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


problems which confront the American
people for solution in the far East is
that of human slavery as it exists in
the Philippine Islands.
The lack Of information concerning
conditions in these islands among our
neople up to the time the Paris treaty
was signed, and even after it's ratifca-
ton, was notorious, and possibly not
one in a thousand of even well-in-
formed men knew of the prevalence of
slavery, or if so, owing to distance
and absence of interest, the fact was
one of slight impression.
And, even since our authority was
asserted and we claimed absolute SOW
ereignty over the archipelago, by vir-
tue of the terms of purchase from
Spain, while the subject has been more
or less discussed, our information is
vet not of that full and definite char
acter which is desirable or the import
lance of the question would seem to
require.
Among the Christian peoples of the
islands, those who have resisted the
military authority of our government,
and who are in a large majority, slav-
cry is unknown, and, if ever practiced,
it has long since been discontinued.
Generally speaking, it may be said to
exist in a greater degree and more pro-
nounced form in the Sulu group, some
times called the Jolo Archipelago, in
Mindanao, and in the scattered and cir
cumjacent islands, lying singly or in
groups.
But, according to Gen. Taft: 'Tt
should be understood that slavery in
the Philippines is by no means confined
to the Moros. 1t is common among the
wild Indonesian tribes in the interior
of Mindanao and among the wild Ma
layan tribes of Northern Luzon. If
the evidence of credible witnesses is to
be believed some of the wild tribes of
Mindanao sacrifice their slaves to pro-
pitiate their heather divinities."
The Slave Center.
For the purposes of this article I
shall treat of slavery where 1t is better
known and its practice most prevalent,
namely, in the southernmost end of the
archipelago, which has been, and is
now held by the Moros. How long
slavery has existed there is a matter
of mere conjecture, just as the time is
when the Mahomedan Moros first mi
grated thither and waged war against
tHe native lnndDlLdnlS.
Some reckon this migration from the
time of Mahomet, and trace it to the
commands of the prophet himself in
order to extend his religion and the
influence of the Koran, but all this is
obscure.
One fact, however. is established, and
that is, when Magellan. the Spanish
navigator, discovered the Philippines
in 1921, the Mahomedans were then
firmly established with their religious
beliefs and customs in full vogue, just
as they are to-day. Spain's occupancy
of these islands as well as her title was
always of doubtful tenure, and she
early began to make treaties with the
Sultan and his dignitaries. which were
either extended or modified with more
or less frequency up to time OF COM
parative recent date.
In her dealings with the Moros, Spain
was content with securing certain trad
ing privileges along the coast, leaving
the rule of the Sultan otherwise secure
and supreme, and took careful pains
not to interfere with the customs and
tribal relations of the people, fearing
that war would be precipitated.
Twenty-Five Per Cent. Slaves.
Affairs Committee of the House, Gov.
Taft estimated the total number of
slaves to be between ESQ., 900 and 100000,
reckoning that one in every four of the
whole population was held in bond
age.
This was only intended to be an APP
proXimation, but if an accurate COM
putation was made, the number would
likely be in excess of the opinion of
the witness, for all kinds and degrees
Of involuntary servitude exist, from
&c e-s,, Il ~, hnI
hold, where the slave is treated with
more or less consideration, to the most
cruel form, where he is sometimes mu-
tilated. and often killed outright by
the master.
The power of life and death over the
slave is conferred upon the master. and
he does not seem to be amenable to
any law of custom or otherwise for
his conduct
The acquisition of slaves is by the
several methods of capture, stealth,
debt and heredity.
Maj. Morrison testified before the
Philippine Commission at Zamboango,
March 81, 1901, that most of the Mo-
ros obtain slaves by stealing children
or making war and capturing them.
Young girls are bought for purposes
OF concubinage and the female slave
Is always subject to the desires of the
master. as this is said to be recog-
nlzed by the Koran and to be a part OF
tne custom and religious belief OF the
Moros.
Maj Sweet, u S. A., who was the
commanding officer at Jolo in 1901, tes-
uned before the commission that
practically all the slaves favor eman-
upation,' though it is not to be doubt
ed that many of them born in slavery
ana knowing nothing of freedom, are
content to remain in perpetual bond
age just as many of our own slaves
We're before they were freed as the re-
suit of war.
Unlike slavery I'm the south.
1t may be said, however. that slavery
as II existed in the states of the Union
was Of an infinitely more humane and
compassionate type than prevails in
lhe Philippine Archipelago, and the
master was never clothed with the
power of life and death over his slave,
"oI dld he attempt its exercise, with
law.
~ was always murder TO Kill the
save unless the provocation was OF
su.h charac ter as excused or miti-
gated the ofense.
The facts which are here cited
W regard 10 slavery in our dis
'.Hl possessions are taken from
pii' lal sources. and sufficient. II Is
''i'fed, 10 create a new ana
.''i'us interest IN the situation, since
p'i assumption Of sovereignty. and az
uaiion we have become responsible
"'i tecountable % civilization.
'YF Tart man ~ great purity OF
.efhcter as well AZ possessing hiEh
~ II