The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29

the conditions existing in Mindanao
and the Sulu archipelago are so differ
emit from those existing in the northern
islands that the two groups must
be dealt with separately. IL would
not be fair to deny independence TO
the Christian Filipinos living IN the
never shown any desire to adopt "a
, republican, form of EeevernInent.rSP heys
live under a sort Of feudal system, with
sultax and datto as the ruling slords.) 81
But while the. work of establishing
a stable government among, the Moros
is more difficult one and willsproceed
| more SLOWLY, the same principles should
govern it, The, Moros have furnished
a great marry pirates for the southern
seas. and the influence of the adj
| venturers and freebooter is still felt in
unpleasant. way of killing Christians,
on the theory that by doing SO, they
| not only insure an entrance into
heayen, but earn the right to four
| wives in their celestial home. Ocea-
sionally "a Moro takes an oath to die
killing Christians Che is called iura-
! mentado), and after a, season of fast
ing and prayer, and generally with
shaven eyebrows, he goes forth to slay
! until he is himself slain. Besides
those who deliberately take human life
religious fanatics who act under frenzy
| All In all, the Moro country is ia,
below the northern islands In clvlllza
Etion whether the civilization is meas
ured by material, an intellectual,
political or moral standard. But
even among the Moros | believe it il
possible to introduce American ideas
Already some progress is being made
Governor Fndley has succeeded In In
! teresting the natives in exchanges
i where trade is carried on according Il
American methods. While polygam,
; is still permitted, slavery is being ex
! terminated, and the natives are bein,
shown the advantage Of free labor. :
believe that even among them our .worl
!, can be advanced by assuring them o
, ultimate independence, to be granite
!, as soon as a government ia. establishe.
, capable Of maintaining order and en-
Moros and then using them in offcis
position, we can convince the Moros o
: the sincerity of our friendship, and thes
: native officials will exert an increasin
influence for good. In the meantime
: we should establish experimental sta
t tons and by the use Of native labo
\ train the people to make the best us
+. Of the resources Of their country.
believe General Wood is already plar
+ ming for an experimental farm nea
: Zamboanga. .;
+ and accustomed to bloodshed, the
q have enough good qualities to show I'll
n possibility of Improvement. They. al
3 q temperate people, abstaining entirel
!. from Intoxicating liquors, and WIFI
! they practice polygamy and add conc
. binage to plurality Of wives, they car
4 fully gua1d the chastity of their wonne
= They have their system of laws, wit
e. courts for investigation of crimin
! charges and for the imposing of fine
: The existing code in the Sulu archipe
=. ago, while lamentably below our pen
code, shows desire for the establis
ment of justice between man and ma
l. Dr.. Saleeby has published transl
/ ton of the existing CODE together wit
N the code (not yet adoptedD prepared
i: the present prime minister of the 81