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

urlHeF HSnt on the character OF the
Moro Americans brought into this system
through the Paris treaty Is shed by the
second letter from Jolo sent to The Star in
the course of the current editorial corre-
spondence. printed today. 1t is most essen
tial that these peculiar people he closely
studied by administrators, legislators. Off
GERS and citizens of the United States alike
in order that the delicate task of their gov
eminent may be performed without blunder-
Ing, without bloodshed If possible. The
letter from Jolo affords close view of the
tribes peopling the Sulu Islands. probably a
more intimate description of their charac-
teristics and prejudices and the difficulties
of governing them than has previously ap-
peared. Old views of the Sulus fail in the
light of recent events. The problem of
American administration there is far diff
ferent from that of the Spanish rule. The
American mind rejects in general certain
institutions which flourish there and which
were not wholly repugnant 10 Spain. Yet
these institutions must be dealt with in
terms entirely apart from those in which
similar evils would be handled in this coun-
try. The letter from Jolo points out the
necessity of exceptional care in the treat
ment of these items. Mr.. Noyes says:
cit appears that a 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"
In the matter of taxation extreme care
is required. There is distress at present be-
cause of famine and cattle disease. and the
abolition of free trade privileges extended
in the old days through Spanish treaties.
The situation was clearly expressed in the
course of an interview with Datto Calvi.
one of the tribal ctiefs, who when asked
what message he had to send to President
Mckinley said:
II am not the sultan. l cannot speak
with full authority. But my message for
my own people would be to call attention
to the burden placed upon them by the i'm
port and export duties which the American
government has recently imposed. These
duties have increased the price. in some
cases doubling trebling it of everything
which my people buy-sugar, sarongs, rice.
tobacco, gambler matches. etc, etc.-ren-
dering it almost impossible for the poor
man to live. What he has to sell ia cheap
ened by the export duty. If this taxation
continues il will be necessary for the MorOs
to raise the prices of whatever they make
or collect for Sale-aS copra, hemp. pearls
and shells, cocoanuts and fruits of all
sorts"
One Of the difficulties in the way of
the people are divided into a number of
clans, each obedent to its chief datto,
and these chiefs owe but slight allegiance
to the sultan. Datto Mandi, through whose
good offices peace effected with the
people of Zamboanga, openly repudiates the
sultan, and thus it is easy to see that the
federation of tribes Is but rope of sand
The American duty is to prevent these
tribal factors from flying at each other In
internecine warfare, while advancing stead
lily to strengthen the sovereignty of the
United States without precipitating strug
gle. 1t will require the closest study OF the
situation, often the broadcast tolerance, and
the application of common-sense states
manship and diplomacy utterly free from
friction of American politics. In conclusion
Mr.. Noyes writes:
In regard to the equities of taxation. it
is of course. to be remembered that Ameri-
can occupa ton brings and will continue to
bring to the Moros trade. prosperity. circu-
lation of money and enlargement of tax
paying capacity and that the islands must
as soon as possible produce the revenues
necessary to meet the expense of their
economical government. But it is far more
important for the immediate present that
the Moro should not conceive the idea that
ways to which even the Spaniards did not
resort than that funds should he secured
for public improvements in the Sulu archi-
pelago which can we'll wait that more con-
venient season when all will be quiet in the