The Philipsburg mail., 1899-09-01
THEPHILIPPINEI ISLANDS
Observations Made by Prof. Schur-
man in Our Possessions.
A PARADISE FOR INVESTORS.
The Islands Should Remain a Part OF the
United States - People Are Gem
orally Friendly-Only Taga-
logs Are in Rebellion.

COMMISSION mas Deen interviewed on
several occasions, but very little informa
tion obtained by him while making OBJ
servatiOns in the islands has been dis
closed. Professor Schurman has not as
yet made his official report. and until the
department is in possession of the same
he seems disnclned to talk. A reporter.
during conversation with Mr.. Shurman
at Omaha last week, obtained some in
terestlng information concerning the
Philippine Islands and the people in
habiting them. The natural resources
and mineral wealth of the Philippine
group are greater than anticipated and
reports previously made by explorers
underestimate, if anything, the posslbil-
tiles of the islands. Professor Shur-
mans report. when made public, will no
doubt be read with much interest, and
some valuable information will be OBJ
tanned. Following is orief review of
the subjects discussed IN conversation
with representative of the associated
press:
The rebellion said Mr. Shurman, lis
not Philippine rebellion: it is Taga-
log rebellion. The rebellion does not
even embrace all of the islam of Luzon.
"Ihe kllllpinOs are desirable set of
people. They will, when peace is re-
stored, yield to the elevatiDg and soften
ing influences of education.
No more than 100000 of the 9OOO,-
600 people of the Philippine Islands are
IN revolt.
THE people of the big Negro Island
are friendly.
"All of the other islands of the entire
Di,,i .,eE IL, / |.
exception of the TagalogS-whO COM
are neutral. The natives of the other
islands, who are nominally in revolt, are,
in fact, only terrorized and coerced by
the Tagalogs.
Two generations of education in the
Philippines will bring the people of these
islands to state of advancement that
will equal in most essentials that of the
japanese.
"The Sulu group, comprising the
southern third of the Philippine archi-
pelago, is at peace, and will remain So
The sultan of Sulu has accepted the
situation, only asking a favor at the
hands of the United States
The difficulties in the Philippines are,
/ therefore, not difficult to overcome. The
retention of these islands is a thing to
be desired by the people of the United
States.
AS to the outlook for trade in the
Philippines, this may be taken as the re-
sult of Professor Schurman's investiga-
tions: THE people of the Philippines
will be consumers of American products,
not only in this decade, but in genera
tions to come. They constitute the only
people, practically, in the Orient who
will be large buyers of either Europe or
America, eventually The opportunity
for investment these islands is good.
"Mindanao. which is as large as Luzon,
is an unclaimed paradise for investors
and spectators. The climate of Mn
danao and the southern islands of the
great group is cool and pleasant.
For reasons of commerce and be-
cause of the opportunities for invest
ment, the Philippine islands should re-
main as they area part of the United
States.
LAS to the prospects of trade in China,
the Chinese are quick to initiate, and
they may, by reason of foreign invasion,
become the manufacturer uf the world.
England does three fourths of the for
States sells one. eighth of the goods that
by Germany, France, Russia, Spain Italy
and the other countries of Europe.
"Th, United States should not re-
main passive if the doors of trade should
be closed in China by any European
power TIE United States should hold
the same view of the Chinese trade facil-
tiles as England holds"
When he spoke of Mlndanao, p ofes-
sor Schurman paused in his description
of it long enough to say that If he were
a young man starting out in the world
to hew place for himself, he would go
| to Mindanao.
II did not explore it far, he said, "but
| conversed with some Spanish Jesuits
who have spent many years there. They
describe it as fertile island, with de-
iightful climate, and. what is more these
Jesuits told me that Of their knowledge
the island was rich in gold and silver and
iron and coal.
sand this island is sparsely inhabited.
1t is free from earthquakes and typhOons,
which do SO much damage now and then
to life and property among the more
northern islands of the group. 1t is an
uncla imed paradise.
IL talked with the Mayor of Cebu, the
capital of the island of Cebu, and he
told me he did not want to fight
1--WE warJ our rice, he said, and that's
all we want. We do not want war
by his rice he meant that the supply
of rice to the island had been cut off by
the rebel ion OF the Tagalogs.
"When the Tagalogs reached the
Island of Negros, to foment II rebellion
and to make the natives pay tribute to
the rebels OF Luzon, the natives of Ne
prUs would not IL, them remain here.
hr people Of 'hal island are not even
III i'nnnai r. vol h'ing friendly to he
Il r., Sia,+A