The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-09-21
HE ASKS CONGRESS TO ACT.
AFFAIRS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
schurman Tells the Condition at tho
Present TImc-SixtY Different Lam
guagcs Spoken on the Islands.

schurman Tells tho Condition at tho
Present TIme-SixtY Different Lam
guagcs Spoken on tho Islands.
President Schurman has returned to
his Office in Cornell University, and
has given out the following statement
to the ssociated Press on Philippine
affairs:
ut is very important that the public
should know the actual facts Of the sit
uation. Things are what they are, and
the Americans should understand
them, whether they agree with or run
counter to the public's wishes.
"Firs.. 1t requires soTe effort to
realize the vastness OF the archipelago,
which extends in q triangular form.
from Formosa to BorucO and Celcbes,
through sixteen degrees Of latitude.
Never going out into the Pacific Ocean
west, | made a circuit OF two thousand
miles, all south Of Manila. This gives
some idea Of the difficulty Of maintain
ing an effective blockade, as tho coast
line of all the islands mbraced in the
archipelago Is many more thousands OF
miles.
"Second. Tho multiplicity and bet
erogencous nature Of the tribes is some
thing astonishing. Over sixty diirer-
ent languages are spoken in the archi-
pclagO, and, though the majority OF
the tribes are small, there are at least
hall dozen having quarter Of mil
lion members. The languages OF these
people are as distinct from one another
as French and Spanish or Italian, 80
that the speech of any one tribe is un-
intclligible to its neighbors. Those
tribes arc all civilized and Christian
lied, but small uncivilized tribes,
among whom the lgorotes seem best
known in America, inhabit the noun
tains Of Luzon and form a largo part Of
the population Of Mindanao. In this
| island also there is q large Mohamme-
dan population, which is independent
OF the Mohamme edans in the neighbour
ing Sulu archipelago.
"Third. 1t is the Tagalos, inhabit-
ing some Of the provinces about Manila,
who are resisting the authority Of the
United States. Other civilized Filipi-
nos are neutral, except where they are
coerced by armed bands of Tagalos
who seized upon their governments
during the making ard the ratification
OF our peace treaty wiCh Spain. |,
would be incorrect to assume, however
that theoe tribes are allies Of ours
They are not. Indeed, they are no.
without suspicion Of the white race, o.
which they have had experience only
through Spain. But they are mon o
intelligence and property, and the
masses, when not stirred up by the
Tagalos, recognize the advantage tC
them of American sovereignty and sc
remain neutral, although robber bands
from time to time, descend from the
mountains tc plumber and burn the es.
tates of peaceful inhabitants on the
plains.
"Eourth. The insurrection, though
serious enough, as experience has
proven, is not q national uprising. In.
deed there Is no Philippine nation. AS
| have already said, there is multifa.
rious collection Of tribes having only
this in common, that they belong tC
the Malay race. The inhabitants o
the archipelago no more constitute q
nation than the inhabitants of the con-
tincnt Of Europe do.
"Fifth. The United States having as
srmed by a treaty OF peace with Spain
sovereignty over the archipelago be.
came responsible for the maintenance
of peace and order, the administrator
of justice, the security OF life and prop
erty among all the tribes of the archi
pelago. This is an obligation which
intelligent Filipinos, not less than for.
cign nations, expect us to fulfill. N0l
will the national honor permit us tC
turn back. In taking the Philippine
Islands we annexed great responsible
ity. The fact that the responsibility
is heavier than most people suppose il
to be is no excuse for failure to dis
, charge it. | repeat that the Philip
pines question is essentially q question
Of national honor and obligatioD.'
In reply to an inquiry whether any
thing was now left but to fight it ou
President Schurman said
, "In my opinion much good would b
, done by declaration on the part @
, Congress Of the form Of government ,
be established In the islands, or, bette
ment for the Philippine Islands an
have it put in force in all parts an
among all tribes hostile to the Unite
States. This would serve several pu
poses. 1t would distinguish betwec
our friends and enemies, and treat til
former according to their deserts.
would also give to our enemies q den
, onstration Of FREQ government on til
. American plan, Il very important poir
r when it Is remembered that the Tags
los claim to be lighting for their libe
. ty. And had better call attention
the fact that the government which
. well adapted to one tribe may nee
J. considerable modification to be avail
&. Bile for another"
Asked about the capacity OF the III
D ipinO peoples to govern thcmselve
+ President Schurman replied that the
8 had no experience in self.governmel
except In municipal affairs, and eve
4 these were subject to the control of I'll
q. Spanish authorities. He though
! however, that each tribe might, gu
I ject to the supervision Of q wise gene
8 al government, manage in the main i
. own municipal and provincial affair
{ Supervision from Manila would val
v with the position which the differel
3 tribes occupied IN the scale Of civiliz
o tion.
y President Schurman seemed firm
/ the conviction that some form OF HON
:, rule for each Of the tribes and und,
II tho watchful supervision Of gener