The record-union., 1899-11-03
THE sULU GHOST AGAIN.

President Schurman of the Philip
pine Commission, now in session at
Washington and in daily consultation
with the President. and of which body
Admiral Dewey is a member, puts a
quietus upon the sensational chatter Of
the copperheads, mugwumps and sickly
sentimentalists about our agreement
with the Sultan Of Sulu. It is very much
as was stated a few days ago in the
"Record-Union." We have acted wise
ly and well in securing the adhesion
Of that potentate and his vast follow
ing without firing a shot or drawing
sword.
Yet these people are as much Phil
ippians as is Aguinaldo and his flee
ing bands Of Tagalos insurgents. Sure
| ly the Sulu Filipinos have a right to
be counted in in this question of the
consent of the governed. Emphatically
they deny that Aguinaldo represents
them or is fighting their battles. We
| have simply refused to disturb the con
ditions previously existing between the
Sulus and the Spanish crown. That ma
ton never claimed more. than an ex-
ternal protectorate over the Sulu group.
AS to polygamy and the mild form OF
feudal bondage existing there, we are
to deal with them when we set up sta
BILE government with care, justice and
sound discretion. Neither institution
| is to be blotted out in an hour. MOI
do we compromise with immortality and
wrong by taking these people under our
shelter. No just mind will entertain
any such thought for a moment. AS
Professor Schurman well says, we ac-
quired in the Sulus just the title the
Spanish had and nothing more. That
title binds its holder not to interfere
with the religion and customs of the
people. It would be idiocy for US to
command them to change either on the
jump, when ultimately the desired end
can be accomplished through civiliza-
toin and education.
The Mohammedan Is always a fanat-
ic in his belief. He will fight to the
death for his religion. To command
these people to lay down their faith
and abandon the institutions estab-
lished under it, is one thing; to accom-
plish it by war is another and very dif-
ferent thing. We can bring to bear
the influence Of American institutions
upon them not more easily than has
thus far been accomplished
Sacramento has been told all these
years that when the old debt was put
out of the way, the long delayed, much
needed, constantly demanded reforms
should be introduced. The debt has
been put out of the way practically.
ponement of necessities must be made
in order to permit hungry Office seek
ers to step into fat positions? Shall
there be inaugurated policy of scrimp-
ing, squeezing and pauperizing to save
a few cents of taxation? Fact is,
such a policy is the most costly be-
cause it prevents expansion of the city,
checks its growth, keeps down the as
sessment roll and thus augments the
tax rate, repels industries and invest
ments, stops building, injuries public
health, continues practices condemned
by cleanliness and sanitary wisdom,
leaves US in the rut Of filth, Of old and
worn out methods, and debases the city
to the level Of a cross roads settlement.
We want economy. We want the low
est possible tax rate. But we want
wise and necessary improvements. To
just that policy the Republican party Of
Sacramento has bound its candidates.
Nothing more specific should be or can
be in honesty asked.
The death rate in this city is too
large. 1t is larger than it should be
because of unsanitary conditions which
wisdom long ago pointed out as nee
essary to be corrected. The ciamor
for a specific tax rate of 81 takes no
account of anything in the way of i'm
provement.. 1t proceeds upon the basis
Of the old conditions being continued.
The Republican party, however, prom
ises the needed improvement and at the
same time such economy as will give
us the lowest tax rate possible con-
sistent with the accomplishment OF the
greatly and long demanded sanitaIy y
corrections.
Keep it in mind that a Democratic
victory in Sacramento next Tuesday
means encouragement to the insurgents
in Luzon and Encouragement to the
soldiers Of the Republic fighting for
the authority and supremacy of the
United States. No matter what may
be said about "only local Issues" the
result of the election will be heralded
as an anti-expansion triumph, If the
Democracy is successful.
Keep it in mind that the Republican
ticket stands so well before the people
that for the major portion Of the NOM
| inees their election is conceded by the
/ opposition. A party that has done so
| well for the city as to place officers
whom the people are certain to re-elect,
assuredly has reason to believe that the
people will give victory to the whole
ticket