The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-28
TO GOVERN
The M0R0S
Capt. Pershing Writes From
Experience With Natives.
MOST INTERESTING WORK
Can Make 10000 Real
Friends by Kindness.

Washington, March 27.-Captain John
]. Pershing, Fifteenth infantry who has
been in command in the Moro country,
has written a letter under date of Camp
Yickers, January IS, to a personal friend
in the war department, in which he gives
in detail many interesting facts in con-
nection with the disturbances in Min
andanao. Captain Pershing says that
after he was placed in charge of Moro
affairs by General Davis because he per
shing) apparently could get along with
them, he worked on the theory that t
is necessary to establish mutual conf
dence between the Moros and the United
States.
If we are to govern TENN without a
lot of trouble" he endeayored to demon
stIate TO them 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 -
what they have been accustomed to in
the past. The Spaniards and the Moros
could not get along together with them.
The Moros We're very jealous of their re-
hgion and the Spaniards tried to civilize
them by Selling and baptizing some of
them. There were atrocities committed
on both sides as a result of these diff
ferences.
Captain PershiRg says that the Moros
do not realize there is any other kind of
government than a one-man power. lie
says he has been able to keep all the
promises he has made which has enabled
him to be more successful in command
fthat district. They regard him as rep
resenting the president of America and
are somewhat uneasy as TO what his sue,
cessor viii do. The question of slavery
is intimately connected with their re-
1igion and is something or a vassalage o.
Gerfdom and not slavery known in this
country. He thinks it is a subject that
should remain untouched until 1t is I'M
derstood better. The Moros. he writes,
should have a government which they can
understand, and it should be the policy
Of the United States to let it alone but
10 make each sultan and datto respon-
sible for the acts of his people. we can't
afford, he says, TO tear down their
established form of government without
giving them something better and 1 fear
It VIII be a long time before this can be
done
The Macui campaigns have had a con-
vincing effect as 10 the impossibility of
any natives escaping punishment when
they commit depredations. Captain Per
shing says the Moros have some admir-
able traits of character.
once a friend, they viii go to the
limit for you" They are industrious
and have splendid rice fields and other
agricultural crops. The country is cap
able of great things from an agricultural
standpoint. The country is somewhat
like Mohawk valley and the whole dis
trict can be compared 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
everywhere except at Bacalod. He has
q number of reliable secret service Moros
and they inform him of the conditions
and feeling among their countrymen.
He says there are about 1900 people
that live in the region and they are n
q fair way to become real friends. He
sIs this is an achievement he would be
proud and is almost ready to promise IL,
adding though we may encounter some
Old hard headed savage to whom we shall
have to administer a severe lesson N
order to teach him and others what we
can do
Captain Pershing in conclusion says it
is the most interesting work he has yet
hid in the army and he hopes to remain
and be permitted to work out the prob
lem. He thinks that a military govern
ment for long time is the only one for
the Moros