Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-30
THE FIERCE M0ROS
Named by theSpaniards After
the Moors.
EXTREMELY DEVOUT
SULTAN OF sULU Is THE NoM1-
NAL CHIEF.
Their Universal Conversion to Moham-
mechanism Regarded as
Phenomenon.
EXTREMELY DEVOUT
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
MANILA, June %, 1904.
The term Moro is applied to all of several
distinct tribes of Malay Mohammedans in
the Philippine archipelago just as the word
Indian is applied to the uncivilized tribes of
the United States. Both are of Spanish in
vention. Columbus and his contemporaries
called the natives of the lands they dis
covered Indians, because they supposed
they had reached the coast of India on the
other side of the ocean. Magellan and his
contemporaries called the Moslem tribes Of
the Philippines Moros, because they had
the same religion and complexion the
Moors who were driven by the SpaniardS
out of the Iberian peninsula across the
Mediterranean into Africa.
The Moros occupy several islands; they
speak several dialects, all having common
origin; they differ materially in disposition,
he bits and customs, and in their degrees of
civilization and culture, but spring from
common Malay stock and are the descend
ants of the same savage sea roVerS and
pirates who were the terror of all the peace
full tribes in the Asiatic archipelago through
the middle ages and until the Dutch, Portu-
guese Spanish and English adventures ap-
peared in this latitude While Independent
and often hostile to each other, they all
recognize to greater or less degree, ac-
cording to circumstances, nominal allie
glance to the Sultan of Jolo, Sulu, or
Zooloo as the name is varously spelled
His capital on the Island of Jolo has been
their political and religious headquarters
ever since their conversion to Islam by Mo-
hammedan missionaries in the eleventh and
twelfth centuries.
The Sultan of Sulu.
The Sultan of Sulu theoretically is the
majasar (Which means stainless or spot
ND
church under the jurisdiction of the Sultan
of Turkey, who is the Padshah of Islam,
the pope of Mohammedansm, the successor
and representative of the prophet. Thus, if
the Sultan of Turkey should uplift the
green banner and proclaim a holy war all
the fighting Moros of the Philippine arch1-
pelago would respond to the summons, and
any orders they might receive from Con-
stantinople would be obeyed regardless of
the authorities at Manila or Washington.
The Sultan of Turkey is recognized as
lord ard master of all life and property
among the Moro tribes. although 30 per
cent of his subjects here do not have the
slightest idea who he is or where he lives
or why they should recognize his authority
1t is simply a matter of religious obliga-
ton. and the fact that the Sultan of Sulu
has performed pilgrimage to Mecca gives
him prestige which is acknowledged by
all the dattoS and other chiefs of the other
tribes although precious few of them know
where Mecca is or how to get there. This
illustrates the hold which the Mohammedan
faith has upon its believers, and 1t must
be admitted that Christianity Is a failure
compared with Islam, Buddhism, Brahman-
ism and the other religions of the east. If
we judge only by the obedience and faith
of its adherents, and the authority eXerted
by it's ecclesiastics
Conversion to Mohammedanism.
Another extraordinary phenomenon is the
universal conversion of the wild tribes of
Ip1i clio m ha M M pSn
Where did the Arabian missionaries obtain
their influence, what was the source of
power they exercised over the barbarians?
The same influence, the same power, was
exercised all the way from the BosphoruS
to the China Sea, not only by the disciples
of Mahomet, but by those OF Buddha, VINO
were sent out from Benares for the CONVEX
sion of the world. The Christian missiona-
ries have money where the Buddhlsts ana
Mohammedans had none; they have uni
versities colleges and schools, hospitals
and dispensares; they have modern facii-
ties for conveying information and giving
instruction concerning their doctrines ana
creed; they have the printing press the
post office steamships, railway trains ana
powerful governments, armies and navles
and great learning and ability to support
and assist them. Yet in comparison with
the results accompanied by the menolcant
missionaries of Buddha, two thousand
years ago, and those of Mahomet fifteen
hundred years ago, their EFFORTS nave peen
failure.
There is not member of any of the
Moro tribes no matter how ignorant, de-
PRAYED or savage he may De, out turns MS
| face five times a day In the dlrectlon OF
| Mecca and proclaims Allah to be the only
God and Mahomet to be his only true pro-
| phet There is not a Mohammedan IN ASA
or A frica or in the islands of the ocean but
scrupulously observes the forms or ms
faith even if he is ignorant of its meaaing
or merits The same is true OF BUDDHISM
which has an even larger number OF adher-
ents and OF Brahmanlsm, %hlch apSorps
the faith and zeal of two hundred mlilions
in India regardless of its cruel doctrines
and hideous rites. But where do you ma
such faith, such obedience, such ooserv-
ance of rules, SUCH zeai ana ueNotioi ''iAioiis
the Christian nations!
The recognition of the Sultan of Sulu by
| the other chiefs of the Moros is due 10 re-
| Iigious scruples only, Tor ne EXERCISES ~
authority or power, and is otherWise lreae-
| ed with Indifference and contempt.
Origin of the Moros.
Enthusiastically all of the Moros trace
| their lineage back to an obscure trlpe III
sumatra which had the enterprise, the
| force Of character and the courage to con-
| uuer and absorb all Malaysia and give
| their name. their language and character
| to the entire popula ton of the East Indies
| Upon the arrival of Magellan in 152l the
| authority of these fierce navigators ex-
| tended from the coral reefs OF Ceylon 10
| Manila bay. The SpanlardS cnecked tHei.
| further progress in the Philippines, as did
| the Dutch, Portuguese and English In other
| parts Of the East Indies, and kept them
| we'll within the southern Islands OF the
| Philippine group which the Moros now oc-
! cupy, but they were never able to bring
them under subsection or convert them to
| Christianity. These are the same people.
| the semi-barbarians, which General Wood
| is now endeavoring to organize into sys-
| tenn of self government. and he has been
| intrusted with an almost hopeless task.
| The records of 375 years show that there
| was almost continuous warfare between
| them and the Spanish government with
| occasional intervals, during which mission
| aries would be sent out with messages OF
peace which were invariably rejected or
| accepted with treacherous designs. Even
| the most sanguine Of the friars considered
| them hopeless The other day, while talk
| ing with an earnest. serious padre. who
| has spent several years among the Moros,
| but was compelled to admit that he did not
succeed in saving single soul l asked
| how he explained his failure. The good
| man folded his hands upon his ample girdle
| and replied that "for some inscrutable rea-
| SON God had hardened their hearts"
Beginning of Warfare.
The earliest records show that In the year