THE PHILIPPINES: Kris v. Cross

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To Boss Quezon, sitting at Manila with the legislature eating out of his hand, the Sulu trouble was no musical comedy matter. As Moslems hate Christians, as big men despise pigmies, as warriors scorn men of peace, so the Moros hate, despise, scorn Filipinos. For centuries the children of the Kris harried the children of the Cross. Not till Leonard Wood killed 600 Moros in battle and John J. Pershing slew another 300 did the fierce tribesmen acknowledge the Americans as their masters. Now that they are being turned over to a government of Filipino politicians, they feel that they are being betrayed to an inferior race. Already young Moros conscripted for the new Commonwealth's army have refused to wear broad-brimmed army hats which "cut off their view of heaven." Choice of the next Sultan of Sulu may determine whether the Philippine Commonwealth remains in internal harmony or is thrust into an expensive, disintegrating civil war in the bush.