Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-18

Ithaca, Sept 14.-President Schur-
man Wednesday gave out the follow
ing statement to the Associated Press
on the Philippine affairs:
ct requires some effort to realize
the vastness Of the archipelago, which
extends in a triangular form from
Formosa to Borneo and Celebes,
through sixteen degrees of latitude.
The multiplicity and heterogeneous
nature of the tribes is something as
founding. Over sixty different Ian
guages are spoken in the archipelago
and the majority of the tribes are
small, half dozen of each
having not over quarter OF
million members. The languages of
these people are as distinct from one
another as French is from Spanish or
Italian so that the speech of any one
tribe is unintelligible to it's neighbors.
These tribes are all civilized and chris
tanned, but small uncivilized tribes
inhabit the mountains in Luzon and
form large part of the population of
Mindanano. It is the TagalOs who in
habit some of the provinces about Ma
Mia, who are resisting the authorities
of the United States. The other
civilized f11ipinos are neu-
trial. except where they
are coerced by armed bands of Taga-
los. It would be incorrect to assume,
however, that these tribes are allies of
ours. Indeed, they are not without
suspicion of the white race. But they
are men of intelligence and property,
and the masses when not stirred UP by
the Tagalos recognize the advantage
to them of American sovereignty and
so many remain neutral. The insur-
rection, though serious enough as our
experience has proven, is not a ma
tional uprising. Indeed, there is no
farious collection of tribes having only
this in common, that they belong to
the Malay race. The inha bitants of
the archipelago no more constitute a
nation than the inhabitants Of
the continent of Europe do.
The United States having assumed
by treaty of peace with Spain, SOW
ereignty over the archipelago became
responsible for the maintenance OF
peace and order. This is an obligation
which the intelligent Filipinos expect
us to fulfill In taking the Philippines
we annexed a great responsibility.
The fact that the responsibility is
heavier than most people supposed it
would be is no excuse for failure to
discharge it. repeat that the Philip
pine question is essentially a question
of national honor and obligation"
In reply to an inquiry whether any
thing is now left but to fight it out
President Schurman said:
sIn my opinion much good could be
done by declaration on the part OF
congress that form of government
is to be established in the islands or
better still, let congress establish a
government for the Philippines and
have it put in force in all parts and
among all tribes hostile to the united
States. This will serve several pur
poses. 1t would distinguish between
our friends and enemies and treat the
former according to their deserts. 1t
would also give our enemies a demon
stration of free government on the
American plan. | have called atten
ton to the fact that a government
which is we'll adapted to one tribe may
need considerable modification to be
available for another,
Asked about the capacity of the Fill
pino peoples to govern themselves,
Schurman replied they had no expert
ence in self-government except in
municipal affairs, and even this was
subject to the control of the Spanish
authorities. President Schurnan
seemed firm in the conviction that
some form of home rule for each of
the tribes under the watchful supervi
sion of the general government at Ma
Mia was the solution of the problem.
THEY'RE AFTER MRS. SHARP.