Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-04-02
NOT SUCH BAD LOT.
Worse People Than Moros Says Captain Perish.
ing-Wrltes OF Progress Made.

iht VI
Washington, March 2s.-Captain
John j. Pershing, Fifteenth Infan-
try, who has been in command In the
Moro country, has written letter
under date of Camp Vickers, Janu-
airy %, to a personal friend In the
war departments, in which he gave in
detail many interesting facts in con-
lnection with the disturbances In
lMindanao,
Captain Pershing says that after he
| was placed in charge of Moro by Gen
lelal Davis because he (Pershing) APP
Iparantly could get along with them,
re worked on the theory that 1t is
necessary to establish mutual conf
I1ence between the Moros and the
United States, "if we are to CO.
them without a lot Of trouble"
He endcavored to demonstrate sto
.hem that the United States is their
friend, having no desire to carry
Them of into slavery, or to take any
thing belonging to them without pay
ing for it. This, he writes is all con-
rary to what they have been accus-
TONED to in the past. The Spaniards
and the Moros could not get along to-
!gcther well. The Moros were very
Jealous of their religion and the
ISpaniards tried to civilize them by
selling and baptizing some of them.
There were atrocities committed on
both sides as a result Of these differ
enceS.
Captain Pershing says that the
Moros do not realize any other kind OF
government than one-man power
He says he has been able to keep all
the promises he ha made, which mas
enabled him to be more successful In
command OF that district. They re-
gard him as representing the presi-
dent Of America, and are somewhat
uneasy as to what his successor will
do.
The question Of slavery is intimate
ly connected with their religion ami
Is something OF a vassalage or serf-
dom, and not slavery, as known In
this country. He thinks it a subject
that should remain untouched until
it is understood better.
I'M. NJ l., al
government which they can under
stand, and it should be the policy Of
the United States to let it alone, but
to make each sultan and datto re-
sponsible for the acts Of his people
"We cannot afford" he says, ito
tear down their established form or
government without giving them
something better, and fear 1T Will
be long time before this can be
done"
The Maciu campaign has had a
convincing effect as to the possibility
of natives escaping punishment when
they commit depredations.
Captain Pershing says the Moros
have some admirable traits OF char
actcr. "Once friend they all go to
the limit for YOU" They are indus
trious and have splendid rice fields
and other agricultural crops. The
country is capable Of great things
from an agricultural standpoint. The
country is somewhat like the Mohawk
valley and the whole district can be
compared to that about Lake George.
Captain PerShing says that he be-
iieves the troops could march around
the lake now and be received in a
friendly spirit everywhere except at
| Bacolod. He has number OF re-
liable secret service Moros and they
inform him of the conditions and
feelings among their countrymen.
He says there are about $4,000 peo-
pie that live in that region and they
are in fair way to become real friends
He says this is an achievement he
would be proud 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 severe
lesson, in order to teach him and
others what we can do"
Captain Pershing, in conclusion,
says it is the most interesting work
he has yet had in the army and he
hopes to remain and be permitted to
work out the problem. He thinks
that a military government for a
long time to come is the only one for
the Moros.
In reply to the inquiry of the Sec
retarr of war stating that the press
had alleged that governor Taft had
| dysentery, a cablegram was received