Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-29

asked dsdainfully: why did he come?
For this?"
Mindanao Repudintes the Sulu Sultan.
Datto Mandi isSthe; most attractive and
apparently the most forceful of the dattos
whom 1 met making better impression
even than Calvi. 4He has Spanish blood in
his veins and has visited Madrid and BARGE
Iona. He has a strong. smooth-shaven face,
curving nose and a Aeen eye. He makes
no pretense of recognizing the authority
of the Sulu sultan, either as a political or
religious leader. When questioned on the
subject Of allegiance to the sultan he
scoffed at the very idea. The other dattos
OF Mindanao are; 1t is reliably reported,
equally outspoken in denying the claims of
the Sultan of Sulu.
Mandi is force to be taken into ac-
count in Moro affairs. In company with
Colonel Petit met him and talked with
him in the new village which his people are
building on the site of that which was de-
stroyed during the fighting at the time of
the Spanish evacuation of Zamboanga, and
in front of the large house which he is
constructing for himself. He claims con-
troll of northwest Mindanao from Fam
boanga to Dapitan. When 1 expressed
qualification at making the acquaintance of
one who had proved himself by deeds so
valuable a friend of the Americans he
reciprocated courteously the expression of
pleasure at the meeting and added: Il am
now an American myself"
Suggestions of Policy.
A few conclusions, based upon what one
sees and hears hers, impress themselves as
obviously reliable, even upon the casual,
hasty observer, who can penetrate but little
beneath the surface of things.
1t Is evident, for instance. that an agree
ment with the Sultan of Sulu will not suf-
flee to bind in amity more than fraction
of our half million Moros in the Philippines,
and that rupture of this tentative agree
ment will not be absolutely certain to rem
der hostile more than the same fraction.
1t follows that the simple, verbal under
standings reached by Gen. Bates and his
subordinates with Mindanao sultans and
dattos, and also with some Of the Sulu
dattos, are as valuable in their way and
should be followed up as carefully as thu
more elaborate written agreement with the
Sulu sultan. which requires the red tape
accompaniment of a treaty, Is submitted
for consideration and approval by the Sem
ate, and. when approved. becomes bind
ing record, fixing the sultan's treaty-mak-
ing status. 1t follows. further. that we
should cultivate friendly relations and Sc
cure and retain strong influence over all
the sultans and dattos, not making formal
written conventions with them (unless 1t is
absolutely essential, as appeared to be the
case in dealing with the Sulu sultan while
the Tagalog revolt was at its height, and
neither unduly magnifying the latter sui
tan to the detriment of the other chiefs,
H.. ar,St a
avarice and Of rendering him doubly diff
cult to deal with, nor unwisely depreciating
his religious and political influence, with
the result Of upturning friendly relations
and of precipitating hostilities. which, while
crushing the sultan, would be bloody and
protracted.
1t appears that discrimination must be
made in laws and form of government be-
tween Moroland and the rest of the Philip
pines The conditions are entirely different
in the two sections. Legislation which
would be wholesome in one would threaten
immediate war in the other.
Go Slowly in Recommending the Moro
To withdraw from the southern Philip
pines and to wash our hands of RESPONSE
bility for the control of them is apparently
an impossible alternative If We hold the
lSldHuS ldS we WIN we lhuSl, io"eFei, GA
ercise our authority in such a way as to
save life and promote happiness on both
sides of the Pacific and to spread the bless
ings of civilization in such fashion that
they do not become curses to our bene-
ficiaries
Slavery is hateful to the American idea.
Unmis taxable slavery, though of the mild
feudal type, exists in the southern Philip
nil abolish nf she'd.
ding American blood to reconcile the Moros
to what they will look upon as confiscation
of their property? Or shall we proceed eau
tiously and peaceably to eradicate the evil,
perhaps through some moderate measure
of compensated emancipation, such as that
which with many safeguards of economy
was put in operation by the Dutch in Java?
Polygamy IS antagonistic to American
sentiment. 1t is A part of the religion of
Mahomet and prevails among the compare
lively wealthy few in our Mahometan is
lands. Shall we bring on "a holy war; in
the Philippines by demanding the immedi-
ate eradication of polygamy and the exodus
from the harems of all but wife No. [?
Or shall we follow the example of exceed
ing forbearance set by other Christian ma
tons with Asiatic and Mahometan depen-
denotes and our own precedent in winking
for a time at the social customs of the
American Indians? Poygamy is a luxury
of the rich. Education and contact with
civilization Will rander it more and more
expensive every year, will steadily Increase
the discomfort among the plural wives, and
will doubtless gradually abolish the evil Of
many simultaneous wives by driving men
to our own superior system of many wives
in succession through the operation of our