Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-14
scHURMAN, STATEMENT.
President of tho Philippine Commits.
sion Tells of Affairs on the Islands.

President of tho Philippine Commfs-
sion Tells of Affairs on the Islands.
Ithaca, N. Y, Sept. A.-Presidens
Schurman has given out the following
statement to the Associated Press on
Philippine affairs:
1T required some effort to realize the
vastness of the archipelago, which ex-
tends in triangular form from For
mosa to Borneo and Celebes. through
sixteen degrees OF latitude. The multi
plicity and Heterogeneous nature of the
tribes Is something astounding. Over
sixty different languages are spoken In
the archipelago, and a majority of the
tribes are small. There are half dozen,
each having not over a quarter of a
million members. The languages of
these peoples are as distinct from one
another as the French, Spanish and
Italian, so that the speech of any one
tribe is uninteligible to its neighbors
These tribes are all civilized, and Chris
tianized but small unciviliZed tribes
inhabit the mountains in Luzon and
form large part of the population Of
Mindanao. 1t is is the Tagalos, inhabit-
ing some of the provinces about Manila,
who are resisting the authority OF the
United States. The other civilized
Filipinos are neutral, except where they
are coerced by armed bands of Tagalos.
1T would be incorrect to assume,
however, that these tribes are allies of
ours. Indeed, they are not without sus-
picion of the white race. But they are
men of intelligence and property and
the masses when not stirred up by the
Tagalos recognize the advantage to
them of American sovereignty. so that
many remain neutral. The insurrection,
though serious enough, as experience
has proven, Is not a national uprising.
Indeed, there is no Philippine nation.
There is multifarious collection of
tribes having only this in common, that
they belong to the Malay race. The in
habitants of the archipelago no more
constitute a nation than the inhabitants
of the continent Of Europe do.
"The United States having assumed
by treaty of peace with Spain sover-
eighty over the archipelago became re-
sponsible for the maintenance of peace
and order This is an obligation which
the intelligent Filipinos expect US to
fulfill. In taking the Philippine islands
we annexed great responsibility. The
fact that this responsibility is heavier
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is no excuse for failure to discharge it..
repeat that the Philippine question IL
essentially question of national honor
and obligation"
In reply to an inquiry whether any
thing was now left but to fight it out,
President Schurman said:
In my opinion much good could be
done by a declaration on the part of
be established in the islands, or better
still, let congress establish govern
ment for the Philippine islands, Have
1t put in force in all parts among all
tribes hostile to the United States. This
would serve several purposes. 1t would
distinguish between our friends and en-
emies and treat the former according to
their deserts.
1T would also give our enemies a
demonstration of free government on
the American plan. i had better call
attention to the fact that the govern
ment which is well adapted to one tribe
may need considerable modification to
be available for another"
Asked about the capacity of the Fill
pino peoples to govern themselves,
Schurman replied that they had no ex-
perlence IN SelI-GoVernment except IN
municipal affairs. and even in these
were subject to the control of the Span
kSh authorities.
President Schurman seemed firm in
the conviction that some form of home
rule for each of the tribes under the
watchful supervision of general gov
ernment at Manila was the solution of
the problem.
Filipino Police.
Manila, Sept. 14.-Filipino police,
numbering $50, began their duties to-
day. The force is controlled by pro-
vost marshal
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