelona in the autumn of
1896 was arrested by the Spanish authori-
ties and sent to Manila, where he was
tried by court-martial on a charge of hav-
ing organized the uprising in the Philip
pines, sentenced to death and shot on De-
cember % of that year. After her hus-
bands execution Mrs. Rial went to linus
and was chosen captain of a company of
insurgents.
English will be taught in the schools one
hour each day. The prescribed holidays
include the twenty church days observed
in. Manila. Washington's birthday and the
Fourth of July.
MissiOnaries Crowiing In.
Almost every steamer brings missionaries.
The arrival of one in Cebu made much
trouble. as the report spread rapidly among
the ignorant classes that the Americans
intended to compel them to give up their
churches. The American authorities, in the
interest of harmony, requested him to with
draw and he complied
Senior Llorente, who is considered the
most influential native in Cebu, said to DIR.
Schurman: Il like the American idea of
the separation of church and state, but
l. tnlnk IL would De unWiSe TO introduce
Professionalism while conditions are so I'M
settled" He has since arrived in Manila
and taken his seat on the bench of the
supreme court.
Rain has fallen almost continuously for
nine days. 1t has been a tremendous down.
pour and the whole country is flooded.
The trenches at San Fernando were full
of water. and the mud is knee deep in the
temporary camps at several of the outly-
ing towns. Some of the permanent camps
have been made fairly comfortable by the
erection of bamboo shelters, rooted and
ffoored,