The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-15

the slaves would produce a fierce con-
f1ict with a brave and warlike people, -
and suggests that the question will
settle itself in a generation without
oloodshed or bitterness, necessarily
engendered by armed strife
To what extent these views are opti-
mistic, and how far they are in accord
or discord with the thirteenth amend
ment to the constitution, which pro-
hibits slavery in the United States or
amy place subject to their jurisdic-
tion,' is scarcely to be suggested in
this paper, though every one agrees
that this provision of the constitution
applies to the Philippine Islands as well
as to all other territory where our do
minion is asserted.
An Anti-Slave Law.
The opinions of others with a great
opportunity for observa ton are to the
effect that the Moros will never yield
their slaves except at the end of a war
of determination, and that the fanat-
ical Mohammedan, rooted to his reli-
gious beliefs and despising death. will
prove far more active and formida-
bic foe than the Filipino, and that a
bloody war must ensue before slavery
is eradicated from the islands.
AS before stated, the Spaniards rec
ognized the warlike instinct of the Mo-
ros is evidenced by their treaties with
them. and the fact was evidently not
unknown to Gen. Otis when he dis
patched Brig. Gen. Bates with instruc-
tons to regulate a treaty with the Sui
tan and his dignitaTies, by which they
were to be protected in their religious
customs and tribal relations in return
for certain concessions in the way of
trade and military occupancy.
AS a result of the negotiations which
followed, a treaty or agreement was
consumma ted on the 18th of August,
1899. and is fashioned after the old
Spanish treaties, the only reference to
slavery being contained in the tenth
article, which provides that "any slave
in the archipelago of Jolo shall have
the right to purchase freedom by pay
ing to the master the usual market
price"
This was the ancient, customary, and
acknowledged right Of the slave long
anterior TO the agreement or the Amer
lean occupation of the islands, though
it would be very interesting to know
just how long it would require a slave
working for nothing to earn enough to
purchase his freedom at the market
price"
This treaty, binding, so far as it can,
the United States government to the
VI SldNGl y, Lul
a unique chapter in our Eastern enter
prise, dealing, as it does, with the Sui
tan as foreign potentate and ac-
knowiedging his sovereignty in the
country to which we claim absolute
and indefeasible title by virtue of our
purchase from Spain.
While the treaty is still subject to
the consent and approval of Congress,
let it remains effective, and we have
not only paid. under its terms, the SAL
aries of the Sultan and his dignitaries
and otherwise discharged our obliga-
tions under the treaty, but all efforts
at abrogation have thus far met with
failure, Congress failing either to ap-
prove or disapprove.
Slavery Is disappearing.
1t is one of the notable evidences of
progress and the reach of civilization
for better things at the beginning of
the twentieth century, that the instl-
tuition of slavery, which existed the
world over 100 years ago, is now prac-
tically destroyed.
In marked contrast with this con-
summation, so long and fervently de-
sired by those to whom human bond
age appears as an unmiXed evil, stands
the fact that to-day the United States
is the one civilized nation on earth in
whose territory the institution of slav-
cry is either recognized or tolerated.
Great Britain in 1907, under the Gren-
Vile and Fox ministry, passed an act
to abolish the slave trade, and on Aug.
%. 1888 a law was enacted fixing Au-
gust l, 1884, as the date for the eman-
cipation of all slaves in the British en-
pire.
In certain barbarous portions of the
Mohammedan countries of Asia and
Africa slavery still exists, but wher-
ever the influence of the great civiliz-
ed powers has been extended slavery
has disappeared or is bling rapidly X
terminated.
Even Egypt, at one time a center of
slavery for Northern Africa, has been
bound by treaty with Great Britain,
executed in 1877, to prohibit the trade
across Egyptian territory.
Through the influence of the great
powers. Turkey. Zanzibar, and Per-
STA have agreed to actively aid in the
suppression of the slave traffic within
their borders. Portugal has prohib-
tied it in East African possessions and
in 1884 the Congo conference decreed
the abolition of the slave trade within
the Congro Free State To make this
effective a general act" was agreed
upon in 1890, the parties to which in
cluded Great Britain, all the continent
tai European maritime powers, and the
United States, and in an elaborate act
of 100 articles sought to make the abol-
ition of slavery complete in the heart
of Africa. Thus. the world over, the
great civilized powers have led the
way and the semi-civilized countries
have haltingly followed in the effort to
complete the emancipation of the hu-
man race.