The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-16

in the north. General Bates acquired
for the United States as much territory
as Spain held. and what Spain never
could get. the friendship of all the
tribes which the Americans have en-
countered, tempered with wholesome
fear. Indeed. experience with the MoroS
OF Min0anao has convinced many OH
GERS that the treaty with the sultan
Of Sulu was a mistake, in that it con-
ferred upon that picturesque person
fictitious appraisal of his Importance
which may be productive Of more
trouble than a display of the mailed
fist would have been They do not think
the Moros such terrible warriors
against modern weapons as they have
been pictured In some OF the most
important garris0ns of Mindanao, no
tably Zamboanga, the direct policy has
been adopted of undressing upon the
chiefs the fact that the Americans pro-
pose to give them a just government,
but also emphasizing very strongly
that any harm done the Americans will
be followed by swift and bloody pun
ishment- The latter proposition at any
rate IS one that the Moro mind can
grasp, especially when it is illustrated
by the facilities for slaughter which
the army and navy possess
The American officers are convinced
that the cheapest way to deal with the
MorOs, who are at heart savages Of the
most blood-thirsty character. will be to
show them no mercy when once ThSy
become hostile, even il some innocent
lives have to be sacrificed for the gen
eraI good. Most of the officers in the
Moro country with whom the CORE
sDondeut of the Associated Press talked
are convinced that some sort OF con-
fiict with the Moros will in time, De
inevitable. To avoid IL viii require al
most impossible diplomacy Many of
them think that the Moro destiny is
determination, like the American IN
dian.
Another possibility Of danger lies in
the temper Of a portion of the soldiers.
One OF them, who was representative OF
this class, thus described it: Our OIL
GERS are trying TO get along with these
people without q. fight" he said We
boys want scrap; that's what we en-
listed for We crowd these people all
we can when we get chance, and we
are bound to get them stirred up some
time"
General Smith, formerly colonel of the
California volunteers. is In Manila Tor
short visit He reports conditions IN the
island OF Negros as very fairly satisfac-
tory The civil government he has es-
| tablished there is prospecting, though II
needs the most careful direction Gen
/ Smith finds the native civil governors
and councilmen to be better trainers OF
+ laws than administrators thereof. He
! efnphaticaIly denies the stories recently
/ current that he discovered a plot among
his native administrators TO overthrow
/ the American authority IN Negroes ana
/ that he had consequently TO imprison
/ several Of his new cabinet Gen Smith
declares that the stories OF the back
/ sliding of his civil administrators were
I started by the Hong Kong junta in or
1 der TO discredit the success of his civil
| government experiment in Negros IS
! land
4 large part OF the town of SHAY on
| the west coast Of NegTos has been de-
stroyed by a confiagration of accidental
/ origin. The Negros papers comment
| most favorably on the heroic and de-
! termined work done by members of the
Sixth infantry in preventing the spread
| of the flames.
Within the last ten days meat has
/ reached the abnormaIly high price OF
$50 Mexican a pound Never before II
the history Of Manila has II been so ex-
( pensive. The prevailing price in the
Hong Kong market has been IA cents q
! pound for years ard the American gov
| eminent brings frozen beef from Aus
traIia and sells it to the army today fol
seven cents gold. equal 10 this Hong
Kong price Of Il cents Mexican 1t mas
been difficult to account for this exces-
sive price Of $780, one local newspaper
openly charged the meat inspectors
with fraud and showing favoritism K
certain dealers in passing their cattle
while those of other men were refused
clean bills Of health. This charge result
ed in an examination by the authorities
in to the cause accountable for the higi
prices.
The result of this Official inquiry. W hi,
not proving fraud as originally alleged
caused the price OF meat to drop from
$50 to e0c a pound in "A hours and 4
I the Hong Kong dealers can obtain fre-
entry for their cattle into Manila IS i
stated they viii compete with the loca
traders and by this method prices vii
probably be kept down to a prope
level
Democrats as Usual
Little Rock. Ark. May 1s.-At a spe