The Washington times., 1902-02-02

ago the Moros converted the valuable
steel into the beautiful knives of mod
| ern times.
No Need for Work.
/ What does the Moro do for living?
] In time past he was pirate. 'tulisan."
and from the loot of valuable cargoes,
almost up TO within a generation. ne and
his tribe-if not made wealthy--secured
the luxuries of life. He has no special
need for work for his diet is simple and
his wants are supplied from the cocoa
nuts and bananas which grow without
cultivation and the sweet potato, tapioca
and other vegetables which spring into
existence under little careless scratch
ing of the soil The curse of life in the
tropics, and one which will long initiate
against their rapid development by north
ern races. is the absence of the labor
habit in the aboriginal population, upon
whose muscle the white investor must
I depend, unless he is able to import for
eign labor.
1t will be interesting TO see if the Moro
learns TO labor.
The Moro freeman is usually the owner
of slaves today, but the bondage is really
one of vassalage, where the slave Is part
of the household, sharing his masters
pleasures and troubles alike, but for all
of that the master is as proud titled
nobleman OF our own civilization. be-
cause he does not labor.
What may ultimately be a saving grace
in the Moros, and prevent that rapid ex-
,inction of primitive race, which always
takes place when a dominant white peo-
pie, with greater activities. comes among
them (the negro excepted) is their over
weening passion for trading.
Clever BartererS and Traders.
They are skillfui hagglers on price. and
will sell anything in their possession
upon which they can secure a profit No
one ever accepts the first price named.
Their desire for the possession and ac-
emulation OF silver money is another
stimulus to effort, and il is said 10 be
very noticeable since the advent Of the
Spaniard. whom they hated, that their
wants have become more complex, and
in meeting the demands that they shall
pay money. or give something in exchange
for Chinese clothes iewelry, tobacco, etc,
they have engaged more and more in
trade. raising copra. shreddng hemp.
diving for pearl shells and securing in re-
turn the much-coveted Mexican dollar,
and what it will purchase in gaudy attire
The development or decadenee of the
race has far more interest than the prob
lem of the Tagalog OF Luzon who is after
three centuries of Spanish contact, as
crafty. as cunning and as lacking in in
tesrity as his polished-tongued tutor.
Let Their Religion Alone.
In the MorOs We have a self-reliant. in
dependent, fearless people, whom Spain
could never subdue. living under the laws
of the feudal system of the dark ages
Far above our Indian in political and So
ciai organization, but hampered by re-
ligion. concubiDage. and slavery, which
we abhor. and yet which-lf We dare in
terfere without subtleness and care-will
Immediately embroil us in the same ia
talistic warfare with which Spain tried to
cope in vain.
Can they be civilized? Can they ever
become an integer in good government, as
We think know IL? Perhaps. after ALL
the problem which confronts us concern
ing them is not so much one of doing vio-
lence to their institutions on the plea OF
elevating the standards OF the world, as II
Is the one o. ourselves learning how to
establish cordial relationship without CIV
ing offence, and thus gaining allegiance
and valuable commercial footing for
our people and our nation In a region
as fertile as the Northern Philippines.
with a climate which iE q dream divine.