Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-03

TEAn IL DE1LAnL IIlLAl-
SELVES UNTIL CONVINCED
THAT AGUINALDO IS HOPE
LESS BEATEN-A TALK WITH
THE SULTAN OF SULU.
MANILA, June 2, CPS P. M.-Prof.
J.. G.. Schurman. of the United States
advisory commission for the Philip
pines, returned to Manila to-day 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:
I'VE want peace. food and prosperity.
We do not want 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 Tagals, 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, MIR. Schurman
thinks, can be secured by diplomacy.
The United States gunboat Penning-
ton 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 ne was rendered banquets, and
he had interviews with the young Sui
tan Of Sulu, who received him in the
royal audience chamber, surrounded by
a body guard of free looking Moros.
Mr.. Schurman told the Sultan that
the United States had acquired the SOW
ereignty Of the Philippines from Spain,
but had no wish to s%ubjugate the popu-
lation nor to interfere with their Gus
toms of 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 con-
t1nue the existing treaties.
BORNEO VISITED.
On the return voyage the president
of the commission visited the town of
Borneo, capital of British North Bor-
neo, where he was cordially received
by the British officials, who afforded
him every facility in his study of the
local government and the customs of
the people. The population he found
much like that of the southern Philip
pine Islands. The government is at
present in a rather elementary state,
but a more complete organization is be-
ing developed as rapidly as practic-
able.
Yesterday Gen. Lawton and Prof.
Worcester, of the commission, visited
the principal towns in the province of
Cavite, out of which the natives were
recently driven. Their chief purpose
was to direct the elections of the presi-
dents of Imur, Bacoor, Paranaque and
Las Pinas. Under the municipal sys-
TEN thus inaugurated the presidents or
the mayors of the towns are empower
ed to appoint minor officials and t levy
taxes, which are to be expended solely
in public improvements.
Before acting Gen. Lawton and Mr..
Worcester had consulted with the lead
ing men in each town and selected
candidates whose honesty and friendli-
ness to American rule were beyond
question. Wherever they went the
Americans were heartily cheered by
the people.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO OPEN.
Tomorrow the public schools in Ma
Mia will open and it is expected that
there will be 5000 children in attend
ance.. The teachers include Ameri-
cans, Spaniards and Fflipinos. One of
the instructors is the widow of the Fill
Pine patriot, DR.. Rial, who prepared
/ the statutes Of the Philippine League,
and who, when about to board a steam
err at Barcelona in the autumn of 1896.
was arrested by the Spanish authori-
| ties and sent to Manila, where he was
tried by courtlmartial on a charge of
having organized the uprising in the
Philippines. sentenced TO death and
shot on December 10Th of that year.
] After her husbands death Mr.. Rial,
! who IS the ~step-daughter OF a retired
| Hong Kong gentleman, went to linus
I and was chosen captain of a company
of insurgents. English will be taught
! in the schools III hour each day. The
prescribed holidays include the twenty
church days observed in Manila, Wash
ington's birthday and the Fourth Of
July.
MISSIONARIES ARRIVING.
Almost every steamer brings mis-
| sionaries. The arrival of n 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 in
! terests of harmony, requested him TO
withdraw and he complied.
Senior Ll0rente, who is considered
the most influential native in Cebu,
said TO Mr.. SchurInan.