The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-03
SCHURMAN is HOPEFUL
Intelligent FilipiuosW Want Ameri-
can Protectorate.
MASSES DESIRE PEACE
The Young Sultan OF the Sulu Islands
Is Fr1endly-Schools Opened in
Manila-A Missionary Causes
Trouble in Cebu.

! Manila, July 2.-6:25 p. m.-Professor
| ]. G. Schurman, of the United States
advisory commission for the Philip
a three weeks trip in the southern ISL
ands. 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 undistufbed. The presi-
dent of the town of San Nicolas, in the
island of Cebu, said to Mr.. Schurman:
I'VE want peace, food and prosperi-
ty. 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 Tagalos 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 Benning-
lOIl loOh MI. 10 hlnuandO ana
the islands of the Sulu and Visayan
groups. He travelled through the ISL
and of Negroes with Colonel Smith and
party of natives. Several of the
principal towns rendered him banquets
and he had an hours conference with
the young sultan of Sulu, who received
him in the royal audience chamber,
surrounded by a body guard of fierce
looking Oros.
Mr. Schurman told the sultan that the
United States had acquired the sover-
eighty of the Philippines from Spain,
but had no wish to subjugate the popu-
lation nor ITO 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 ISL
ands to develop their country. The sui
tan 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 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 Philippine ISL
ands. The government is at present in
rather elementary state, but a more
complete organization is being devel-
oped as practicable.
Yesterday General Lawton and Pro-
fesSor Worcester of the commission Wis
tied the principal towns in the province
| of Cavite, out Of which the natives
We're recently driven. Their chief pur-
| pose was to direct the elections Of the
| presidents Of linus, Bacor and Parana-
| que and Las Pinas. Under hemunicipal
| system thus inaugurated. the presi-
dents or mayors of the towns are en-
| powered to appoint minor officials and
| to levy taxes, which are to be expend-
ed solely in public improvements.
Before acting General Lawton and
| Mr.. Worcester had consulted with the
| leading 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.
Tomorrow the public schools in Ma
| Mia viii open and it is expected that
/ there will be 5000 children in attend
ance They include Americans. Span
| iards and Filipinos. One of the instruc-
| tors is the widow of the Filipino pat
! riot, DIR. Rial. who prepared the stat
utes of the Philippine league and who,
when about to board a steamer at Bar
celona in the autumn of 1896, was ar
rested by the Spanish authorities and
sent to Manila. where he was tried by
/ court martial on a charge of having
organized the uprising in the Philip
! pines and was sentenced TO death and
! shot on Dec. 2 of that year. After the
1 execution of her husband, Mrs. Rzal,
| who is the stepdaughter of a Hong
| Kong gentleman went to linus and
| was the chosen captain of company
| of insurgents. English will be taught
| in the schools one hour each day. The
! prescribed holidays include the %
| church days observed in Manila. Wash
| ington's birthday and the Fourth OF
| July.
| Almost every steamer brings mis-
! sionaries. 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 in
terest of harmony, requested him to
withdraw. and he complied.
Senior Llorente. who is considered the
most influential native in Cebu. said to
Mr.. Schurman:
81 like the American idea of the sep
aration of church and state, but think
it would be unwise to introduce Pro
testantism while conditions are so un-
settled"
He has since arrived in Manila and
taken his seat on the bench of the SUI
preme court.
The rain has fallen almost continu-
ousIy for nine days. 1t has been ire
mendous dOwnpour and the whole
country is flooded. The trenches at
San Fernando are bitches of water and
the mud is knee deep in the temper T y
camps in several of the outlying towns.
Some of the outlying camps have been
made fairly comfortable by the erection
of bamboo shelters, rooted and floored
The transport Hancock, which left yes
teTday with the LIST Nebraska infantry
and Batteries B and A of the Utah
light artillery, and the transport Sena-
tor, which carries the Pennsylvania
troops, will remain several days at
NaEaSaki and Yokohama
According TO the latest reports from
the nrnNinnn Of EnNita the inSl,rcrnnt