292. Emigration of Christian Filipinos. A policy of emigration has been undertaken whereby Christian citizens from the densely populated parts of the Islands may, with government help, migrate to the virgin fields of Mindanao and Sulu and establish themselves side by side with their non-Christian brothers. Annually the Philippine Legislature appropriates large sums for aid to such of the working population as may desire to settle in Mindanao and Sulu, either as laborers on private plantations or public works, or in order to take advantage of the Public Land Act by purchasing public land or acquiring the same under the homestead provisions. The object of these agricultural colonies is not only the development of the vast fields that have not yet been touched by the hand of man, but also the amalgamation of Christian and Mohammedan Filipinos. From the standpoint of fostering the unity of all Filipinos, the undertaking is now considered a success even by many who were at first opponents of the plan. It has been proved that Moros and Christian Filipinos can live harmoniously together, for they are in truth citizens of one country and members of one race.

293. Separation of Church and State. Possibly the most difficult task of the Government has been the separation of Church and State in the Moro country and the relinquishment of civil authority by the native chiefs in favor of the agents of the central Government. In no other Mohammedan country has this ever been attempted. From time immemorial, governmental authority has been exercised by the prelates and clergy of the Mohammedan Church in Sulu, Cotabato, Lanao, a large part of Zamboanga, and in those portions of the provinces of Bukidnon and Davao which are inhabited by Mohammedans. Naturally, every feature of the extension of government control, with its consequent tendency to reduce the authority and perquisites of the

Mohammedan clergy and their patrons, the datus, is always made the subject of petition and oral protests, oftentimes couched in the most vigorous and insistent terms, by the people to the authorities. The activities of government control, such as the public land surveys and the implantation of the system of taxation, which are new to our Mohammedan territories, also arouse suspicion as to their ulterior objectives.

The separation of Church and State, always a complex and delicate undertaking, is a specially difficult matter, requiring the exercise of the utmost patience and tact by local officials in our Mohammedan territory. It must be said, however, that the Government, by consistently refusing to intrude on the religious belief of the Moros, has been eminently successful in bringing them under civil control.

The Sultan of Sulu has formally renounced his claim to sovereignty over his Mohammedan subjects in favor of the civil government.

294. Moro Participation in the Legislature. - The Jones Law brought a new era to the non-Christian peoples. For the first time they were given representation in the national /\ Legislature. Seven out of the ninety members of the lower House and two out of the twenty-four members of the Senate were to be appointed to represent the non-Christian peoples of the Islands. As a result of this arrangement, three prominent Moros and two pagans received appointment.

The most conspicuous citizen of the Moro people, Hadji Butu Baki, was appointed Senator, and Datu Piang and Datu Benito were appointed Representatives. Their appointment was received with great satisfaction by the Moro people, and for the first time in the history of the Philippine Islands, the Mohammedan Filipinos sat side by side with the Christian Filipinos in the legislative halls to work out the destinies of

their common country. Senator Butu and Representatives [Benito and Piang were granted the special privilege of taking the oath of office on the Koran. This act of the Senate and House of Representatives was looked upon by the representative Mohammedans present at the inauguration as assurance of an attitude of religious tolerance and respect on the part of the Christian Filipinos. It was not considered a mere courtesy, but rather a guarantee of non-interference in their religious affairs.

CHAPTER XXV

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

295. Status of the Philippines. The status of the v Philippines is different from that of one of the states of the United States, or from that of an organized, incorporated territory of the United States. Organized territories such as Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, and Porto Rico are under the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution, as we have seen, does not operate in the Philippines except in those provisions which have been expressly extended by law to the Philippine Islands. In general, laws of the \ United States apply to the Philippines only when it is expressly so stated in the acts themselves.

In so far as the relations of the Philippine Islands with other nations are concerned, however, the Philippines is a part of the United States. The Filipinos have the right to demand protection of United States representatives when visiting other countries. Other nations cannot deal with the Philippines as a separate entity. As one observer has said, the government of the Philippine Islands is a government foreign to the United States for domestic purposes, but domestic for foreign purposes.

The Filipinos are not American citizens, but are citizens of the Philippine Islands who, however, owe allegiance to the United States and are under the protection of the United States.

The present status of the Philippine Islands is not expected to be permanent and has been subject to frequent