The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-30
Troubles with Benevolent Assimila-


Manila dispatches indicate an unfor-
tunate tendency on The part of the sui
tan of Sulu to oppose certain phases Of
President McKinley's benevolent as
similation" programme.
For one thing, the sultan and his peo-
Pile want free trade and are rebelling
against the imposition of an American
tariff system. English and German buSi-
ness interests in the east are taking
hand in the discussion, which promises
to become one Of the ticklish complica-
tions of the imperialistic programme.
In 1885 England. Germany and Spain
entered into a treaty under which free
trade privileges were extended the cit
liens of Germany and England. The au-
thorities at Washington contend that
this treaty expired when Spanish SOW
ereignty over the islands ceased. but
the Germans and British take con-
trary view, pointing out that as the
protocol contained no clause abrogat-
ing existing treaties. they must still
exist.
The controversy seems to have been
quite active in that far corner of the
world for some time past. A corre-
spondent of The Chicago Record states
that three gaZettes have been issued in
Singapore within the past six months
bearing upon the subject. and the sui
tan is soon to go there for the purpose
u arranging and agreeing with others
interested upon a plan of campaign
whereby the purpose of the United
States TO extend her system or protec-
ton may be thwarted.
General Otis has succeeded in tempo
rarily shelving the problem by mo-
dus vivendi under which the Sulus have
a hybrid sort Of free trade, to be en-
joyed only by natives exporting and
importing for their own uses. AS there
are no natives in the mercantile busi-
ness this being monopolized by Ger
man and English merchants, this does
not solve the problem. IL has been
timed, however. so as to cover the pc
riod until the first of next January
with the idea of preventing an open
breach until after the presidential cleo
tion, and it will probably have that
effect
But this is not the only respect in
which the sultan objects to the pro-
gramme Of his newfound masters.
recent telegram from Manila states:
The sultan of Sulu mas Deen giving inc
military authorities at Jolo some trouble.
The sultan objected to the Americans
passing armed troops through the prov
inces under his jurisdiction. There Is
nothing warlike in these tours. Major
O. II. Sweet. Twenty third infantry, who
is in charge of the Jolo garrison, had sim
ply planned a series of practice marches
to keep his men in condition and inciden-
tally TO exhibit his troops TO the savage
inhabitants.
The sultan took occasion TO object to
these proceedings and sent a lengthy COM
munication to the major in regard to the
matter. lie claimed that he was working
under the supervision of the government,
and that he was fully able TO control his
people without the assistance of the
American troops. Major Sweet replied to
the note in diplomatic letter, and II Is
hoped that no complications Will arise
from any Observation-Disclosures
BY way Of further explanation the
correspondent tells of the shooting
down OF ten natives. which affair he
seems to think lies at tho bottom of the
present trouble. Ten natives were
charged with the murder of three SOL
diers who had wandered off into the
interior They were captured, made an
attempt TO escape and, by a rather
strange coincidence, every man of the
ten was shot down. Shortly afterwards
the American commanding officer re-
ceived q bill asking n hundred pesos a.
head for the men who had been killed
by tho soldiers. This was met by a
counter demand upon the sultan IN
which the value of the Americans was
placed so high as to dwarf the first de-
mand intotinsignificance
The controversy that has followed
has not been amicable. The sultan of
the Sulus is growing restive under the
Mckinley plan Of benevolent assimi-
lation." tho beauties OF which do not
appeal to him. and it is just possible
he and his Mohammedan followers
may make an attempt to kick over the
whole business. When they do. there
will he more fun