Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-10
NJ OROS OF MlNDAN GA
MUCH LIKE THE BEST NORTH
AMERsIcAN INDIANS.
Fights Among Them Rare
Do Not Scold Their wives and They
Abstain From Alcoholic Drinks.

Abstain from Alcoholic Drinks.
Brig. Gen. Kobbe. commanding the de-
partment of Jo1o and Mindanao has made
report to Gen. Macarthur in regard to
conditions in those islands, from which the
following extracts are taken:
There is a wide difference between the
Moros of the JoIo archipelago and those Of
MiEdanao, and this extends to their Ian
guage. The Moros in the archipelago in
habit a number of small islands where
they can be controlled and oppressed at will
by their datos and Chiefs That the sultan
has been able to retain much of his hered-
| itary power and authority is undoubtedly
due to reasons which are geographical:
and this is the more evident in that his au-
thority IL merely nominal outside Of the
largest and most important islands of the
group. They speak language which the
Moros Of Mindanao do not understand, and.
without the freedom and independence of
the latter. are distinctly inferior to them in
moral and physical characteristics.
1.-The presence of an armed force alone
prevents frequent interisland wars: but
these are rather predatory expeditions.
growing out OF feuds which in their origin
and course do not differ materially from
those that are not uncommon today among
more civilized peoples The Moros Of Min
danao are very like the best North Ameri-
IL
Cheyennes, in features and manners. in
their love of independence and personal
dignity and pride. The individual Moro is
apt to De courteous. hospitable. light-heart-
ed and improvident, but he has a strong
sense OF humor. and Is usually intelligent.
| They are very amenable to argument and
reason, and In the most solemn conference
| with them, If the proceedings are threat
| ened with deadlock, the situation may be
| instantly relieved by story or a joke.
Where they have come in contact with the
pagan tribes they have intermarried to
| SEINE extent with these without essentially
altering the type, and this is especially
| true in the case of the Subanos on the
| western peninsula. 1t is believed that
| homogeneous race NAV eventually result
| throughout the Mindanao
! They are in no wise prejudfced against
| the religion OF Others but may be con-
verified into bitter enemies by the slightest
| interference with their own.
Feudalism Rather Than Slavery.
| Slavery, as the term is usually under
stood. does not exist among them. They
undoubtedly hold what for want of a better
term may be slaves, but 1t is difficult or
| imp ossible to distinguish these from their
| dress. manner of living or association from
ether Moros. This is less true of the Jolo
| archipelago than Of Mindanao, but in both
! places male slaves may be said to be the
| retainers or followers of him who claims to
! own them, who render him service in war
| and with this possible exception receive
| greater .enei-s from him than he from
| them. The partial disappearance of inter-
| tribal and interisand warfare appears to
| have already loosened the tie which binds
master and slave, and cases are not infre-
quent Of slaves changing their allegiance
| unhindered. %. 70 tf.h
I'm a few cases slaves have sought the
| protection of our troops and have beer
| claimed by their owners: but If the slave
! preferred to remain he has always beer
| allowed to do So and in each case the mas
| ter appeared Indifferent to the decision.
"A radical distinction between slavery
mere ana as 1t is, generally understood may
be found in the fact that. apparently or
really. social equality exists between the
! slaves and the free retainers and often
with the master himself. The Moro IL moi
bigoted on the subject of slavery, and dis
cusses with Indifference plans for altering
or abolishing the Institution.
Good Feeling Toward Americana.
1.-THE most prominent characteristics OF
the Moro, especially of Mindanao, is per
sonal pride and dignity which resents un
due familiarity and s BATTERED by consider
ton To this quality are Undoubtedly due
the excellent Relations existing between
him and American officers and soldiers. be.
cause these, unlike the Spaniards, have
treated him as an equal with an intui' iuI
born of their own free institutions and with
manhood grateful to race which has
long been unwilingly subject to another
Wherever Moros live our men go freely un
armed, practice absolutely unknown
among the Spaniards. They are not lazy
in spite of assertions to the contrary, bu
have something of the warriors contempt
for labor. In numerous conferences they
have been told that to be prosperous an(
happy nation and to prevent the Chinese
traders from gradually accommodating al
! they possess it will be necessary for then
not only to work to subsist themselves ant
followers, but also to create a surplus an,
| to trade. Their principal men have inVa
riably acquiesced in this and have made
efforts. awkward 1t is true, to establish
commercial relations independent of tn,
Chinese.
They are universally addicted to gam
bling and chew betel, but race ar
neither liars nor thieves.
What has been SAID here OF them an
what follows relates principally to tn
Moros of Mindanao, but in less degre
also to those of the Jolo archipelago.
'Quarrels and fights between individua
Moros, men, women or children, are ex
ceedingly rare. 1t Is not in evidence
women are ever abused or even scoded, o
that children are struck in punishment,
much less beaten. They play In swarms O
all ages in the village streets, with neve
sign of disagreement. They are exceed
ingly fond Of their parents, and their par
ents of them, and are admitted on all occa
sions of ceremony or festivtty.
''All Moros are notably abstemious in eat
ing. and they drink nothing that contain
! alcohol.
1T appears that on this sound foundatio
OF gOOQ QudlltleS the MORO may be permit
. ted to develop his own civilization in con
tact with what is best in ours, excludin
those elements which have even in recen
times degraded and exterminated othe
Traces.
In communities where there is no de
mand for alcoholic drinks and where tn
use of them is abhorrent to nearly ever
one their Introduction. sale and manufae
ture may we'll be prohibited in the funda
mental law. The opponents of prohibitio
| in other countries claim, probably wit
| truth, that it's laws cannot be enforced b
i reason of hostile public opinion and diff
| culties which are insurmountable. In tn
islands of this department there is no hos
tile public opinion to be encountered and n
; difficulties to be overcome, II they are ne
| first created
Charges Hnbitual Cruelty.
Sarah Roberta Williams today filed SUI