New-York tribune., 1903-03-28
THE MoRos AND THEIR COUNTRY.
Captain Pershing Says Military Government
VIII Be Necessary for Long Time.

washfngton March N-Captain John J. Pershing,
18th Infantry. who has been in command In the
Moro country, has written letter under GATE OF
Camp Wears. January q, to "a personal frieho IN
the War Department. in which he gives many IN
teresting facts in connection with the
In Mindanao Captain Perehing says tnat aiter ne
was placed in charge OF Moro anairs oy SehefSi
Davis. because he apparently could get along witt
them. he worked the theory that It s necesE airy
to esta blish mutual confidence between the Moros
and the United States 'if We are to govern them
without q lot Of trouble" He endeavored TO demon
strate TO them that the United States is their
friend having no desire to carry them of into saV-
cry to take anything belonging TO them WITHOUT
paving for II. This he writes. is all contrary to
what they have been accustomed to in the past
The Spaniards and the Moros could not get along
well together. The Moros were Jealous OF their re-
ligon. and the Spaniards tried to cviiize them by
Selling and baptizinE some Of them. Atrocities
were committed on both sides as a result OF these
differences
Captain Pershnz says that TIE Moros do not real
fze any other kind Of government than one-man
power. He says he has been able to keep all the
promises he has made, which has made him more
successful in command Of that district, The Moros
regard him representing the PTesloeht OF
America and are somewhat uneasy as 20 what MS
successor will do The question of slavery Is IN
tinateIy connected with their religion and Is some
thing of vassalage or serfdom and not slavery as
known in this country He thinks II Is a snooecI
which should not be touched until 1t is understood
better The Moros should have government "llioIi
thev can understand. and It should be the pohcF
Of the United States to let it alone but to MAKE
each sultan and datto responsible for the acts OF
his people. We cannot afford he says, TO tear
down their established form of government without
giving them something better, and rear II VIII o
q long time before this can be done , -
The Maciu campaigns have had convincing el-
feet as 10 the impossibty Of any natives escaIllS
punishment when they commit depredatlons- : dP
tain Pershing says the Moros have some ad1lra PIE
traits OF character Once friend, they Will GO 20
the limit for you. They are Industrious and hahe Az
splendid rice and other agTicultura! crops n
country is capable Of great things from an ag[l-
cultural point Of view. It is something IKE tnt
Mohawk Valley. and the whole district can ne com
pared to that about Lake George
CAPTAIN Pershing says that he believes the troops
could march around the lake now. and he received
in a friendly spirit everywhere except at Bacalod
He has number of trustworthy secret service
Noros and they inform him of the conditions ana
feeling among their countrymen. There are sbout
seventy-ve thousand people in the region ana they
are in a fair way become real TRENDS he say =
this is an achievement he would be proud o. ana
IS almost ready promise II. adding. 'though We
NAV encounter old hard-headed savage to
whom " shall have to administer a severe lesson
in ordtr teach him and others what we can DO
Captain PershnE. in conclusion. says IT Is the
most interesting work he has YET had in the army
and he hopes remain and be permitted TO work
out the problem He thinks that military govern
ment for long time come ia the only one Tor
the Moros-