The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-29

power, we cannot doubt the spread Of
American civilization from these American
centres.
AN RIENT TERRITORY.
While the Philippine Islands are under
American authority, the government ought
TO be administered for the benefit of the
Filipinos, in accordance with Secretary
Taft's promise. II they are to be subject
to our tariff laws when they buy Of other
atiou they ought to have free trade with
US, but the Philippine Islands are so far
from us that 1t would be more just to allow
the Philippine tariff to be made by the Philip
pine Assembly, soon to be established.
The Filipinos belong to the Orient and
their dealings must be largely with the
countries Of the Orient. Unless they are
in a position to have their tariff laws oon-
form to their geographical position there
must necessarily be friction and injustice.
So important are geographical ~considera-
tons that Americans who see fit to take
up their residence upon such reservations
as we retain for harbors, ooaling stations
and a naval base ought to be freed from
the letters OF our tariff laws and shipping
laws. I eve venture to suggest the crea-
ton Of IN Oriental Territory, to be COM
posed OF such stations and reservations
as We may now have or hereafter acquire
in the Orient.
This Territory should have q Delegate
In Congress like other Territories, but should
be free by Constitutional amendment from
our tariff laws and permitted to legislate
for itself upon this subject. II could thus
establish free ports, If 1t chose, and give
to Its people the trade advantag es enjoyed
by those who live in Hongkong, Singapore
and other open ports.
PROBLEM oFTHE SOUTHERN SLAM HARDER
In what I have said about indepen-
denoe and self-government in the Philip
pines ! have been speaking Of Luzon and
the other islands north Of Mindanao. AS l
have already pointed out, the conditions
existing in Mindanao and the Sulu archi-
pelago are so different from those existing
In the northern islands that the two groups
must be dealt with separately.
1t would not be fair to deny indepen-
dence to the Christian Filipinos living in the
north merely because the Moros have never
shown any desire to adopt g republican
form of government. CThey live under
a sort Of feudal system, with Sultan and
Dltto as the ruling lords.) Blu while the
work Of establishing a stable government
among the Moros is a more difficult one
and will proceed more slowly, the same
Irincir les should govern.
The Moros have furnished a great many
pirates for the southern seas, and the in
luence OF the adventurer and freebooter
is still felt in Moroland. Then, too, they
have an unpleasant way Of killing Chris
tians, on the theory that by doing so they
not only insure an entrance into heaven
but earn the right to four wives in their
celestial home.
Occasionally a Moro takes an oath to
die killing Christians (he is called a jurd-
mentddo), and after a season OF fasting
and prayer, and generally with shaven
eyebrows, he goes forth to slay until he
himself is slain. Besides those who de-
liberately take human life by retail or by
wholesale there are religious fanatics who
act under frenzy.
OUTLOOK FOR zorro CIVILIZATION.
All in all, the Moro country is far below
the northern Islands in civilization, whether
the civilization is measured by a material,
q IN iptallaofitol q fNnlitioo or n p,oral at orl