Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-01
SULUAGREEMENTD DEFENDED
Acquired Only spain's Rights in the
Islands.
The Use of Force. President Schurmnn
Says, Would Cause wholly
Unnecessary War.

The views of President Schurman of the
Philippine commission on the Suiu agree
ment are especially interesting at this
time. in view of the current discussion of
the arrangement between General Bates
and the sultan. Mr.. Schurman one of
the first Americans to visit Jolo. the seat
of Spanish government in the Sulu archi-
peIago, and had an extended interview with
the sultan before the arrival of General
Bates. The arrangement entered into be-
tween General Bates and the sultan was
considerably influenced by this meeting. AL
though the full text of the agreement with
the Sultan has not been made public by the
Washington authorities, it can be stated
that it practically conforms to the previous
convention existing between the sultan and
the Spanish government. In this agree
ment 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 migra-
tons of oath-bound Mohammedans WI"
went to the northern islands under vow
to kill Christians and thus secure an en-
trance into paradise.
President Schurman said yesterday when
questioned about the probable continuance
of polygamy and slavery in the islands
after they came under the American do
minion that this was a subject which would
have to be dealt with in the most careful
fashion to bring an ultimately satisfactory
solution.
1T seems to me-" said he, that We're it
not for the ignorance displayed the pres
ent hue and cry about pOlygamy and Slav-
cry in these islands would be absolutely
criminal. In taking over the Sulu group
we have acquired no rights of any sort
there except those bequeathed US by Spain.
She bound by her agreement with the
sultan not to interfere with the religion or
customs of the is ands, and it would be
most unWse for to attempt this by force
when it can be ultimately accomplished by
the slower method of civilization and edu-
cation. The Sulu group proper contains
about 100000 inhabitants. They are all
Mohamme dans, as are about 10000 of the
residents of Mindanao, directly 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 different
race physically and mentally from the resi-
dents of the Visayan isles, powerful men
and religious fanatics of the most pro-
nounced type, who care nothing for death
and believe that the road to heaven can be
attained by killing Christians. Polygamy is
a part of their religion, and slavery, about
which so much is being said just now, is
a mild type of feudal bondage The sultan
believes from what he has seen of Ameri-
cans that they are ready to be friendly
and officers already trave' into the interior
of Jolo with perfect impunity where Span
iardS have never dared to set foot
1T has been suggested indirectly to the
sultan that he should maintain an Ameri-
can Of good standing a confidential ad-
wiser at his court to aid him in the work
of material 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
suggestion and the leaven of civilization in
troduced in this way ultimately will do the
work which armed Interference with i'm
memorial religious customs never could ac-
complish. We have before US in this case
the example Of England in her various pos
sessions and of the Dutch in Java, where
remarkable work Of civilization and prog
ress has been accomplished. 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 harshly criticised
for taking this stand in regard to the Sulu
Islands since l returned to the United
states, but it is my honest belief that what
l have just stated is the truth, and that
any attempt to interfere by force in the
Sulu Islands at this time will bring on a
bloody and wholly Unnecessary war"