Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-09-26
A COMPROMISE WITH DIsHoNoR.

OF the Sulu Islands, by which he is
given Al anpuity,and by which polyg-
amy and slavery are permitted in his
dominions in return for his allegiance
to the United States, is meeting with
the opposition Of the press of all
shades Of opinion throughout the
country. According 10 the dispatches,
our treaty with the Sultan provides
that any slave in the archipelago may
purchase his freedom by paying his
owner 800, and some papers think
that in this way slavery will come to
an end; but the dispatches do not tell
u5 what facilities the Sulu slaves
have for obtaining the necessary $50.
Many papers print in connection with
the treaty, the thirteenth amendment
to the Constitution of the Unlted
States, which reads as follows:
@Neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude, except as a punishment
for crime, whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, shall exist
in the United States or any place
subject to their Jurisdiction"
The Omaha World Herald discuss
es the treaty under the above caption
as follows:
Uuder the protecting folds of the
American flag the slave trade will
flourish in Sulu. The sanctity Of
home and family is violated; the wife
is sold from her husband, the child
from it's mothers arms. The lash of
the slave driver falls on the quivering
back of the covering human chatter
In Sulu; falls with the sanction of
Mckinley, under the permission
granted in the treaty negotiated by
General Bates, his military represent
tative. The slaves one recourse on
the soil Swallowed by the Stars and
Stripes, is to purchase his freedom at
the market price.
"Polygamy and concubinage is the
law OF the land in Sulu-a law ratiti-
ed, permitted and indorsed by Presi-
dent McKinley's administration in
the treaty with theSultan. The sacred
names Of wife and mother are strip
ped OF every enobling quality and
made synonymous for shame, with the
consent Of the Government mt Wash
ington, in the islands over which the
de bauched Sultan Of Sulu admins.
tiers American law, and liz paid there
fore $500 month by the grace Of Mr..
Mckinley.
"The American people, through
their representative, have shameless
ly and weakly compromised with dis
honor. Vice and lechery, wrong do
ing and crime are legalized that the
American flag may wave over the
harem Of the Sultan and the slave
pens Of the plantations.
What now will high minded Chris.
tian men and women think, who in
dorsed forcible annexation that civili-
cation and Christianity might follow
in the wake OF the flag? What will
ministers Of the gospel of peace on
earth, good will to men say to this
an-conclusive, proof that the present
Administration makes war not to civ.
iize. not to Christianize, but solely to
possess? What will American citizens
who are proud Of their heritage of
lofty ideas and principles of free
dom and equality, say to this aband.
onment OF the teachings for which the
blood OF American manhood has flow
ed in rivers to the sea2 What posi-.
BILE excuse can be offered for the con-
Summation Of this liaison with Moslem
morals and pirate etbicsH This is not
question that will admit of any talk
OF expediency. No possible theory of
expediency can explain the necessity
OF virtue embracing vice, Of the incor-
poration Of deadly cancer into a
haalthy political organization. If
slavery is wrong in America it is also
wrong In Sulu. II it was not permit