The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-05-11

PHILIPPINE PIRATES.
Malay Buccaneers stEI Infest the
Waters About the suiu
Archipelago.

Uncle Sam has started in to clean out
the most notorious nest Of freebooters
in the world, which is in the little archi-
pelago Of Sulu For centuries It has
been the principal headquarters Of the
dreaded Malay pirates, who. at the pres
ent time, when this form Of enterprise
has been wholly abolished everywhere
else, still rayage the seas over which the
United States Is supposed to exercise
the control Of a benign government
tits a fact most curious, as we'll as in
terestlng. says Washington report,
that piracy Ia the region Of the Sulus,
which was practically extinguished by
Spanish ganboats 25 years ago, has
gained a renewed prosperity since the
Americans assumed the reins of power
in the Philippines. We did not under
stand the problem. 10 begin with, and.
|secondly, we have had so many other
things to attend to in that part Of the
globe during the last five years that we
have had no time TO bother with the
regulation OF the free-booting industry.
Consequently. the rovers Of Jolo, while
prudently refraining from attacks upon
commerce after their old style, have
been most profitably engagedin in making
raids upon the visayas and other neigh
boring groups, pillaging towns and
carrying off the inhabitants wholesale
particularly chiidren) for slaves
Up to 30 years ago fleets Of piratical
vessels sailed regularly-one might al
most say weekly-from Jolo for the
yisayas and other accessible points,
and. after sacking towns and villages,
returned loaded down with booty and
captive Christians Indeed. Christians,
preferably female. were their most
highly esteemed prey, and the bishop
Of one province on the south coast OF
Mindanao regretftilly reported 10 the
Spanish authorities the loss Of no fewer
than 1000 Of his parishioners BY this
method OF sudden and forcible expro-
priation In, single year. Even more
% be deplored was the theft OF valuable
silverware and relics from the churches.
which were not spared BY the con-
scienceless Mohammedan royers. On
one occasion a pirate feet, manned by
1900 Sulu freebooters. actually had
the audaciry to threaten Manila.
The speciality .of the Sulu Moros for
the last half dozen centuries has been
piracy and Il is natural that they
should kaye developed a high degree Of
efficiency ia this line Of business. They
grew in time to be the most expert free
booters I'd the world--a scourge ~ The
eastern seas. and the most formidable
obstacle Of commerce in the wAters ever
which they EXTENDED their predatory
operations Wien the spaniards broke
up the buccaneering industry these fe-
tocious semi-sayages turned their at
tention TO wholesale kidnapping But.
now that Uncle Sam has started In 10
put a stop TO the mischief. It must soon
come 10 an end, finally and forever.
BY the treaty made By Gen. Bates
with the sultan Of Sulu the United
States government bound itself to re-
spect the sovereignty Of that comic-
or4ra potentate. and. Incidentally. TO re-
frain from interference with the re-
ligion and customs az the Inhabitants
Of the Islands Thus. while the nomi-
nal owners Of the little archipelago. in
reality Uncle Sam has exercised over it
merely the authority Of suzerain
rover II il now fully recognized that
the agreement in question was mis-
take. and steps have already been taken
to abroeate Il formally. on the ground
that its terms have been repeatedly and
fagrantiy violated by the sultan and
daftos
The next step ALREADY decided upon
b. the war departmert-will be the ap-
poiniment Of a military governor of
The snlu province. who. In due time.
when affairs have become sufficiently
composed. viii be replaced BY a civil
governor. and the islands Will thereby
become an integral part Of the territory
Of the United States. simultaneously.
and slavery-twin institu-
tions OF barbarism which we have been
placed in the false position Of recogniz-
lDg and approving will be abolished in
the archfeeiuaro