The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-01
SITUATION IN SULU.
As Viewed by President schurman of
the Philippine Commission.


Washington, Nov. In view of the
current discussion of the military
agreement between General Bates ana
the Sultan of Sulu, the views Of PreSl-
dent Schurman of the Philippine com
mission on this subject are interesting.
Mr.. Schurman was one OF the nrSL
Americans to visit Jolo, the seat OF
Spanish government in the Sulu arcnl-
pelago, and had an extended interview
with the sultan before the arrival OF
General Bates The arrangement en-
tered into between General Bates anu
the sultan was considerably influenced
by this meeting. Although the fuA text
of the agreement with the sultan mas
not been made public by the WaSnlng-
ton authorities it can be stated that 1t
practically conforms to the previous
convention existing between the sultan
and the Spanish government In TINS
agreement Spain never claimed any
thing more than an external protec-
tOTate in the Sulu group, the right 10
suppress piracy in its waters and TO
prevent the periodic uigrationS OF oatn-
bound MOhammedanS, who went TO
the northern islands under a VOW to
kill Christians and thus secure an en-
trance into Paradise.
Prof. Schurman said today when
questioned about the probable contin-
uance Of polygamy and slavery in the
islands after they came under the
American dominion, that this was a
subject which would have to be dealt
with in the most careful fashion to
| bring an ultimately satisfactory solu-
/ ton.
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
| absolutely criminal In taking over the
Sulu group We have acquired no rights
Of any sort there except those be-
| QUeathed US by Spain. She was bound
/ by her agreement with the Sultan not
| to interfere with the religion or Gus
/ toms of the islands, and it would be
/ most unWise for US to attempt this by
! force, when it can be ultimately accom-
pliShed by the slower method of ciyillZ-
alton and education. The Sulu group
/ proper contains about 100000 inhab-
/ itants. They are all Mohammedans,
| as are about 10000 of the residents of
/ MindanaO, directly east. To atetmpt to
/ interfere with the religion of these peO-
! pie would precipitate one of the blood
lest wars in which this country has
! ever engaged They are a different race
! physically and mentally from the resi-
/ dents of the Vicasayan islands. Power
1 full men and religious fanatics of the
most pronounced type who care moth
! ing for death and believe the road to
/ heaven can be attained by killing Chris
/ tians. POlygamy is a part of their re-
! Hgion and slavery, about which so
! much is being said just now, is a mild
| type of feudal bondage. The sultan be-
/ HeveS from what he has seen of Ameri-
| cans that they are ready to be friendly
] and deal honestly with him. Our SOL
/ diers and officers already travel into
/ the interior Of JolO with perfect i'm
] puulCy where SpanlardS nave never
! dared to set foot. 1t has been suggest
/ ed indirectly to the sultan that he
/ should maintain an American of good
! standing as a confidential adviser at
I his court to aid him in the work of ma
! terial development for which the beau
! tiful group of islands is ready, and
/ which is bound to come when they are
thrown in touch with the civilized
world. I believe that he will take kind
( " to this suggestion, and the leaven of
/ civilization introduced in this way ul-
I timately will do the work which an
! armed interference with immenorial
( religious customs never could accom-
/ plish We have before US in this case
the example of England in her various
I possessions and of the Dutch in Java
! where a remarkable work of ciyiliza-
ton and progress has been accom-
| plished. We should take a leaf out Of
| their book, which shows US that semi
/ barbarous people frequently can be led
| where they could not be driven.
4 have been already harshIy crfti-
cised for taking this stand in regard
to the Sulu islands since returned to
the United States, but it is my honest
belief that what have just stated is
the truth and that any attempt to in
I terfere by force in the Sulu islands at
/ this time viii bring on a bloody and
/ wholly unnecessary war"