The record-union., 1899-10-29
THE SULTAN OF THE sULUs.

After all the tear shedding that the
anti-expansionists and other sentimen-
talists have INDUCED in over the sup
posed adjustment with the Sultan of
Sulu whereby the United States is
held to have become partner, as it
were, in the maintenance of the sys-
TENS of polygamy and slavery, the
truth comes out and explodes the whole
story
1t seems that the Government has
made no treaty with the Sultan Of
Sulu. He and his tribes occupy a GER
tain large island and parts of sew
eral others. Over them the Spanish
maintained authority with difficulty,
being little more than the Sultan's SUI
zerain. The United States military
commander in the Sulu group realized
the advisability Of maintaining peace
full relations with the Sulu tribes. He
has, therefore, succeeded in doing what
Spain had never been able to accom-
plish-he has come to an understand
ing with the natives by which the
whole influence of the Sulu people is
cast in our behalf, upon the payment
to the Sultan of a sum about equal to
the salary of a first class clerk.
This is military arrangement pure
ly and simply. 1t has not had the ap-
proval of the President and has not
been submitted to him for approval. It
is grounded and maintained upon a
military basis like any other necessary
military operation. Under the agree
ment between General Bates and the
Sultan, slavery Is to be gradually abol-
ished in the Sulu group. The condi-
ton of the slaves is to be Immediately
improved greatly. and ultimately they
are to be emancipated. The islands are
now opened to trade, the authority Of
the United States is confessed and it's
supremacy is acknowledged.
Thus by an adjustment fully within
the province of the military TO make,
we are secure in the peaceful occupa-
tion of an important island group,
which even Spain was unable to occupy
beyond the maintenance of garrisons
at two ports. We secure the friendly
aid of the chief of the tribes, by which
the islands are opened up, and their
long time exclusiveness is broken down.
1t is true that certain troubled souls
in this country are very much per-
fTfphnd hcno,1co of
the natives the Sultan is permitted
to have more than one wife, and the
United States is charged with forming
an alliance with sin and iniquity. These
people are Of the order of those who
insist upon accomplishing all they
would undertake at one fell swoop
With them the world may go to the
devil wholesale If it does not radically
and at one jump conform to their ideas.
They lose sight of the fact that an
which has existed among
a people for centuries and is recog-
nized by them as religiously right can
not be broken down in an hour
Time is required for the working of
any worthy reform. Even within our
own borders, beneath the immediate
shadow Of the flag a religious sect es-
tablished polygamy and successfully
the institution for half a
century, despite all efforts to break 1t
down, and some of the devotees of the
religion still practice polygamy and defy
the United States Government to pre-
vent it.
The truth is that we have done won
derfully we'll in the Sulu group; have
come to an understanding with the
people, established the authority of the
United States. opened a rich region to
trade and provided for the mitigation
of the condition of the slaves and their
without shedding so
much as drop of blood, or lighting
a single battle. That is quite enough
for the present; polygamy will follow
slavery, and in due course the Sulus
will smile under the sun of civilization
Our Christmas for the boys in blue
in the Philippines must begin a long
way ahead. Whatever we send to them
Of Christmas cheer and holiday tokens
must go out next month. Accordingly,
Secretary Of War Root has issued an
order 70 the Quartermaster General to
forward any Christmas boxes for the
soldiers in the Philippines which may
be delivered in San Francisco for that