Hutchinson gazette., 1899-07-06
IN FAVOR OF PEACE.
Bouthem Philippines Not Hostile
to tho United States,
DECLARE THAT THEY WISH PEACE,
Fear Of Aguinnldo Keeps Them FROM
openly AvowIng Allegiance 10 tho
United States Troops
leave pOr Home,

Manila, July 3,--proIessor j, q.
6churman, of the United states Ad'
visory Commission for the Philippines
has returned to Manila, from u three
weeks tour of the Southern Islands,
He takes I'm entirely hopeful view ol
the general situation there. The ih-
telligent and substantial citizens de-
sire an American protecto1te Inc
masses are awaiting the settlement OF
The war in the island Of LuZon before
declaring themselves, They are chief
ly anxious to he undisturbed, The
president Of the town of Sunto Nico-
las, IN the island of Ccbu, said to Mr..
Schurman; 1--WE want peace, food,
and prosperity. We do not wish to
fight. We would be neutral
The president Of the commission
thinks This declaration fairly expresses
the sentiments of the people In the
Southern islands Of the archipelago,
Many of the towns are in the hands
of small bands of Iagaos, and the
people fear to indorsc American rule
until they are certain that Agulnaldo
must he beaten. Let them once be
convinced Of this and the allegiance OF
the Southern islands, Mr., Schurmnn
thinks, can be secured by diplomacy.
The United states gunLoat l'cnning-
ton took Mr.. Schurman to MIndanao
and the islands Of the Sulu and Wis.,
ayan groups, lie Travelled through the
island of Negros with Colonel Smith
and party of natives. In several OF
che principal towns he was rendered
banquets and he had an hours con-
ference with the young sultan OF
Sulu, who received him in the royal
audience chamber surrounded by n
body guard of fierce looking Moros.
Mr. Schurmnn told the sultan that
the United States had acquired SOW
ereignty Of the Philippines from
Spain, but had no wish to sublugatc
the population nor to interfere with
their customs or religion On the con-
trnry, the great desire Of the American
government was to help the people OF
the islands to develop their country.
The sultan replied that he earnestly
desired peace, and was anxious to con-
Gnue the existing treaties,
On the return voyage, the president
of the commission, visited the town OF
Borneo, capital of British North Bor'
neo, where he was cordially received
by the British officials, who afforded
him every facility in his study of the
people The population he found much
like that of the Southern Philippine
Islands, The government is at present
in rather elementary state but n
more complete organization Is being
developed as rapidly as practicable.
Saturday General Lawton and Pro-
fessor Worcester, Of the commission.
visited the principal towns in the PROV
ince of Cnvitc, out of which the natives
were recently driven. Their chief pur.
pose was to direct the elections of the
presidents Of linus, Bacoor, Paranque
and Las Pinns. Under the municipal
system thus inOugurated, the presi-
dents or the mayors of the towns are
empowered to appoint minor officials
and TO levy taxes. which are TO be eN-
pended solely on public improvements.
Before acting, General Lawton and
Mr.. Worcester had consulted with the
leading men in each town and selected
candidates whose honesty and friend
Illness to American rule were beyond
question. Wherever they went, the
Americans We're heartily cheered by
the people.
Today the public schools in Manila
will opee, and it is expected that there
will be 5000 children in attendance.
The governors include Americans,
Spaniards and Filipinos. One Of the
instFVctors is the widow Of the Flip
ino patriot, DIR. Rial, who prepared
fine statutes of the ph'l'rrire league,
and who. when about to board a
steamer at Barcelona in the autumn
NJ 1896. was arrested by the Spanish
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