The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-03
aaURNAN IT MANILA
0ur Commissioner Returns From
His Philippines Tour.
AN ENTIRELY HOPEFUL VIEW

or the Conditions Existing in ths
Southern Islands-The People Do MOI
wish to Fight-Public schools Of
Manila Opened.
Manila, July 3.-Professor J. O.
Schurman, of the United States ad-
visory commission for the Philippines
returned to Manila yesterday from q
three weeks tour Of the southern
islands. He takes an entirely hopeful
view of the general conditions there
The intelligent and substantial citi-
gems desire an American protectorate,
The masses are awaiting the settle
ment Of the war In the Island Of Luzon
before declaring themselves. They are
chiefly anxious to be undisturbed. The
president Of the town Of Santo Nicolas
In the Island of Cebu, said to Mr..
Schurmsn: I'VE want peace, food and
prosperity. 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.
Maey Of the towns there are In the
hands Of small bands of Tagalos, and
the people fear to endorse American
rule until they are certain that Aguin-
aldo must be beaten. Let them once
be convinced of this, and the allegi-
ance of the southern islands, Mr.
Schurman thinks, can be secured by
diplomacy.
Mr.. Schurman traversed the Island
of Negroes with Colonel Smith and a
party of natives. In several of the
principal towns he was rendered ban
quets, and he had an hours confer
ence with the young sultan of Sulu,
who received him in the royal audi
ence chamber, surrounded by body
guard Of fierce looking Moros.
Mr.. Schurman told the sultan that
the United States had acquired the
sovereignty of the Philippines from
Spain, but had no wish to subjugate
the population nor to interfere with
their customs or religion. On the
contrary, the great desire Of the Amer
lean government was to help the peo-
pie Of the islands to develop their
country. The sultan replied that he
earnestly desired peace, and was anxi-
GUS 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 ocffiials, 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 Ia rather
in an elementary state, but more
complete organization Is being de-
veloped as rapidly as Is practicable.
Today the public schools in Manila
opened, and there are 5000 children in
attendance. The teachers include
Americans, Spaniards and Filipinos.
English will be taught one hour day.
One of the instructors is the widow of
the Filipino patriot, DR.. Rizal, who
prepared the statutes of the Philippine
League, and who, when about to board
steamer at Barcelona in the autumn
of 1895, was arrested by the Spanish
authorities and sent to Manila, where
he was tried by court martial on a
charge of having organized the upris-
ing in the Philippines, sentenced to
death, and shot on Dec. 20 of that
year. After her husbands execution
Mrs. Rial, who is the stepdaughter of
a retired Hong Kong gentleman, went
to linus and was chosen captain Of a
company of insurgents.
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 interests of harmony, requested
him to withdraw and he complied.
Senior Llorente. who Is considered
the most influential native in Cebu,
said to Mr.. Sehurman: II like the
American idea of the separation of
church and state, but l think it would
be unwise to introduce Professionalism
while conditions are so unsettled"
The rain has fallen almost contin-
uously for nine days. 1t has been a
tremendous downpour, and the whole
country is flooded. The trenches at
San Fernando are bitches Of water,
and the mud is knee deep in the tenn
porary camps at several of the outlying
towns. Some of the permanent camps
have been made fairly comfortable by
the erection of bamboo shelters, rooted
and floored.
Troops II omeward b ound