Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-05-13
RELIGION OF THE MORO
ALLEGIANCE OF MORO is PURELY PERSON.
AL. HANDED DOWN THROUGH LEGIONS
OF DAT0S.
DR.. Edwords Describes the Religious Jura-
mentado and Some Instances Of Their
Escapades in the Philippines.

Manila, p. l., May 8 Had Moham-
mechanism become the religion of the
Philippines their history would have
been one Of bloodshed terrible to con-
template. Mohammedanism among
the Philippine Malays, possibly more
than anywhere else, has instilled into
the minds of the people disposition
toward continual warfare. The Moro
is Mohammedan, but he has pervert-
ed the Mohammedan belief until at
times it is wierd. grotesque and ter
rible religion In the heart of the
Moro there is no fear of death it is
to him but an incident of life. The
Moro idea of government is force. He
never knew anything else. and if you
are kind to him he thinks it is be-
cause you fear him. His whole world
is ruled by fear and not love.
He has no definite comprehension of
abstract principles of government, nor
does he appreciate an absent govern
ment. His allegiance is always per-
sonal. and he pays it to the Dato or
the American officer with whom he
comes in daily contact. This DISPOSE
tion allegiance has been handed down
to him through legions of Dates, or
feudal chieftains. Until the Ameri-
can occupation these Datos were con-
tinually at war with each other, and
it is largely through this lack of unity
that the Moros never subjugated much
of the territory beyond the country in
which they lived.
Their wars with the Filipinos, the
peaceable Christian tribes who live
hundreds of miles to the north. are
confined to acts of piracy and raiding.
His religion, as set forth in the
Koran, tells the Moro that he must
obey without question the commands
Of his superiors. Under rigid person
al supervision the Moro makes good
servant, but is not to be trusted when
left alone. "
The Moro, when not under the in
fiuence of strong ruler. is subject to
strange, murderous fits of insanity.
When Moro. without previous prep
aration on his part, becomes seized
with desire to commit murder. he
runs a-muck," and dashes about.
wildly slashing and killing even his
own people. He is in an insane
frenzy and is not accountable for his
actions. At other times. however. he
works himself up into passion of
religious frenzy, for the purpose of
killing Christians. When in this
state of passion Moro is said to be
Juramentado. He has then taken q
religious oath, perhaps administered
by some sacred Hadji who has made a
pilgrimage to Mecca. The Moro hav-
with cords and cloth until he suffers
excrnciating pain, and then through
his physical suffering is reduced to a
nervous frenzy.
Having once taken the oath the re-
ligious Juramentado is bound to con,
tiHue Staying until he himself is slain.
In Jolo, since the American occupa-
tion. Moro went Juramentado while
the band was playing on the square.
and in shooting the Moro. who had
mingled with the soldiers. a soldier
was wounded and the trombone PLAYER
had his instrument pierced in severas
places.
1t is recorded in Jolo that a Spanish
general who was much troubled with
the fanatical juramentados, about
thirty years ago ordered out one of
his batteries, and told it to shell the
palace OF the sultan. The sultan hap-
pened to be absent at the time, and Ia
lew days later rushed to the residence
of the general, exclaiming against the
'helling OF his house. While ne was
the battery began again
'helling part of the Moro village.
The sultan exclaimed. General.
,onr troops are killing my people,
top them."
II cannot stop them as they have
'one juramentado, +" replied the gen
raj, and from that day he had no
nore trouble with insane Moros.
There is very little of this on the
stands now because Americans will
ot tolerate murderous madman run
ing amuck, especially as they know
he attack has been planned before
and. Prompt reprisals, and the
nick extinction of-the. juramentado--
y we'll directed shot. has had a
lost salutory effect on the Moro, and
ow they confine their crazy spells to
each other. The saving
lause in Filipino character is that
here is little or no drunkenness
mong the natives. have yet to see
drunken native, and am told that it
so rare that few have ever been seen
nder the influence of liquor. won
Or how long this will last under the
enign influence of American civil
'ation, where the saloon goes hand in
and with other commerce.
Clarence Il. Edwords.