The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-15
The Only American Sultan.

utterly characterless. His face Is pitted
with smallpox sears. his eyes looked wan
and tired. and his mind seemed 10 be
wandering tur5an Of cashmere cloth
is wound about his head, with one end
falling below his left shoulder. A white
garment, very like an ordinary night
gown. a white sarong and slippers and
stockings completes his costume so far as
external effect goes.
In signing the treaty the Sultan of SuIu
gave up his sovereignty over the islands
and acknowledged that of the United
States.
The religion of the Moros Is to be re-
spected, fun trading privileges are grant
ed to the United States. piracy is to be
suppressed. and any slave may buy his
freedom. These monthly salaries are TO
be paid:
To the Sultan ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $3.50
To Dato Rajah Muda.................... 70
To DatO Attik ........................... 50
To Oato Cable ....-...................... IS
To Dato Joakanain ...................... Is
To Dato Puto..... ............,........... Sd
To Dato Amir Haissi ................... 50
TO Hadu butu .......-.......-...-.-...... %
To Habib Maru .......................... -
10 SerlI Saguln ...............-.......... ID
The American. General Bates task.
was very skilfully accomplished. When
ever the Spanish officials used 70 try to
treat with the Sultan he ran away into
the interior. General Bates was patient.
He did not try to go near the Sultan I'M
I'll the curiosity of that languid monarch
was aroused Then he went unarmed.
He knew that the Sultan would be COM
PEELED to make a treaty by the fact that
Joakanain and Cable, two powerful datos,
were rebelling against his authority.
Gen Bates thoughtfuiIy arranged to
pay Joakanain a salary of So month.
So after several alterations in the treaty
had been suggested the Sultan visited the
Charleston in Jolo harbor, and was vast
ly entertained by the photograph. the
speaking tubes, electric searchlight and
other wonders. When he left the ship a
salute of seventeen guns was fred-the
same that was fired for Admiral Dewey
the other day from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
Then the treaty was signed at Jolo.
Then one of the datoes gave General
Bates a goat.
Then the Stars and Stripes were run up
over the Sultan's blood red flag.
AS President Of the Peace Commission
ers, Mr.. Schurman called on the Sultan.
He says:
II was transported to the Sulu group
on a United States gunboat, and when we
touched at the nearest point 10 the Sui
tan's palace l went ashore and was met
by two of his personal representatives
who had been detailed to meet and escort
me. We proceeded Immediately 10 the
palace, which was only a short distance
from the landing place, and without any
unnecessary ceremony were taken into
the state reception room.
THE palace is by no means what the
name implies. I would not have II as
sumed that the Sultan lives in a great
stone structure, which one Is apt to pic
ture in the minds eye when the word
palace is spoken. The Sultan's official
home is built Of wood in the old colonial
style, evidently during the days when
one thought more of comfort and con-
venience than of style and beauty.
at called to my mind the old farm
houses of the New England states. no
ticed, however, that everything about the
place was tidy and Immediately clean,
in sharp contrast to many of the sights
which had heretofore fallen under my
vision.
THE two big portly Sulus. dressed IN
their native garb, who had escorted the
captain of the gunboat and myself to the
palace, led the way into the reception
room. and We were invited 10 d seat on
a long, handsomely polished bench
I'VE had scarcely had time to glance
about the room, when the Sultan, CARRIED
in a long, white silk robe. held close to
his waist by a white silk ribbon, evident
Iy the gown of state, came in, followed
by a train Of about twenty tall Sulus IN
their best rament and ornaments.
81 arose and we shook hands, the Sui
ton with
through his interpreter, VINO in turn
communicated his greetings to my inter
prefer. Then he courteously bowed me to
a seat on the bench beside him, while the
cabinet, or advisors, as 1 took them to be.
hanged themselves in a semi-circle about
US.
We lost no time in getting down to
business. The Sultan was told that the
American government wanted peace with
the Sulus, and he in turn said he wanted
peace with the Americans He said he
was glad that Spain had been dislodged.
and he hoped that the new master would
be more kind and charitable to the Sulus
than Spain had been.
II told him that we were anxious TO
have the treaty existing between himself
and Spain continued, and he seemed will
ing that it should be continued. adding
He was specially anxious that the Suius
should have a free port to enter, and
also that his salary or bonus should be
continued.
1.-THE salary. which I believe amounts
to less than 5000 per annum was agreed
TO, but he was told that / was without
power TO grant his free-port request
This seemed to perturb him a Bit and he
turned appealingly 10 his advisers
They deliberated for a few moments.
and the Interpreter said the Sultan would
withdraw this request II certain other
minor concessions could be acceded 10
1 noticed particularly that he was zeal
Gus OF his personal interests, and during
the whole course Of our interview 1t was
evident that he was trying 10 drive
sharp bargain.
After a brief interchange OF views II
was agreed that the Old Spanish treaty,
with few notifications, should be con
tinued. Having completed our official
talk. the Sultan invited US TO Join him
in a frugal luncheon. Chocolate and cake
were served. and we partook generously
OF his hospitality.
Il noticed that the Sultan leaned very
heavily upon his Cabinet, or advisers. he
appeared to have great confidence n
them, and was eager for their approval
before consentiug TO any Of my proposi-
tions
The advisors were all heavily armed
each wearing creese and a long sword
or dagger al MS side The Captain. the
Interpreter and myself were without vez-
pons OF any description. although the
former suggested that he be permitted
% carry MS sword. This did not think
advisable. and 50 I told him
Il have been asked since nv return ~