The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-03
COMMISSIONER
SCHURMAN
is HOPEFUL
OF the Situation in the Philippines.
just Returned From the
Southern Islands.
AN AMERICAN PROTfcTORATE
Is Desired by Substantial and In.
telIigent citizens-.opentng OF
Manila's Public Schools.

1AAAANA4A&At lhNN . Ntse - ASes ~
G. schurman, Of the United States adj
visory commission for the Philippines
returned to Manila to-day from a three
weeks tour Of the southern Islands. BE
takes an entirely hopeful view OF the
general conditions there. The intelli-
gent ana substantial citizens desire an
American protectorate.
The masses are awaiting the settle
ment OF the war In the island Of Luzon
before declaring themselyes. They are
chiefly anxious to be undisturbed. The
president Of the town Of sauto Nicolas,
in the Island of cebu, said to Mr.. schur-
man;
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 there are In the
hands Of small bands of Tagals and the
people fear to endorse American rule
until they are certain that Agulnnldo
must be beaten. Let them once be con-
WINGED OF this and the allegiance Of the
southern Islands, Mr.. schurman thinks,
can be secured by diplomacy.
The United States gunboat -Penning-
ton took Mr.. schurman tosAfindanao
aud the islands of sulu and yisayan
groups. he travelled through the Is
land of Negros with Colonel Smith and
J a party OF natives. In several of the
principal towns he was rendered ban
uuetS and he had interviews with the
young sultan of sulu. who received him
in the royal audience chamber. sur
rounded by body guard of fierce look
ing Moros,
Tho Sultan of sulu.
MIR. ;churnan told the sultan that the
United states had acquired the sover-
eighty of the Philippines from Spain,
! but had no wish to subjugate the popu-
iatlon nor to interfere with their Gus
toms OF religion. ON the contrary the
great desire of the American govern
ment was to help the people of the is
lands to develop their country,
Tile sultan replied that he earnestly
desired peace and was anxious to con-
tinue the existing treaties.
on the return voyage the president Of
the commission visited the town Of
Bornco, 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 local
government and the customs OF the peo-
pie. The population he found much like
that of the southern Philippine Islands.
The government is at present in
rather elementary state but more
complete organization is being develop
cd aB rapidly as is practicable.
Yesterday General LawtOn and Prof.
Worcester, OF the commission. visited
tho principal towns in the province of
CnyItc out OF which the natives were
recently driven. Their chief purpose
was to direct the elections of the prcsi-
dent OF linus, Bacoor Paranaque and
Las Pinas. Under the municipal sys-
tenn thus inaugurnted the presidents or
the mayors OF the town are empowered
to appoint minor officials and to levy
taxes, which are to be expended solely
in public improvements.
Before acting General Lawton and Mr..
Worcester had consulted with the lead
Ing men in each town and selected cam
didates whose honesty and frlendliness
10 American rule were beyond question.
Wherever they went the Americans
were heartily cheered by the people.
Public schools to Open.
Tomorrow the public schools in Ma
nlla will open and 1t is expected that
there win be 5000 children In attend
ance. The teachers Include Americans,
spaniards and Fillpinos. One of the in
structors is the widow Of the Filipino
patriot. DR.. Rlzel, who prepared the
statutes of the Philippine League, and
who, when about to board steamer at
barcelona in the autumn of 1896 was
arrested by the Spanish authorities and
sent to Manila, where he was, tried by
courtmartlni on charge OF having or
Ganized the uprising In the Philippines,
sentenced to death and shot on Decem-
ber 20. Of that year. After her huS-
bands execution Mrs. Rlzel, who is the
step-daughter Of n retired Hong Kong
gentleman, went to linus and was
chosen captain of a company OF insur-
gentA. English will be taught In the
schools one hour ench day. The pre-
scrlbed holidays include the twenty
church days observed In Manila, waEh-
ington's birthday and the Fourth OF
July.
Almost every steamer brings mission
nries. The arrival OF one in cebu made
no little, trouble. as the report spread
rapidly among the ignorant classes that
the Americans Intended to compel them
to give UP their churches. The Ameri-
can authorities. in the interests Of har-
nony, requested him to withdraw and
he complied.
senor Toronto who is considered the
most influential native in Cebu, snid to
Mr.. schurman:
Likes the American idea.
II like the American idea of the sepa-
ration Of church nnd state. but think
& would be unwlHe TO introduce Protest.