The record-union., 1899-07-03
Thinks 1t viii Not be Long Before Matters
Are AmicahIy Settled.
Intelligent and Substantial Citi-
zens of Various Islands Desire
an American ProtectOrate-The
Masses Awaiting the Settlement
of War in Luzon Island Before
Declaring Themselves

MANILA, July =, go %. m.-Pro-
fessor j. G. Schurman, of the United
States Advisory Commission for the
Philippines, returned to Manila to-day
from a three weeks trip in the south
ern islands. He takes an entirely hope
full view of the general conditions
there. The intelligent and substantial
citizens desire an American protecto-
rate. The masses are awaiting the
settlement of the war in the Island Of
Luzon before declaring themselves.
They are chiefly anxious to be undis-
turbed. The President of the town of
Santa Nicolas, in the Island of Cebu,
said to Mr.. Schurman:
I'VE want peace, food and prosper
ity. 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 Tagalos, and
the people fear to indorse American
rule until they are certain that Aguin-
aldo must be beaten. Let them once
be convinced of this and the allegi-
ance of the southern islands, Mr..
Schurman thinks, can be secured by
diplomacy.
The United States gunboat Benning-
| ton took Mr.. Schurman to Mindanao
and the islands of the Sulu and Visay-
an groups. He travelled through the
Island of Negroes with Colonel Smith
and party of natives. In several of
the principal towns he was rendered
banquets, and had an hours confer
! ence with the young Sultan of Sulu,
who received him in the royal audience
chamber, surrounded by a body guard
of fierce-looking Oros.
| Mr.. Schurman told the Sultan that
| the United States had acquired the
sovereignty of the Philippines from
/ Spain, El1i Mad no wish to- subjugate
the population nor to interfere with
their customs or religion. On the con-
trary, 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-
| tinue 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 vas cordially received
by the British officials, who afforded
him every facility in his study of the
| local government and the customs of
the people. The population he found
much like that of the southern Philip
pine Islands. The government at pres
ent, is in a rather elementary state,
but more complete organization is be-
ing developed as practicable.
| Yesterday General Lawton and Pro-
fessor Worcester of the commission,
visited the principal towns in the prov
ince of Cavite, out of which the ma
| tives were recently driven. Their chief
purpose was to direct the elections OF
the Presidents of linus, Baccoor, Par
anaque and Las Pinas. Under the mu-
nicipal system thus inaugurated, the
| Presidents or the Mayors of the towns,
are empowered to appoint minor off,
Gals, and to levy taxes which are to
be expended solely in public improves
mentS.
| Before acting General Lawton and
Mr.. Worcester had consulted with the
| leading men in each town, and select
ed candidates whose honestly and
| friendliness to American rule were oe-
you'd question. Wherever they went
the Americans were heartily cheered
| by the people.
Tomorrow the public schools in Ma
Mia will open, and it is expected that
there will be 5000 children in attend
ance. The Governor includes Ameri-
cans, Spaniards and Filipinos. One of
the instructors is the widow of the FIJI
ipino patriot, DR.. Rial, who prepared
the statutes of the Philippine League,
and who when about to board steam
err at Barcelona in the autumn of 1896,
was arrested by the Spanish authori-
ties and sent to Manila, where he was
| tried by court-martial on a charge of
having organized the uprising in the
Philippines, sentenced to death and
shot December % of that year. After
her husbands execution Mrs. Rial,
| who is the stepdaughter of Hong
kong gentleman, went to linus. and
was chosen captain of a company Of
| insurgents English will be taught in
the schools one hour each day. The
prescribed holidays include the twenty
! church days observed in Manila, Wash
| ington's Birthday and the Fourth of
July
Almost every steamer brings mission
aries 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 church
es The American authorities, in the
interest of harmony, requested him to
withdraw, and he complied
Senior Llorente, who is considered the
most influential native in Cebu. said
to Mr.. Schurman: ct like the Ameri-
can idea of the separation of Church
4 and State, but think it would be UNI
i wise to introduce Professionalism while
conditions are SO unsettled" He has
since arrived in Manila, and has taken
his seat on the bench of the Supreme.
| Court.
/ Rain has fallen almost continuously
for nine days. 1t was a continuous
downpour, and the whole country is
flooded The trenches at San Fernan-
do are full of water, and the mud is
knee deep in the temporary camps In