Emasculation of the Sultanate.

American entry into the Sulu society resulted in the gradual emasculation of the Sulu Sultanate. An establishment of liberal democratic processes designed to weaken the framework of the Sulu society. The role of the Bates Treaty and the Moro Province balanced the military and civilian aspects of colonial administration and was determined to deal with the Sulu problem at the first decade of the American rule. By the time the Kiram-Carpenter Agreemment was concluded on March 22, 1915 the sultan had been formally deprived of his political authority and a political dichotomy of colonial and traditional leaders had been established. Sulu had finally been integrated politically into the mainstream of the national colonial system. Aiding the American political emasculation of the sultanate was the equally important erosion of the sultanates economic foundation based on 3 directions: The limitation of the sultans power to collect levies or dues for his domain. The reorientation of the sultans agreement with the Spanish government allowing the sultan to continue his control and share in the pearl monopoly and in the opium trade.

By liberalizing the two business concerns the sultan eventually lost substantial income from these two sources which soon left him with the only resources derived from his lands The effect of this economic erosion of traditional resources was the only immediate means of survival. This was provided in the Bates Treaty and continued after its abrogation in 1904 The process to weaken the datuship would come with the establishment of popular education after 1916. As the sultans power and resources were reduced, the sultans ties to his kabanuwahan and raayat would begin to weaken. (i.e. Slaves who wanted freedom simply left the sultans household) The only refuge of the sultanate and society from being fully affected by the liberalization was Islam. American policy was not to interfere in the practice of Islam as said in the Bates Treaty. A fundamental change influenced by the American policy was in the demographic character in Sulu, where other nationalities were encouraged and formed a new social class distinct from the Tausug and Sama. Because of this it simply demonstrated the successful effort of the American rule to democratize an Islam society by enforcing without reservation the separation of powers to be the foundation of governance. Islam was still allowed to continue as the traditional basis of Muslim life. The shift from the traditional Tausug dependence on violent armed struggle to a more peaceful non violent resistance to a determined and superior militaristic colonial rule was the very factor that allowed Sulu society to preserve its tradition and its essence. The written instrument used by Jamul Kiram II known as the Surat Jawi was not developed into a more powerful linguistic weapon.

The Isolation of the Kadatuan Under the administrative structure of the Moro Province, the natives retained the basic power structures and units by the datuships. Generally, the most respected datus were those appointed headman by the American district governor. The headmen lost the authority to the settlement of local disputes. In return they received regular salaries. Throughout the province there were five districts: Sulu, davao, cotabato, zamboanga and lanao) which were divided into municipalities. The datus or natives were generally excluded unless they qualified under the code (Philippines Municipal Code) that prescribed the following for eligibility in municipal election: Ability to read and write Property ownership Previous employment in the colonial goverment

The municipalities, which were the seat of the government, practically marginalized the non Christian whose actions were limited to the tribal ward. Dilemma of Colonialism American policy encouraged the independence of the datus from the sultan. The datus could always depend upon American police power. In brief, Loyalty to the Americans had its rewards and disloyalty would end up to being punished in various ways. But amidst the Americans success, the impact was not encouraging in the grassroots. The American rules true meaning was not fully understood. The colonial administration under the Moro Province failed to explore its relationship and traditional system.