The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-11
AMONG THE sULUs.
Facts Concerning the Existence M
slavery and PoIygamy There.

The Outlook. which, as the readers Of the
Journal know. is a religious weekly non
partisan in politics, and of outspoken views
on public questions. some time ago sent a
special representative to the Philippines in
order that it might secure an unbiased re-
port of conditions there. incidentally this
correspondent, Mr.. Phelps Whitmarsh.
studied the situation in the Sulu archipe-
lago, and the result of his observations ap-
pers in the current issue of the Outlook. In
view Of the absurd charge made by oppO.
nents of President McKinley's adminsira-
ton during the recent campaign that the
United States government was encouraging
slavery and polygamy In those islands, the
statements of this correspondent. here re-
produced, are of especial interest. tie
says:
THE Nero. among other things looks
upon slavery as necessary institution, and
he considers polygamy no sin. The slavery
Of the Sulu archipelago is the same as that
found in some parts of Luzon and IN Min
danao. Ii is not at all a shocking system:
there are no whips. no taskmasters OF
bloodhoCnds, not a suggestion OF Uncle
Toms Cabin: the basis seems 10 be more
that OF a retainer than a bond slave In
Sulu a man may be enslaved tor indebted
ness which he cannot pay, by capture in war
or piracy, or he may be born a slave Al
though slaves are looked upon as part OK
mans riches, since the Dutch. under pres
sure, put stop to the traffic in their pos
sessions, they are no longer considered as
merchandise, and in these days, j am as
sUred, slave is almost never bought or
sold. The Moro slave lives i'm the same
house, eats at the same sitting. and Is
clothed in the same way as his master.
The great difference between the old Amer
lean slavery and that OF Sulu is that here
ii is no degredation-the slave seems to be
socially the equal OF his master-and ne Is
treated in such manner that IL IS impos-
sible TO distinguish him from his master.
He appears to work only when u peases
him. and. though he has the right 10 pur-
chase his freedom, he seldom docs so.
When taken prisoner by rich datu whose
store of provisions is ample. he has rot
infrequently been known 10 refuse his lib
erty; and he often deserts one master ior
another. While a guest of the hospitable
brothers Schuck-who. by the way.
are the only white settlers OF the
whole Sulu group found an inter-
esting state OF affairs bearing some
what on this question. The father OF the
present Schueck family. at his death. leit
some thirty or forty Moro slaves. AFTER
the American occupation these slaves were
given their liberty. Not one OF them
left; they are still working on the estate,
though now for wages. and hourlshlns
Liberia coffee plantation Is the result
But this is merely a side light. what
1 wish to make plain Is that slavery IN
Sulu is not the dreadful thing that some
people believe; for the most part, IL Is 10
more than a datu or wealthy man oeihs
responsible for a plumber OF the lower
class-the rich taking care OF the pOois
This being the case, there Is no need OF
any one going into Mysteries over tne
matter, or any need OF the United states
abolishing slavery at the moment ~
would undoubtedly be a grave mistake 10
attack the system by law al this time;
when everything Is being done 10 Duiiu
up a firm basis of confidence ana Hlehu-
ship with the Moros. The evil may %
discouraged in many ways without actuaI
legislation: and, with islands so small IN
area as the Sulus, such discouragement;
together with the influences OF trace anu
the contact with peoples OF higher &c
gree of civilization, all of which are now
being felt in the little archipelago Tor the
first time, will gradually and without iTlc-
ton put IL down for all time.
As regards poiygamy In Sulu, although
the Moros are permitted by their religion 10
take as many as four wives they DO not
commonly take more than one, principally
for the reason that very few OF them can
afford il. As a rule, polygamy IL confined
to the Sultan. the datus and other head
men As an exception. however, may say
that / made the acquaintance OF Moro
farmer who had three wives and ntty-three
children. and a very nice little village they
made While not exactly a part OF ne
Mohammedan religion, the Koran distinctly
allows a plurality of wives, and any direct
interference Win Ine
doubtless be taken as an attack upon the
faith, and probably lead 10 holy war.
Both the British and the Dutch, IN tnelr
government OF two or three millions OF NO
hammedan subjects. have wisely ignoreo
polygamy, and the United States, IN IL
handling OF the Moros. cannot, L think, %
better than follow these successful Colon
izers' example.
"In coming from Luzon. where the UNDER
current of popular feeling had been so IN
easy and decidedly contra-American. me
contentedness Of the Moros, their lack OF
outcry for or expectation OF independence
was TO me especially noticeable The horo>
do not I'm the least know what civil govern
ment means, and they are too little deVei-
oped to have IL applied Military poWei
will be needed TO control this race Tor
generation at least: and, with the poSsibls
exception of appointing a few civil ser
wants. which can be done by the military
authorities. civil government would De no
only a mistake, but an absurdity Inc
same thing applies equally 20 the whole de'
partment of Mindanao and Jolo. In whicf
perhaps nine-tenths of the entire population
are MorOs and pGgans."