Arizona republican., 1899-11-07
THESULUAGREEMENT
Defense by the President of
Philippines Commission.
This COuafrY Acquired Only Spain'S
Rights In the Islands The Use
of Force Woud OrIy Cause a
Wholly Unnecessary war.

Washington, NoX. C. The views of
President Schurman of the Philippine
commission on the Sulu agreement are
especially interesting at this time, in
view of the current discussion of the
arrangement between General Bates
and the sultan. Mr.. Schurman was one
OF the first Americans to visit Jolo, the
seat of Spanish government in the Sulu
archipelago, and had an extended in
terview with the sultan before the ar
rival of General Bates. The arrange
ment entered into between General
Bates and the sultan was considerably
influenced by this meeting. Although
sultan has not been made public by the
Washington authorities, it can be stated
that it practically conforms to the pre-
vious convention existing between the
sultan and the Spanish government In
this agreement Spain never claimed
anything more than an external protec-
torate in the Sulu group, the right to
suppress piracy in its waters and TO
bound Mohammedans who went to the
northern islands under VOW to kill
Christians and thus secure an entrance
into paradise.
President Schurman said yesterday
when questioned about the probable
continuance of polygamy and slavery
in the islands after they came under
the American dominion that this was
a subject which would have to be dealt
with in the most careful fashion to
bring an ultimately satisfactory solu-
ton.
1T seems to me, said he, that were
it not for the ignorance displayed the
present hue and cry about polygamy
and slavery in these islands would be
absolutely criminal. In taking over the
Sulu group we have acquired no rights
of any sort there except those be-
queathed us by Spain. She was bound
by her agreement with the sultan not
toms of the islands, and it would be
most unwise for US to attempt this by
force when it can be ultimately accom-
plished by the slower method of civili-
zatiOn and education. The Sulu group
proper contains about 100000 inhabi-
tants. They are all Mohammedans, as
are about 100000 of the residents of
Mindanao. directly east. To attempt to
interfere with the religion of these peo-
pie would precipitate one of the blood
lest wars in which this country has
ever been engaged. They are differ
ent race physically and mentally from
the residents of the Visayan isles, pow
erful men and religious fanatics of the
most pronounced type. who care moth
ing for death and believe that the road
to heaven can be attained by killing
Christians. Polygamy is a part of their
religion, and slavery, about which so
much is being said just now, is a mild
type of feudal bondage. The sultan be-
lieves from what he has seen of Ameri-
cans that they are ready to be friendly
and deal honestly by him. Our soldiers
cized for taking this stand in regard to
terror of Jolo with perfect impunity,
where Spaniards never dared to set
foot
1T has been suggested indirectly to
the sultan that he should maintain an
American of good standing as a conf
Idential adviser at his court to aid him
in the work of material development,
for which the beautiful group of islands
is ready, and which is bound to come
when they are thrown in touch with
the civilized world. 1 believe that ne
the leaven of civilization introduced IN
this way ultimately will do the work
which armed interference with imme-
mortal religious customs never could
accomplish. We have before us in this
case the example of England in her va
rious possessions and of the Dutch in
Java, where a remarkable work of civ
ilization and progress has been accom-
plished. We should take leaf of their
book which shows us that semi -barbar-
Gus people frequently can be led where
they could not be driven.
II have been already harshly criti-
and officers already travel into the in
the Sulu islands since 1 returned to the.
United States, but it is my honest be-
lief that what 1 have just stated is the
! truth, and that any attempt to inter
! fere by force in the Sulu islands at this
/ line will bring on bloody and wholly
unnecessary war"