The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-01
THE sULU AGREEMENT.
Views Of President Schurmnn, Of the
Philippine Commission.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3l.-In view Of the
current discussion of the military agree
ment between General Bates and the Sultan
of Suu the views Of President Schurman,
of the Philippine commission, on this sub
ject are interesting. Mr.. Schurman was one
OF the first Americans TO visit Jolo, the
seat of Spanish government in the Sulu
archipelago, and had an extended inter-
view with the Sultan before the arrival Of
General Bates. The arrangement entered
into between General Bates and the Sultan
was considerably influenced by this meet
ing.
Although the full text Of the agreement
with the Sultan has not been made public
by the Washington authorities, it can be
stated that 1t practically conforms to the
previous convention existing between the
Sultan and the Spanish government. In this
agreement Spain never claimed anything
more than an external protectorate in the
Sulu group the right to suppress piracy in
its waters and to prevent the periodic mi
graticns of oathbound Mohammedans who
went to the northern islands under VOW
to kill Christians and thus secure an en-
trance into paradise.
Professor Schurman said to-day when
questioned about the probable continuance
er they came under the American dominion.
that this was a subject which would have
to be dealt with in the most careful fash
Ion to bring an ultimately satisfactory So
luton. 1T seems to me-" said he, that
were it not for the ignorance displayed
the present hue and cry about polygamy
and slavery in these islands would be abb
soutely criminal In taking over the Sulu
group we have acquired no rights of any
sort there except those bequeathed us by
Spain. She was bound by her agreement
with the Sultan not to interfere with the
religion or customs of the islands and il
would be most unwse for US to attempt
this by force when 1t can be ultimately ac-
complished by the slower method of CIV
iliZation and education. The Sulu group
proper contains about 10000 inhabitants.
| They are all Mohammedans. as are about
| 10000 OF the residents of Mindanao, direct
| ly east. To attempt to interfere with the
| religion of these people would precpitate
| one OF the bloodiest wars in which this
| country has ever been engaged. They are
| different race, physically and mentally,
| from the residents Of the Visayan isles
| powerful men and religious fanatics of the
most pronounced type, who care nothing
| for death and believe that the road to
| heaven can be attained by killing Chris
tians. Polygamy Is part Of their religion,
| and slavery. about which much is being
said just now. is a mild type Of feudal
bondage.
The Sultan believes from what he has
seen of Americans that they are ready to
be friendly and deal honestly by him. Our
soldiers and officers already travel into the
| interior OF Jolo with perfect mpunity
where Spaniards never dared to set foot.
II has been suggested indirectly 10 the Sui
| tan that he should maintain an American
| OF good standing as a confidential adviser
at his court 10 aid him in the work OF ma
terial development for which the beautiful
group OF islands is ready, and which is
| bound TO come when they are thrown in
! touch with the civilized world. / believe
| that he will take kindly TO this sugges-
ton and the leaven OF civilization intro
| duced in this way ultimately will do the
work which armed interference with i'm
| memorial religious customs never could ac-
| complish. We have before In this case
the example OF England IN her various pos
sessions and OF the Dutch in Java. where