Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-07-06
SCHURNAy'S TOUR.
Natives Of the Southern Philippines
Want American Protectorate.
TALK WITH The SULTAN OF SULU.
The Public schools in Manila Open Mis-.
siOnaries Cause Considerable Trouble
Tremendous DOwnpour Of Rain
Insurgent Leaders Quarreling.

Manila, July 3.-Prof. j. Il. Schrr'
man, of the United States advisory
commission for the Philippines, re.
turned to Manila yesterday from a
three weeks tour of the southern
islands. He takes an entirely hopeful
view of the general conditions there.
The intelligent and substantial citizens
desire an American protectorate. The
masses are awaiting the settlement Of
the war in the island Of Luzon before
declaring themselves. They are chiefly
anxious to be undisturbed. The presi-
dent of the town of Santo Nicolas, In
the island of Cebu. said To Mr.. Schur-
man, "We want peace. food and pros
perity. We do not wish to fight. We
would be neutral. "
The president of the commission
thinks this declaration fairly expresses
the sentiments Of the people in the
southern islands of the archipelago.
Many of the towns there are in the
hands of small bands of 1agalos. and
the people fear to indorse American
rule until they are certain that Aguin-
aldo must be beaten. Let them once
be convinced Of this and the allegiance
of the southern islands, Mr.. Schurman
thinks can be secured BY diplomacy.
The United States gunboat Bennng-
ton took Mr.. Schurman to Mindanao
and the islands of the >ulu and Visayan
groups. He Travelled through the IS
land of Negros with Col. Smith and a
party of natives In several of the |
principal towns he was rendered ban
quets and he had an hours conference
with the young sultan of Sulu, who
received him in the royal audience
chamber, surrounded by body guard
OF ferce-looking Morps.
Mr.. Schurman told the sultan that
the United States had acquired the SOW
ereignty Of the Philippines from Spain,
but had no wish to subjugate tile popu-
lation nor to interfere with their Gus
toms or religion. On the contrary, the
great desire Of the American govern
ment was to help the people OF the
islands to develop their country. The
sultan replied that he earnestly desired
peace and was anxious to continue the
existing treaties.
Saturday Gen. Lawton and Prof,
Worcester, Of the commission, visited
the principal towns in the province of
Javite, out Of which the natives were
recently driven. Their chief purpose
vas to direct the elections Of the presi-
Tents of linus, Bacoor, Paranque and
las Pinas. Under the municipal sys-
EN- thus inaugurated, the presidents
" the mayors Of the towns are empow-
red to appoint minor officials and to
evy taxes, which are to be expended
olely in public improvements. Before I
citing, Gen. Lawton and Mr.. Worces-
er had consulted with the leading men {
n each town and selected candidates
whose honesty and friendliness to
rule were beyond question.
Wherever they went the Americans
we're heartily cheered by the people.
To-day the public schools in Manila +
viii open, and It is expected that there |
will be 5000 children in attendance. +
The prescribed holidays include the :
0 church days observed in Manila, s
Vashington's birthday and the Fourth g
! July. Almost every steamer brings I
Missionaries, The arrival of one in :.
ebn made no little trouble, as the re- "
ort spread rapidly among the ignorant h
lasses that the Americans intended
compel them to give up their
hurches. The American authorities,
the interest of harmony, requested "
I'm to withdraw and he complied. Z
Rain has fallen almost continuously 81
'r nine days. 1t has been tremen. X
GUS downpour and the whole country d'
flooded. The trenches at San Fer. u
ando are bitches of water and the III
nd is knee deep in the temporary OF
'mps at several of the outlying towns. u
1me OF the permanent camps have III
zen made fairly comfortable by the
ection of bamboo shelters, rooted and
bored. w
According to the latest reports from q
lie province of Cavite, the insurpent a,
ader, there are quarreling. Aguin. g,
dos cousin, Baldomcro Agunaldo, h,
rs been killed or imprisoned by Gen. in
ariano Trias, commander of the in. hi
regents in the southern district of CO
lzon, and most of his men have de- 10
rted to Trias, who is now at San
'ancisco de la Malbon.
--=-~-------------- | 49,
statue OF Gen. Reynolds Unveiled. "a