The evening times., 1900-10-09

GSOfSS II. heikieJOuu, ASS ~dLL oSS-
retary of War under the Hanna -McKfn-
ley Administration, has written a letter
to William ]. Bryan, candidate of the
people for President of the United
States, in which he denies that slavery
in the Suiu archipelago has been recog-
nized and confirmed by the Republic of
the United States. The fact that caattel
slavery and polygamy in those islands
have been upheld by Mr.. Mckinley and
his satraps does not disturb Mr.. Meik-e-
john
In order to bolster up his contention he
seeks to take advantage of a quibble by
protesting that the agreement between
Brig. Gen. John C. Bates, representing the
President of the United States, and His
Highness the Sultan of Sulu, the Dato
Rajah Muda, the Dato Attik, the Dato
Kalki, and the Dato Joakanain, is not
treaty.
The agreement was entered into by
General Bates under instructions from the
President, and has been accepted as bind
ing by this Government. The Senate may
not have ratified it, but it is not the way
of the reigning monarch to heed little
details provided for in the Constitution
and precedents established by Presidents
who have really had degree of personal
independence and mental health.
The present seeker after sceptre and
ermine feels, it is said, that he and his
courtiers can manage matters in this
land and in lands that are, and are not,
a part of this, without the advice and
consent of the Congress of the people.
But for all this, the agreement does
recognize human chattel slavery and Mr..
MeikIejohn denies it.
Mr Meiklejohn's letter follows:
Washington, D. c.. Oct. 6.
Dear Sir: In the press reports yester-
day of your address at Upton, Ind, in
which you referred 10 the overthrow OF
human slavery in the United States result
ing from the success of the armies Of the
Union. you are also reported as saying IL
that connection:
We fought then for the adoption of a
constitutional amendment that provided
that no man could own slave and yet be
fore the Philippine war is ended, We have
the Sulu treaty, which recognizes slavery
Permit ne to invite your attention to
the following extract from the letter OF
the Secretary of War TO Major Cen e. s.
Otis. commanding the United States forces
In the Philippines, under date of October
q. 1899:
. The President instructs me to advise
you that the agreement signed August 20,
1885, between Brigadier Gen John C.
Bates, representing the United States, of
the one part, the Sultan of Jolo. tie Dato
Rajah Muda, the Dato Attik, the Dato
Calbi, and the DatO Joakanain. of the other
part, is confirmed and approved, subject to
the action of Congress provided for in that
clause OF the treaty of peace between the
United States and Spain which provides,
1.-The civil rights and the political
status of the native inhabitants
of the territory ceded to the United
States shall be determined by Congress- .
and with the understanding and reserva-
tion, which should be distinctly commu-
nicated to the Sultan of Jolo, that this
greement is not to be deemed in any way
to authorize or give the consent of the
United States TO the existence of slavery
in the Sulu archipelago, a thing which IS
made impossible by the Thirteen h
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States
TT is probably unnecessary to call your
attention TO the fact that in the absence
of the approval of the President it is i'm
possible for US to have the Sulu treaty
or any other treaty. Very respectfully,
&c. D. MEIKLEJOHN.'
1.-THE Hon. W. ]. Bryan, Peoria, Ill
The agreement or the treaty with the
Sultan and his Datos in which polygamy is
recognized in Article and chattel slavery
in Article 10, follows:
article 1. The sovereignty OF the United
States over the whole archipelago Of Sulu
and its dependencies is declared and ac-
knowledged.
art. 9. The United States flag will be
used In the archipelago of Sulu and its de-
tendencies on land and sea.
art 3. The rights and dignities of His
Highness the Sultan and his datos shall be
fully respected; the Moros shall not be in
terfered with account of their religion
all their religious customs shall be respect
ed and no one shall be prosecuted on ac-
count of his religion
Art l. While the United States may
occupy and control such points in the
archipelago of Sulu public interests
seem to demand, encroachment will not
De made upon the lands Immediately about
the residence of His Highness the Sultan
unless military necessity requires such
occupation in case of war with a foreign
power and where the property OF indi-
viduals is taken due compensation will be
made IN each case.
Amy person can purchase land in the
archipelago of Sulu and hold the same hv
obtaining the consent of the Sultan and
coming to a satisfactory agreement with
the owner of the land, and such purchase
shall Immediately be registered in the
proper office of the United States Govern
ment.
art. 5. All trade in domestic prod
ucts of the archipelago of Sulu when car
ried on by the Sultan and his people with
any part of the Philippine Islands and
when conducted under the American flag
shall be free, unlimited, and undutiable
art. 6. The Sultan of SuIu shall bt
allowed to communicate direct with the
Governor General of the Philippine Isl
ands in making complaint against tn,
commanding officer of Sulu against an.
naval commander
Art. Z. The introduction of fire
arms and war material is forbidden, ex
eept under specific authority of the Gov
ernor General of the Philippines.
Art. s. Piracy must be suppressed AM
the Sultan and his datos agree TO hearth,
cooperate with the United States authori
ties to that end to make every possibl
effort to arrest and bring to justice all per
sons engaged in piracy.
"Art. Q. Where crimes and offences ar
committed by Moros against Moros tn
Government of the Sultan will bring to tri
al and punishment the criminals and of
tenders. who viii be delivered TO the Gov
ernment of the Sultan by the United State
authorities if in their possession In al
other cases persons charged with crime
or offences will be delivered to the Unite
States authorities for trial and punish
ment
"Art 10. Any slave In the archipelago Q
.Sulu shall have the right to purchase free
aem by paying to the master the usua
As<et value.
"a Il IL. At present Americans or fer
- tClas 10 into he. 9fx-