The Irish standard., 1899-09-30
M'K1NLEY'S M0HAmMEDAN ALLY.
governor.

M'K1NLEY'S MOHAMMEDAN ALLY.
The fullest and most comprehensive
account OF that prissant monarch, the
Sultan OF Sulu, who is now an ally of
Emperor Mckinley, is given by R. H.
Little in a letter from Manila to the
Chicago Tribune. He gives the details
Of the compact between the Methodist
and the Mohammedan and says that the
treaty negotiated by Gen. Bates on be-
hall OF the former is regarded as a tri-
umph for American diplomacy. He de-
clares that the price paid to the Sultan
OF Sulu for the suzerainty OF his ia lit
tie islands is comparatively trihing, and
that the Mussulmans are charmed with
our flag. The correspondent seems to
be friend Of Gen. Bates and OCCASION
ally contrasts him with Gen. Otis to the
disadvantage of the latter. In his four
column letter which came by mail the
correspondent says among other things:
"The United States will pay the Sui
tan and his dattoes monthly salaries as
the Spanish did, but the difference will
be that while the Spaniards gave the
money as pensions, exacting nothing
in return but an acknowledgment of
suzerainty, our government pays the
money to the Sultan and his chiefs as
local governors, acting in behalf of our
government and responsible to it for the
peace and order and welbeing of their
people. The Spaniards gave the Sultan
and his dattoes about 5000 a year.
while we will give them almost $4,000
in Mexican currency year. The Sui
tap received $500 month from the
Spaniards. Our government will give
him $3.50 month, and perhaps more, if
he proves worthy of it,"
In the matter of religion the treaty
between the Sultan and the Emperor
provides that no interference shall be
tolerated on the part OF the Moham-
medans with the Christian religion nor
by the Christians with the Mohamme-
dan religion. It is stipulated that all
slaves shall have the right of buying
their freedom at a price to be fixed by
disintcrested parties, or another may
buy slaves freedom for him; but those
unable to buy their manumission must
drag out their lives in slavery under the
stars and stripes Of the glorious repub-
lie of Lincoln! On the question of the
pearl fisheries the treaty is silent. It
was implied, however, that the Sultan
should preserve his old rights, as long
as he did not abuse them, of possessing
all pearl fisheries as his chief source of
wealth. The importation of opium was
also passed over in the treaty and the
Moros, as the inhabitants are called, can
use the deadly drug to their hearts
content as the Hindoos are privileged
to do under the benign rule OF the En-
press Victoria.
But the correspondent gives further
information that interests the American
people. He says: Zone of the most
peculiar effects of our taking over the
Sulu archipelago will be that we must
maintain free ports on what is now
American soil. Jolo and the other sea-
ports OF the Sulu archipelago are free
ports and must remain so under the
provisions OF treaty made in 1876 by
Spain with Germany and England. Be-
lore we can change this the other two
nations concerned must be consulted"
That surely, places lis in peculiar pre-
dicament, with our high protective tar
if at home, but then what's the odds so
long as we are expanding our terri
tories and "enlarging the map of the
United States" as Mckinley said in his
Pittsburg speech.
The correspondent gives another in
tcresting item concerning the compact
between Mckinley and the Sultan. He
says: "In the matter of Americans or
ether foreigners going at will about the
Sulu Islands, it was provided in the
treaty that the consent of the Sultan
should first be asked, and that he should
furnish an escort OF armed Moros. The
Sultan explained that many of his peo-
pie had never seen white man, and
might be inclined to kill the intruders.
The treaty also provides that the Amer
lean government cannot dispose of the
Sulu Islands or the other islands in
llabited by the Sultan's people without
the Sultan's consent and pledges all the
power OF the American government to
protect the Sultan and his people
against foreign aggression"
The foregoing extracts from the cor
respondents letter will afford food for
reflection. As far as we can see, the
Sultan seems to have the best OF the
bargain. He is yet monarch OF all he
surveys and is receiving United States
money for allowing the flag of this re-
public to float in triumph over his
slaves and concubines. He is described
as a short, fat, sleepy looking man,
about 80 years Of age, and is combina-
ton Of cunning, greed and obstinacy.
What an ally!
In closing his letter Mr.. Little sem
sibly says that if we had treated Agui-