The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-29
Captain Pershing Says Military
Government Is Only Possible
One for Long Time.
SLAVERY A DELICATE SUBJECT.
Declares 1t Should Be Untouched
Until 1t Is Better Understood
Has Been Successful
4 Among Wild Tribes.

Washington. March 2s.-Captain John ].
Pershing. Fifteenth Infantry. who has
been in command in the Moro country, has
written letter. under date of Camp Wick
ars, January IS. to a personal friend In the
War Department, in which he gives in de-
tail many interesting facts in connection
with the disturbance in Mindanao. and his
own work
Captain Pishering says It is the most in
teresting work he has yet had in the army.
and be hopes to remain and be permitted
TO work out the problem. He thinks a mill
tary government for a long time TO come Is
the only one for the Noros.
Captain Pershing says. that. after ne
General Davis because he Pershing) ap-
parently could get along with them he
to establish mutual confidence between the
Moros and the United States, "if we are to
govern them without a lot Of trouble:
that the United States is their friend,
having no desire to carry them Off into
slavery or TO take anything belonging to
them without paying for it This, he writes.
Is all contrary to what they have been ac-
customed to in the past
SPANISH METHODS.
The spaniards and the Moros could not
very Jealous OF their religion. and the Span
iards tried to civilize them by seizing and
baptising some of them. There were atroci
ties committed on both sides, as result
of these differences.
Captain Pershing says that the Moros
do not realize any other kind Of govern
has been able to keep all the promises he
has made, which enabled him to be more
saccessful In command of that, district.
They regard him as representing the Presi-
dent of America, and are somewhat I'M
easy as to what his successor will do.
nected With their seiirioy sns s sos, 6Sn
OF a vassalage or serfdom and not slavery
known in this country He thinks it is a
subject that should remain untouched I'M
I'll 1t is understood better.
The Moros he writes, should have a gov
eminent, which they can understand. and
1t should be the policy of the United States
to let it alone but to make each Sultan and
Datto responsible for the acts Of his peo-
pie,
down their established form of government
without giving them something better, and
fear It will be long time before this
ARE STAUNCH FRIENDS.
The Maciu campaigns have had a con-
vincfng effect to the impossibility of any
natives escaping punishment when they
commit derredations. Captain Pershing says
the Moros have some admirable traits of
character Once. friend. they all go to
the limit for you; they are Industrious, and
tura1 crops. The country is capable of great
things from an agricultural standpoint The
country is somewhat like Mohav''- Valley
ana the whole district can be col. pared to
that about Lake George.
Captain Pershing says that he believes the
troops could march around the lake now
and be received in a friendly spirit every
where except Bacalod. He has a number
OF reliable secret service Moros, and they
inform him of the conditions and feeling
among their countrymen
:. He says there are about 5000 people that
live In that region, and they are in a fair
way to become real friends He saws this
Is an achievement he would be Eroud of
and is almost ready to promise it adding
though we may encounter some old hard,
headed savage, to whom we shall have to
administer a severe lesson in order to teach
him and others what we can do"