The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-03

Earnest.
MANILA, July 2.-There is much bet
ter feeling among Americans here as
to prospects for peace
Prof. 7. G. Schurman. of the United
States advisory commission for the Philip
pines, returned to Manila today 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 Ameri-
can protectorate. The masses are await
ing the settlement of the war in the island
of Luzon before declaring themselves.
They are chiefly anxious to be undis-
turbed. The president of the town of
Santo Nicolas, in the island of Cebu, said
to Mr.. Schurman:
I'VE want peace, food and prosperity.
We do not wish to fight. We would be
neutral"
The president of the commission thinks
this declaration fairly expresses the SEN
timents of the people in the southern
islands of the archipelago. Many of the
towns there are in the hands of small
bands of Tagalos, and the people fear to
endorse American rule until they are GER
tain Aguinaldo must be beaten. Let them
once be convinced of this, and the allie
glance of the southern islands, Mr..
Schurman thinks, can be secured by di-
plomacy.
The United States gunboat Bennington
took Mr.. Schurman to Mindanao and the
islands of the Sulu and Visayan groups
He travelled through the island OF Negroes
with Col. Smith and a party of natives.
In several of the principal towns he was
rendered banCuets, and had an hours
conference with the young sultan of Sulu,
who received him in the royal audience
chamber, surrounded by body guard of
f1erce-loooking Moros.
SULTAN WANTS PEACE.
Mr.. Schurman told the sultan that the
United States had secured the sovereign
ty of the islands from Spain, but had no
wish to Subjugate the population or in
terfere with their customs or religion. On
the contrary, the desire of the United
States was to leave 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.
On the return voyage the president of
the commission visited the town of
Borneo, capital of the island Of Borneo,
where he was cordially received by the
British officials, who afforded him every
facility in his study of local government
and customs of the people. The people
of Borneo are much like those of the
southern Philippine islands. The govern
ment at present is in an elementary stage,
but an elaborate plan is being developed
as rapidly as possible,
Before acting Gen. Lawton and Mr..
Worcester had consulted with leading
men of each town and selected candidates
whose allegiance and loyalty to Ameri-
can interests were beyond question.
Wherever they went the Americans were
heartily cheered by the people.
SCHOOLS TO OPEN.
Tomorrow the public schools in Manila
will open, and it is expected there will
be 5000 children in attendance. The
teachers include Americans, Spaniards
and Filipinos One of the instructors IL
the widow of the Filipino patriot, DR..
RIAL who prepared the statutes of the
Philippine league and who when about
to board a steamer at Barcelona in the
autumn of 1896 was arrested by the
Spanish authorities and sent to Manilas
where he was tried by court-martial
on a charge of having organized the
uprising III tic IulIlpp1l1OS, SOhlSHSSO "
death and shot on Dec. 20 of that year.
After her husbands execution Mrs Rial.
who is the stepdaughter of a retired
Hong Kong gentleman, went to linus
and was chosen chaplain 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.
Almoct every steamer brings mission
aries. The arrival of one in Cebu made
no little 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 interests of harmony,
requested him to withdraw, and he COM
piled.
Senior Llorente, who is considered the