The evening times., 1899-01-21
WE ANNEX A SULTAN.
The PoteHtate OF the SuIu Islands
and His History.
From The New York 81

From the New York SUM
When the American Peace Commits sion
ers. IL The negotiations at Paris, insisted
On the cession of the SulU aIchipe' ago to
this country, the United States acquired "a
very picturesque and possibly unruly vas
sal in the person Of his Hignn=ss the Su'-
tan of Sulu, together with his karem of
Sultanas and something more than 10. .001
Mussulman subjects. Thus for the fl ST
time is the Mohammedan religion brought
under the protection Of the Stars and
Stripes.
The Sulu archipelago over which this
Mussulman monarch holds sway is the
southernmost pant of the remarkab e
Philippine group, lying east of Bo.neu,
which was at one time under his High
ness jurisdiction. Parts OF Mindanao and
Palaman still render allegiance to lis
Highness. two vassal suitans in the for
mer paying tribute to the Su tan of the
Sulus as their feudal lord Although for
nearly three centuries the Spaniards
waged war against the Sultan of the
Sulus not until 1877 did this potertate
acknowledge the sovereignty OF Spain in
his dominions. which was also formally
recognized by England and Germany in a
protocol signed March II, 1877. No mill
tary post was established in the archi-
pelago until 1880, when a convict corps
took possession. Two years later garri-
sons were established in Bongao and
Siassi, two small islands Of the Sulu
group.
In 1857 the island of Sulu was partly
conquered by Gen. Arolas. who was late
ly in command Of the Spanish garrison at
Havana. In this conquest the Sultan did
not fare so badly, for he secured the title
Of excellency and an annual pension of
81, 400, besides a renewal of the decree of
1877 eXempting the entire population of
the archipelago from taxation for a second
period Of ten years, from 1887. Spain has
never been able TO levy tribute upon the
Sultan of the Sulus. In fact, Spanish ju-
risdiction in Mindanao and the Sulus has
always been Of the most limited descrip-
ton. Mr.. John Foreman, the English
traveller, who lately gave information re-
garding the Philippines to the American
Peace Commissioners, observes on this
point:
1T is al great sacrifice that the Span
iards can retain the little possession which
they have acquired in the south and fire.
quent acts Of violence are still perpetrated
on them by the turbulent Mussulmans
who virtually refuse to recognize other
rights than those of their Sultans. to
whom they give allegiance Indeed. it may
be unhesitatingly asserted that the Span
iards hold no more domain in Mindanao
and the Sultanate OF Sulu than that of
days march from their respective garri-
sons; and in Mindanao, in particular. not
one hundredth part of the territory
His highness the Sultac resides al Nav
bun in the island Of Sulu, the largest in
the archipelago. 1t is about thirty-four
miles long and twelve broad. There are
40 or $50 islands in the Sultanate eighty
or ninety of which are inhabited SuIu.
the Spanish capital of the group, was for
timed and put in good sanitary order some
years ago by Gen. Parade. recently sta
toned at Havana. and a member of tbe
Evacuation Commission. This officer in
the early eighties was governor of SuIu
He erected land defenses and furnished the
town with pure water supply His go
eminent was one of martial law. The Sui
tan, at Maybun, on the southern coast. ruI-
ed without Spanish interference.