New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-20


story. Time was when the Malay States OF the
peninsula between the Indian Ocean and the
South China Sea enjoyed a fairly settled govern
mant, OF a primitive type. That was about the
time when Portuguese Adventures began to
explore and to exploit that quarter OF the GLOBE
During the sixteenth century the Portuguese
traders found security end encouragement in
those States But It was their fatuous policy to
take all they could get from the natives In the
way Of profit, and 10 give them nothing In the
way Of instruction and civilization. Such was
the policy of the Dutch also. wao followed them
at Malacca In 1641; and that was, indeed, the
general policy of all European nations in those
days toward those whom they deemed inferior
races
The result natural. The limited contact
with Europeans aid the natives no good. and
much harm. They absorbed the vices. but not
the virtues Of the visitors. Their native govern
ments declined In authority and power. Popua-
ton decreased Trade suffered. Wars on land
and piracy at sea became chronic and widely
prevalent There was no order nor security out
side the walls Of the foreign factories" Early
I'm the present century the British East India
Company acquired it's Straits Settlements and
introduced a new foreign factor into the prob
lem. II was a new, but not different, factor
The British pursued practically the same policy
as the Portuguese and Dutch They held aloof
from the native States and left the latter to
Stew in their own Juice" And when In time
the British Grown succeeded the East India
Company, and the Indla1 Empire was estao-
lished, the same policy was maintained. Inc
condition Of the native States went steadily
from bad to worse. The Malay chiefs and SUI
tans could not keep order, or would not, and
the secret societies in the large Chinese popula-
ton constantly .omented trouble. On land
there was a wretched mixture OF tyranny ana
anarchy, and on the seas piracy prevailed as
nowhere else in the world
Such a state of affairs could not last forever
Unable to stand alone, the States were doomed
either to fall into utter barbarism or to be MADE
objects of ruthless and selfish conquest, unless
some benevolent Power should come to their
aid In their extremity some OF the native
chiefs O. Perak. Seangor and Ncgri Semoiian
turned to the British Governor OF the Straits
Settlements for salvation. They asked MIN 10
intervene in their domestic affairs and rescue
the land from anarchy. Nor was the choice OF
a savior iIl-made. Great Britain had, as we
have seen. held aoof from the native States
tust as Portugal and Holland had done. Per-
hans she had actually come less into contact
with them than had either CT the others she
was Of an entirely different race and creed ana
manner from those nations and from the
native States She was as foreign and as
strange. that IS to say TO the Malays as we
are to the Filipinos. That in itself was an
advantage. She had, moreover. this other In
estirnable advantage. that she was a country
OF the most complete civil and religious liberty
and therefore was exceptionally well fitted TO
deal with States populated partly by Mahom-
etans. partly by Chinese Buddhists and partly
nv utter pagans. It will not escape observation
that the Philippines, too, are largely thus popu-
lated, about one-third Of the people and some
of the most important native chieftains being
Mahometans, while a large Chinese popula-
ton exists, permeated by secret societieS' nor
is il to be assumed that Americans are less IN
clined to tolerance OF creeds and to civil liberty
than Is the other branch Of the English-speak-
ing race.
That the Malay chiefs took these facts into
account in appealing TO the British Governor
does not appear. They knew BIN simply as
Just man aad an able and successful admins
traitor. Nor does It appear that he engaged the
consideration OF the British Government III the
matter. On the contrary he seems 70 nave
acted upon his personal responsibility ana 10
have taken counsel only with himself He re-
sponded favorably to the Malay appeal He
went to Perak and investigated the state OF
the case. He talked It over with the Sultan OF
Perak-who was with difficulty holding his
place against rival claimant OF the throne
and with the chief men OF that and other
States. And finally, without seeking special
authority from the home Government and
without any preliminary flourish of proclama-
tory trumpe:s. he made with tho native rulers
of the three States named the Engagement OF
Pangkor. That memorable instrument was
framed and signed on January 90 1S74-just
twenty five years ago-ard 1t marked the dawn
OF the new era in the Malay Peninsula.
Under this Engagement the native rulers were
confirmed IN their places. The title Of the Sui
tan of Perak was confirmed against the pre-
tender. The general administration OF affairs.
the collection OF taxes. the appoint
ment Of officials, ETC., was to be conducted in
the name of the native sultans and chiefs. In
form everything was to 20 on just as before.
But there was TO be thenceforth British Resi-
dert in the country. whose advice vas to be
asked by the native rulers. and was to be acted
upon in all matters not pertaining to the re-
llgion and customs OF the natives. And under
him there were to be few other British Of
hcers. Otherwise the government was to be
conducted by the natives.
In putting this system into effect Sir Andrew
Clarke had regard for the primitive. almost
childiike nature OF the natives. and aimed at
controlling them chiefly by personal influence
He had personal interviews with the native
chiefs and persuaded them that good govern
ment would be to their personal advantage.
They would have the same pomp and power as
before. and perhaps an even larger revenue.
To such presentments OF the case ne round
them willing TO listen. and by them 10 De
swayed. The allegiance OF the Malays was thus
readily gained for his administration. with the
Chinese he dealt with similar tact he ala not
make the blunder OF trying to repress or 70
suppress the secret societies On the contrary
he encouraged them 10 maintain their organiza-