Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-09-08

tan and received the assurance 6f his
distinguished consideration, there was
no little surprise expressed and more
than ordinary curiosity to know the
explanation of a result quite the con-
trary to be expected.
The real beginning Of this important
chapter in the history Of American op-
eratons in the Philippines occurred
carly last year after Admiral Dewey's
famous victory in Manila bay. When
our war and state department officials
began to make a study of the great ar
chipclago, which had for centuries
been under Spanish domination aud
practically terra inCOgnita to the 9th
er nations of the world, 1t was soon
learned that there entered into the
problem of government in the islands
many clements of influence connected
with the question Of religion. one OF
these was. of course, the strength Of
the Roman Catholic priesthood among
the tribes Of LuZon and Mlndanao. An
other was the dominance of the Mo
hammedan faith in the Sulu group
and north BOlnco, over whose inhabit-
ants the sultan Of Sulu is supreme.
For the first time in its history, it was
soon discovered, the United States was
likely to embrace within it's jurisdic-
ton followers Of the prophet. Nat
urally there arose the inquiry whether
or not it was not possible to set in Op-
GRAFTON diplomatic influences that
would make the problem Of SubduinG
and governing the islands cnSier than
they seemed likely to be by the force
of arms. With the capture of the city
Of Manila and the long interval while
the peace commission was at work on
the treaty by which the Philippines be
came the possessions of the United
the plan that was finally decided upon.
In the initial work on the task of Sc
curing the peaceful acQuieSccnCe of
the savage MOr0s and their sultan cor
rcSpondcncr was opened with PrcSi-
dent Angcll. then our minister at Con-
stantnopIc, to ascertain If the sultan
of Turkey, Abdul uamid. who is the
political head of the Mohammedan
church, would consider friendly propO-
sitions for bis aid and counsel in the
effort to induce the sultan Of Sulu to
look upon the newcomers in his island
empire as friends and not as cncmics.
The status of President Angel in
court circles at COnstantinOplc, never
promising the accomplishment OF any
diplomatic negotiations Of more than
ordinary and routine Importance, ut
first prevented any progress in the lin"
of diplomacy undertaken by this gov
erument Mr. Angel had been strcnu-
Gus in his advocacy of the claims OF
American missionaries, who in their
jealous defense of the prosecuted Ar.
mcnans had drawn upon themselves
the wrath Of the Turks and lost homes
and household effects in the burningS
and pllagng that went in the train of
the many maSSHcrcs that took place.
UDon him, as the representative OF this
government, drvolvcd the more or less
unpleasant duty Of demanding, in the
name of the United States, the indem-
nifty which this government said the
Turk should pay. and in consequence
the minister became herewith an OBJ
feet OF dislike to the sultan. for II
there is Anything that the sultan OF
Turkey disliNrS more than another it IS
TO have Il demand for money made Of
him This is an ohcnse only second
70 actually getting the money from
him after it has been demanded.
President Angel had become. by the
time TINT this government had need OF
his best services at Constantinople.
persona non Grata 10 the SultaA, ana