Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16
SLAVES OF THE M0ROs
Most Inhuman Sort Of
Servitude.
DEPRIVED OF RIGHTS
ABRoGAT1oN OF THE BATES
AGREEMENT.
Gen. Wood Reports That Good Results
Have Followed-Control Of
the Opium Trade.

|
| Moro province, has made a report to the
War Department in regard to the Moros, in
| which he says:
There has been much said about the
| paternal form of Moro slavery. After some
| thing over year of almost continuous
| contact with the Moros, under varying con-
| ditions Of friendliness and actual hostilities,
and after visiting in detail all the principal
| Moro districts, 1t can be stated that IT
| would be difficult to imagine a worse form
| of slavery. The slave has absolutely no
| rights. His wife, his daughters. himself
could be sold or even killed with impunity.
Power Over Life and Death.
There were. of course. many Instances
| where relations between slaves and own
! ers were friendly, but accidents of this kind
| should not be taken ground for de-
I, scribing an institution where the owners
| hold absolute power of life and death over
| their slaves as a beneficient, kindly or pa
| ternal one No effort has been made to
| tear these former slaves from their mas
| ters but they have all been informed that
| they are entirely free to remain with them
| or leave them, as they fit.
THE result has been that many former
| slaves have left their masters and estab-
| lished themselves independently. condi-
| ton of affairs which is rapidly extending.
Slaves were acquired by purchase, by cap
ture, by heredity and through indebted
ness, and the conditions resulting were
most unfortunate. not only for the slaves,
but also for the owners, as the institution
seemed to paralyZe all true development
and to accentuate the various forms of
vice to which the Moro is so commonly
victim.
Desire of the Commission.
ut was believed at the time of the or
sanization of the province, from the In
formation then at hand. that a sufficient
body of laws existed, especially among the
Moros and even among some of the other
non-Christian peoples, to serve as a basis
of their control, and it was the desire OF
the Philippine commission that the legls-
lative council gather, modify and codlIy
the laws of these people. and where not
inconsistent with humane and decent ideas.
to put them in force; but after year OF
diligent investigation and study of this
question it has been found that the Moros
and other savage people have no laws
simply few customs, which are nowhere
general, varying from one valley to the
next, from one island to another. Such
laws as they have are, many of them, re-
voting, and practically all of them utterly
and absolutely undesirable from every
standpoint of decency. and good govern
ment. The Moros are, in way, religious
and moral degenerates. They profess Mo-
hammedanism, but practice only those pre-
eepts of the Koran which suit their inii-
vdual cases.
No Written Laws.
They have no written laws worthy OF
the name. Evidently the first Mohamme-
dan priests brought with them to these is
lands the teachings Of the Koran in more
or less purity, and also certain Of the Mo-
hammedan laws, but since that time. so
far as can be gathered from the tradi-
lions of the people, they have gradually
fallen away from the religious teachings,
and most of the laws, which are founded
on the Koran, have fallen into disuse ana
have been forgotten, so that at the pres
ent time there is little or nothing left OF
them. Those that are left relate princi-
pally to the plurality wives. the control
and protection of their concubines, and laws
regulating property in slaves. In short,
nothing has been found worthy of codifi-
cation or imitation, and little or nothing
which does not exist in better form wher-
ever humane, decent and civilized laws are
in force.
Moros Brave and Resolute.
with all their faults the Moros are brave
and resolute, and under good laws and an
honest government will in time give good
account of themselves.
1.-The affairs of the district of Sulu have
been handled with excellent judgment and
much tact by the district governor who has
been ably seconded by the district secretary.
The affairs of this district were, at the time
condition The garrison was practically bot
tied up in Jolo. 1t was unsafe for small de-
tachments to go far outside the walls, and
troops moved in considerable numbers.
There was no semblance of public order In
the island the sultan and his principal dat
tos were at war with each other, disloyal to
the government and preying upon the poor
er people
Establishment of Order.
THE abrogation of the Bates agreement
has done much to facilitate the organi-
zation of local government and the res
toration of good order. Headmen have been
appointed and are In most instances per-
forming their duties in a satisfactory man
ner There has been very material increase
in the output of hemp and other produce.
At the time of writing this report peace and
good order exist throughout the district and
the natives are obedient to the orders and
instructions of the governor. Every proper
effort Is being made to control them as
largely possible through their principal
men, who have been appointed to I'LL the
offices of headmen in the various portions OF
the district.
Smuggling Of Opium.
"a considerable amount OF opium is snug
gled into the province. 1t is earnestly rec
commended that the most stringent regula-
lions be enacted in regard to the importa-
ton, sale and use of opium. Nothing has
had a more demoralizing effect upon the
1t will absolutely destroy them IL its inn
portation and use is authorized. 1t is be-
Iieyed that all the best minds now en-
gagged in colonial development are at the
bottom convinced of the fearfully pernicious
effect of the use of opium in the eastern
countries and would gladly get rid of 1t at
any cost if they could.
1.-THE Philippines are, from an eastern
standpoint, practically uncontaminated by
this, the most deadly and degrading of all
vices While the revenue from its sale
would undoubtedly be great 1t is believed
that the ultimate loss in the character and
energy of the people would many times
counterbaIance- it, 1t is believed that IL
cense to smoke opium, sufficiently low to
avoid fraud, should be issued those hope
lessly addicted to the habit and that ex-
ceedngly severe penalties should attach
TO those who furnish opium to youth or
those who are non-smokers. Such sys-
| TEN will, If honestly followed out. gradu-
ally dispose of the smokers and eradicate
| the evil. The Japanese are accomplishing
this in Formosa. 1t is poor policy IN de-
veloping people to count on the income
of legalized vice for a large portion of the
revenue, as is done in most eastern coll