 |
"In fact, the undersigned request you to direct that the peseta which they offer be accepted and that the said Don Francisco Querubin and Don Melchor Balueg be relieved of their duties, in order to put a stop to the abuses constantly committed by them; and if this be not done, the petitioners will be obliged to leave their homes and property in the town and take up their residences in the mountains with the Negritos and Igorots, in order that the others may remain in the town and live tranquilly.
"This is a grace which we do not doubt we will receive from you, whose life may God preserve for many years.
"Bucay, November 12, 1898." (26 signatures)
(In blue pencil in the handwriting of Aguinaldo:) "It will be approved.
"Dec. 20, 1898.
"E. A."
—P.I.R., 991. 4.
[302] P.I.R., 849.
[303] Blount, p. 130.
[304] Ibid., pp. 130-131.
[305] P.I.R., 1142. 4.
[306] Ibid., 2002. 3.
[307] P.I.R., 964. 3.
[308] On November 30, 1898, the commander in Alaminos, Zambales Province, telegraphed that his soldiers were all about to desert as the head of the town would not furnish rations or pay without orders from the governor."—P.I.R., 2002.3.
[309] "On December 22, Aguinaldo, in accordance with a request from the governor of Zambales Province, ordered the heads of the provinces of Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bataan, and Pampanga to prohibit the people of their provinces from going to Zambales without passports signed by them, stating the route they were to take in going and returning and the length of time to be spent in the journey. The governor of Zambales had asked for this regulation in order to prevent the commission of robberies in Zambales and to distinguish persons justly subject to suspicion from those of good conduct."—P.I.R., 266. 3.
[310] "On January 9, the governor of Zambales found it impossible to continue the inspection of certain towns of his province and to continue holding elections, as many of the officials had fled to escape the exactions and abuses of the military commanders."—P.I.R., 988. 2.
[311] "The Governor of Cavite reports two drunken Americans have been killed by our soldiers. I tell him to have an investigation immediately and report the fact to the American commander."—P.I.R., 849.
[312] "Most urgent. Gen. Anderson informs me in a letter that, 'in order to avoid the very serious misfortune of an encounter between our troops, I demand your immediate withdrawal with your guard from Cavite. One of my men has been killed and three wounded by your people.' This is positive and does not admit of explanation or delay. I ask you to inform me of your decision."—P.I.R., 849.
[313] "Gen. Riego de Dios, Cavite: Telegram received. Do not leave the post, and say that you cannot abandon the city without my orders, and say that he was not killed by our soldiers, but by them themselves [the Americans.—D. C. W.], since they were drunk, according to your telegram. Give up your life before abandoning that place, and investigate matters."—P.I.R., 849.
[314] "Urgent. Gen. Alvarez telegraphed that Riego de Dios informed him that the town of Maragondong had risen in arms on account of abuses committed by the local President against Salvador Riego. This is the reason the town took up arms. Will go there to-morrow."—P.I.R., 849.
[315] Taylor, 19 AJ.
[316] P.I.R., 1057. 4.
[317] Taylor, 95 HS.
[318] The name applied to the Filipinos of Ambos Camarines, Albay and Sorsogon.
[319] P.I.R., 262. 3.
[320] Taylor, 48 AJ.
[321] Blount, p. 116.
[322] Accepting the 1903 census figures.
[323] Aguinaldo considered Mindanao important enough to form one of the three federal states into which he proposed to divide the Philippines.
[324] Blount, p. 228.
[325] Ibid., p. 229.
[326] Bandits, or organized robbers.
[327] The old Spanish name for Palawan.
[328] Blount, p. 228.
[329] P.I.R., 944. 10.
[330] Blount, p. 116.
[331] Blount, p. 229.
[332] According to the census of 1903, 154,706.
[333] See table on p. 651.
[334] (Contemporary copy in Spanish.—P.I.R., Books C-L:)
"January 19, 1899.
"The President of the Philippine Republic very cordially greets his great and powerful brother, the Sultan of Jolo, and makes known:—
"That the Filipinos, after having thrown off the yoke of foreign domination cannot forget their brothers of Jolo to whom they are bound by the ties of race, interests, security and defense in this region of the Far East.
"The Philippine Republic has resolved to respect absolutely the beliefs and traditions of each island in order to establish on solid bases the bonds of fraternal unity demanded by our mutual interests.
"I therefore in the name of all the Filipinos very gladly offer to the powerful Sultan of Jolo and to all brothers who acknowledge his great authority, the highest assurance of friendship, consideration and esteem.
"Malolos, January 18, 1899."
(No signature.)
[335] P.I.R., 76. 1.
[336] From an official document on file at Manila.
[337] "Being brothers, the descendants of the same race and of one soul, the same sun shines upon us and we breathe the same air, so that our sentiments are also one, and we aspire to the independence and liberty of our country in order to secure its progress and place it on a level with other civilized nations; and with this assurance I have taken the liberty to address you this letter, begging of you to accept the commission which in the name of our government I have the honour to confer upon you. You are authorized thereunder to establish in all the 'Rancherias' of Mindanao and Jolo, a civil and military economic-administrative organization, in accordance with the decrees which I enclose herewith, and after having established the same, I request that you make a report to our Honourable President of the Philippine Republic, Sr. Emilio Aguinaldo, of the result thereof and of the number of the force with their arms and ammunition, in order to ascertain whether they would be sufficient to prevent the invasion of the enemy and whether there is any necessity of sending reinforcements of arms to said Islands for this purpose. If in this war, which I consider to be the last, we secure our independence, and with the opposition of our brothers in that region, with yourself at their head, we are successful in preventing the enemy from gaining a foothold, the grateful country will always render a tribute of homage and gratitude to your memory.
"God preserve you many years.
"May 31, 1899. "Baldomero Aguinaldo,
"Lieut. Gen. Superior P. M. Commander of Southern Region.
"To The Honourable Sultan Raha Halon"
—P.I.R., 810-4.
[338] Spanish for "mountain people."
[339] P.I.R., 512. A 5.
[340] Extract from a letter to Apacible of the Hongkong junta dated February 26, 1899:—
"It is also said that the Cantonal Government of Negros has wished to make a treaty with the Americans, some members of that government having come in American transports to confer with General Otis. We are not aware of the conditions of the arrangement, because the Negros people have thus far not wished to put themselves in communication with us; we only know by news more or loss reliable that the capital of that island has been occupied by the American forces without opposition.
"Of Mindanao we know absolutely nothing; we also are ignorant of what has been the lot of our agents in America."
[341] "Of the Visayas and Mindanao we know nothing positive as yet, it is whispered that the Americans have succeeded in occupying Negros and Cebu against the will of the inhabitants. Iloilo continues the struggle energetically. It does not matter that they occupy temporarily those beautiful islands, because Luzon will know how to fight for herself and the rest of the islands, and will not lay down arms without the independence of the Philippine Archipelago."
[342] Blount, p. 140.
[343] P.I.R., 62. 2.
[344] Ibid., 144. 1.
[345] "The second reason for my resignation is the pain caused me by having still to read among the reports of our military associates that in some of the chiefs, besides odious favouritism, is clearly seen a desire to enrich themselves, accepting bribes, making even prisoners a means of gain, and others there are, above all the commissaries, who dare to decrease the allowance of the soldier, little enough already;—I throw the blame of all this upon those who taught us such a custom; consequently I have reason to hope that they will change their methods.
"The same cause of complaint I have concerning some companions who are discharging civil offices, especially those who are far from the oversight of the government, who put their own welfare before the common good, and devise a thousand means to further their own ends, even to the extent of gambling. Where are the police? Are they, perchance, also bribed? Pity money is so ill spent! However, every one is obliged to know that falsehood will never prevail against truth, and as evidence hereof many soldiers have confessed to the government as to having received certain sums in the share of the booty, and if we consider that the latter who receive their share have told the truth, why should those who are present during the partition of the money and receive nothing, not do so? In this way the eyes of some that were blinded are gradually opened; I confess, moreover, that the latter are to be blamed less than those in authority who are so attached to the methods of the past administration, who, we may hope, will change their mode of conduct and exhibit true patriotism.
* * * * *
"I certify to the truth of all the above-mentioned evils, which must be eradicated. I retain the evidence for presentation when called on, so that if any of the readers hereof should consider themselves referred to and should resent it, I am ready to beg their pardon."—P.I.R., 8.2.
[346] Blount, p. 108.
[347] Senate Documents, Vol. 25, pp. 2928-2941.
[348] P.I.R., 838-2.
[349] In this connection note Blount's statement:—
"But we are considering how much of a government the Filipinos had in 1898, because the answer is pertinent to what sort of a government they could run if permitted now or at any time in the future."—Blount, p. 73.
[350] Blount refers to
"The death-warrant of the Philippine republic signed by Mr. McKinley on September 16th."—Blount, p. 99.
Speaking of Mr. Roosevelt's opinion of the practicability of granting independence to the Filipinos, he says—
"Yet it represented then one of the many current misapprehensions about the Filipinos which moved this great nation to destroy a young republic set up in a spirit of intelligent and generous emulation of our own."—Blount, p. 230.
[351] "Here was a man claiming to be President of a newly established republic based on the principles set forth in our Declaration of Independence, which republic had just issued a like Declaration, and he was invited to come and hear our declaration read, and declined because we would not recognize his right to assert the same truths."—Blount, p. 59.
[352] "The war satisfied us all that Aguinaldo would have been a small edition of Porfirio Diaz, and that the Filipino republic-that-might-have-been would have been, very decidedly, 'a going concern,' although Aguinaldo probably would have been able to say with a degree of accuracy, as Diaz might have said in Mexico for so many years, 'The Republic? I am the Republic.'"—Blount, p. 292.
[353] "The war demonstrated to the army, to a Q. E. D., that the Filipinos are 'capable of self-government,' unless the kind which happens to suit the genius of the American people is the only kind of government on earth that is respectable, and the one panacea for all the ills of government among men without regard to their temperament or historical antecedents. The educated patriotic Filipinos can control the masses of the people in their several districts as completely as a captain ever controlled a company."—Blount, p. 292.
[354] "Even to-day the presidente of a pueblo is as absolute boss of his town as Charles F. Murphy is in Tammany Hall. And a town or pueblo in the Philippines is more than an area covered by more or less contiguous buildings and grounds. It is more like a township in Massachusetts, so that when you account governmentally for the pueblos of a given province, you account for every square foot of that province and for every man in it."
[355] "In there reviewing the Samar and other insurrections of 1905 in the Philippines, you find him (i.e. Roosevelt) dealing with the real root of the evil with perfect honesty, though adopting the view that the Filipino people were to blame therefor, because we had placed too much power in the hands of an ignorant electorate, which had elected rascally officials."—Blount, p. 297.
Also:—
"But we proceeded to ram down their throats a preconceived theory that the only road to self-government was for an alien people to step in and make the ignorant masses the sine qua non."—Blount, p. 546.
Also:—
"Of course the ignorant elecorate we perpetrated on Samar as an 'expression of our theoretical views' proved that we had 'gone too fast' in conferring self-government, or to quote Mr. Roosevelt, had been 'reposing too much confidence in the self-governing power of a people,' if to begin with the rankest material for constructing a government that there was at hand was to offer a fair test of capacity for self-government."—Blount, p. 546.
[356] P.I.R., 499. 1 Ex. 134.
[357] Ibid., 206. 1.
[358] Ibid., 1124. 2.
[359] Ibid., 204. 6.
[360] P.I.R., 206. 6.
[361] P.I.R., 674. 1.
[362] Ibid., 206. 3.
[363] P.I.R., 206. 3.
[364] On July 7, 1898, the secretary of the revolutionary junta in Mindanao, in writing to Aguinaldo, closed his letter with the following formula: "Command this, your vassal, at all hours at the orders of his respected chief, on whom he will never turn his back, and whom he will never forswear. God preserve you, Captain General, many years." P.I.R., 1080. 1. Every now and then we find a queer use of the term "royal family." This seems to have been common among the mass of the people. Heads of towns and men of position often used the expression "royal orders" in speaking of the orders and decrees issued by Aguinaldo. For example, the officials of Tayug, a town of 19,000 people in Pangasinan Province, certified, on October 9, 1898, that they had carried out the instructions for "the establishment of the popular government in accordance with the royal decree of June 18, 1898."—P.I.R., 1188. 1.
In October certain of Aguinaldo's adherents in Tondo wrote to him and protested against the acts of the local presidente, who, they held, had not been duly elected in accordance with the provisions of the "royal order" of June 18, 1898. They closed their respectful protest by requesting that said royal order should be obeyed.—Taylor, AJ., 63.
In 1899 an officer of the army in Union Province wrote: "In accordance with the orders of the secretary of war of our republican government of these islands, issued in compliance with royal decree, article 5, published on March 8." On September 1, 1898, the local presidente of the town of Mangatarem, writing to the head of the province, said that he had not furnished the estimates required because the elections provided for in "article 7 of the royal decree of the superior government, dated June 18 last," had not been approved. A young son of a member of Aguinaldo's cabinet, writing to his father in September, 1899, spoke of the "royal decree of June 18, 1898."—P.I.R., 1188. 3. In Romblon, in August, 1898, elections were held in compliance with the prescription of the "royal decree of June 18, 1898," and Aguinaldo approved them, apparently without considering that this was an anomalous way of describing a decree of the dictator of the so-called republic. On March 7, 1899, a general in the revolutionary service stated that an officer had been released from arrest by a "royal order." The attitude of mind which made men speak of Aguinaldo's "royal orders" in 1898 did not change when he fled before the advance of the United States army. His orders remained royal orders. They were again and again referred to in this way.
[365] P.I.R., Books C-1.
[366] P.I.R., 1216. 1.
[367] P.I.R., 1216. 1.
[368] P.I.R., 223.
[369] P.I.R. 1133. 1.
[370] P.I.R., 1137. 4.
[371] Ibid., R., 1165. 2.
[372] P.I.R., 319. 1.
[373] Ibid., 3. 33.
[374] Ibid., 1022. 3.
[375] P.I.R., 1200.
[376] P.I.R., 907. 6.
[377] P.I.R., 39. 7.
[378] The following memorandum to accompany a letter from Senor Don Sixto Lopez, Secretary of Senor Don Felipe Agoncillo, to the Honorable the Secretary of State, written January 5, 1899, clearly sets forth this claim:—
"Pursuant to the action of said congress a detailed system of government has been provided for and is actually maintained in all the portions of the Philippine Islands, except so much of the provinces of Manila and Cavite as is now in the actual possession of the American Army, such excepted part containing only about 3 per cent. of the population of the entire islands and an infinitely smaller proportion of their area.
"From the foregoing it will appear that the Philippine government is now, as it has been practically ever since the 16th of June, 1898, in substantially full possession of the territory of the people it represents."—Taylor Ex. 530 57 KU., Congressional Record, June 3, 1902, Vol. 35, part 6, p. 6217.
[379] Blount, p. 70.
[380] "September, 1898.
"Decree
"Although article 11, Chapter 2, of the Organic Decree of June 23 (1898) last, prescribes that the appointment of provisional representatives of Congress be given to persons who have been born or have resided in the provinces which they are to represent; taking into consideration the urgent necessity that said body enter upon its functions immediately, I hereby decree the following:—
"1. The following are appointed provisional Representatives ...
"2. A meeting of Congress is called for the 15th instant, to be held in the town of Malolos, province of Bulacan.
"3. The Secretary of the Interior shall take steps to notify the persons appointed and those elected by the popular commanders in the provinces already occupied by the Revolution, of the call as soon as possible.
"Giv ...."
(Attached hereto is the following, with the names written in Mabini's handwriting:)
"September, 1898.
"Provinces not subject to the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines.
Names Classes Albay Highest class 2. Salvador V. del Rosario and Felipe Buencamino Ilocos Norte do 2. Jose, Antonio Luna Ilocos Sur do 2. Ignacio Villamor, Jose Aleji Isabela de Luzon Third class 1. Ariston Bautista Sorsogon do 1. Jose Albert Cagayan do 1. Pablo Tecson
Abra Pol.-Mil. Govt. 1. Isidro Paredes Nueva Viscaya do 1. Enrique Mendiola Corregidor do Catanduanes do Batanes do Masbate and Ticao Pol.-Mil. 1. Alberto Barreto Comandancia Amburayan do Apayaos do Benguet do 1. Joaquin Luna Binatanga do Bontoc do 1. Fernando Canon Burias do Cayapa do Itaves do Lepanto do 1. Leon Apacible Principe do 1. Mariano Ocampo Quiangan do Tiagan do Cabugauan do Island of Cebu Pol.-Mil. Govt. 2. Cayetano Arellano and of highest Pardo de Tavera class Iloilo, Panay do 2. Gregorio Araneta and Melecio Figueroa Island of Leyte do 1. Leon Guerrero Negros Occidental do 1. Jose Maria de la Vina Island of Samar do Pablo Ocampo Antique, Island of Panay do 1. Hipolito Magsalin Capiz Lowest class 1. Miguel Zaragoza Negros Oriental do 1. Aguedo Velarde Island of Bohol do 1. Juan Manday Gabriel Romblon Pol.-Mil. 1. Vicente Gonzalez Maninang Comandancia Concepion do 1. Mariano V. del Rosario Zamboanga 1st Dist. 1. Pedro A. Paterno Pol.-Mil. Govt. Misamis 2d Dist. do 1. Maximino Paterno Surigao 3d Dist. do 1. Benito Valdes Davao 4th Dist. do 1. Telesforo Chuidian Cotabato 5th Dist. do 1. Enrique Mercaida Basilan 6th Dist. do 1. Juan Tuason
Lanao 7th Dist. do 1. Gonzalo Tuason Dapitan Pol.-Mil. 1. Gonzalo Tuason Comandancia Butuan do Baras is under Pol.-Mil. Govt. of Bahia Illana Levac is under Pol.-Mil. Comandancia of Cottabatto Matti Pol.-Mil. Comandancia Malabang. This Comandancia is under the Military Comandancia of Bahia Illana. Reina Regente. This Comandancia is under the Pol.-Mil. Govt. of Cottabato Bay of Sarangani Pol.-Mil. Comandancia and adjacent islands Tucuran Pol.-Mil. Govt. Island of Jolo do 1. Benito Legarda Siassi Pol.-Mil. Com. Tataan do Bongao do Island of Paragua Pol.-Mil. Govt. 1. Felipe Calderon. Balabac do 1. Manuel Jerez Calamianes do 1. Manuel Genato Marianas Islands do Oriental Carolines do Camarines, North and South Don Tomas del Rosario and Don Cecilio Hilario
Exhibit 226, 76 MG, E, Extract from original in Spanish, A. L. S., P.I.R., 416. 1."
[381] P.I.R., 38. 3.
[382] The 1903 census returns are here used for each of the several peoples.
[383] P.I.R., 485. 1.
[384] P.I.R., 40. 1.
[385] P.I.R., 377. 13.
[386] Ibid., 472. 9.
[387] Ibid., 40. 8.
[388] Ibid., 849. See p. 143.
[389] A general term covering education, public works, agriculture and commerce.
[390] P.I.R., 512. A 5.
[391] P.I.R., 485. 5.
[392] Senate Document 138, Fifty-sixth Congress, First Session.
[393] P.I.R., Books B-6.
[394] P.I.R., 472. 8.
[395] "To the Military Chiefs of the towns mentioned in the margin
[there is nothing in the margin.—TR.]:—
"As there are still many soldiers paying no notice to the order forbidding the waste of cartridges, you are required to give a certain amount of ammunition to each soldier and to see every day if there is any cartridge missing, and if so, inquire into the reason. In order that this may be successfully carried out, I have deemed it proper to prescribe the punishment for such offence, of which you will inform the soldiers under your command, and post this circular in a prominent place. Said punishments are as follows:—
"Art. 1. A soldier found wasting ammunition shall be punished with 12 lashes; in case he commits the same offence again he shall be punished with 24 lashes; and on a further offence of like character by the same soldier, he shall be court-martialled and severely punished.
"Art. 2. A soldier who has been found short of even one cartridge out of the ammunition assigned to him, shall be punished with 12 lashes, provided that he has not previously been in any engagement.
"Art. 3. A soldier who has been found with no cartridges by reason of throwing them away during an engagement, shall be court-martialled, and severely punished.
"I most earnestly recommend you to carefully look after your soldiers and see that every one is complying with the foregoing order.
"This order should be transmitted from one town to another mentioned in the margin, and the last one should return it to this office with the information that the same has been received and complied with by all.
"May God guard you many years.
"E. Aguinaldo, Dictator.
"Cavite, June 17th, 1898."
—P.I.R., 1124. 2.
[396] "November 16, 1900.
(Stamp) "Lacuna Brigade. Headquarters.
"Major Thomas Tagunton: Advise all officers of this brigade that he who allows his soldiers to load their rifles without being before the enemy, shall be liable to capital punishment. If the soldiers intentionally or otherwise fire their pieces, whether in the air or at any determined or undetermined person, said soldiers and the officers to whose command they belong shall also be liable to the same punishment as above, without further proceedings, for the reason that we are almost in front of the enemy, and all the more if the shots take effect upon any of the soldiers or chiefs.
"Sergeants and corporals shall also take heed of the present warnings, as they will also be given the same punishment if they by abandoning their squads allow them to commit certain outrages.
"You will report receipt of and compliance with this order.
"God preserve you many years.
"General Headquarters, November 16, 1900.
(Signed) "Lacuna, General, Political-Military Governor and Chief of Operations."—P.I.R., 643. 1.
[397] Taylor, AJ. 85.
[398] "Kabatuan, Oct. 14th, 1899.
"Edict
"Martin F. Delgado, General and Politico-Military Governor of the Province of Iloilo.
"As a consequence of the frequent assaults and robberies committed by persons wearing military uniforms, and with the determination to correct, with a firm hand, such scandalous conduct, which, besides causing such deeds to be laid at the door of the military, also makes it easier for evil-doers to commit their misdeeds, I have, at the suggestion of the Councillor of Police, ordered the following:—
"1. From this date forward all private citizens are absolutely prohibited from wearing military uniforms.
"2. All authorities, both civil and military, under this Government, are obliged to see to the strict enforcements of this edict.
"3. All persons who, not being in the military service, are, after the publication of this edict, found wearing military uniforms, and who cannot show that they are in the military service, will be suspected as evil-doers and will be sent to this Government to be subjected to the corresponding corrective measures.
* * * * *
(Signed) " Martin Delgado,
"Governor-General-President."
—P.I.R., 881. 4.
[399] "On April 10, 1899, General Delgado wrote that, benignity having failed, rigorous methods would be used to enforce collections and that if the people did not pay—
"'I shall, with great pain, see myself under the necessity of withdrawing all my forces to the mountains and leaving them [the pueblos] to the fate which God will decide upon,' which of course meant that he would leave them to the mercy of the bandits who stood ready to descend upon them."—P.I.R., B., 4.
"This threat was not an idle one."—Taylor, 67 HS. E-L.
[400] "Santa Cruz, Laguna, July, 1899.
"Hon. Sr. Emilio Aguinaldo....
"There was a notorious bandit here who was the terror of the province with his gang; I had him arrested and shot and the robberies ceased. Murders were being committed; I had the murderers caught, shot one of them, and there were no more murders; officers of the reserve would consider themselves kings in their towns, they would shoot the local presidentes and commit other unlawful acts; I disarmed them, and tried the most celebrated one, called Arcadio Castillo, alias Bancucane, who attempted to escape and was killed. With the death of these persons order has been completely reestablished in this province. Several had rifles that were used only for robbery and after two or three trials all turned over their rifles, and the arming of the battalion was completed.
* * * * *
(Signed) "Juan Cailles."
—P.I.R., 7 & 8.
[401] "Regional Revolutionary Government of the Visayas.
"Office of the President.
"Kabatuan, March 16, 1899.
"To the Honourable President of the Philippine Republic,
"Senor Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy,
"Most Distinguished President:
* * * * *
"In order to avoid the distress which the knowledge of the abuses which are already unbearable, daily committed by the troops of Senor Diocno, will cause you, this government has hesitated to communicate them to you, but, as there is almost a reign of terror here, it feels that it must inform you of them in order to remedy them. The death of private individuals and assaults committed in the towns are daily reported as having been committed by the troops of General Diocno. Of the numerous companies of Senor Diocno, only two under the orders of General Araneta fight against the enemy, the remainder are the terror of the town and it is a week since Sr. Diocno went to Capiz without telling any one what he was going to do.
"In view of the facts pointed out, the soldiers of this General constituting a constant danger to the town, this government asks you to order General Diocno to turn over his rifles to us to kill Americans with and to enable the towns to recover their former tranquillity; this government asks this of you, relying upon the well-known justice with which you act and it wishes for you many years of life for our liberty and our independence.
"Kabatuan, March 16, 1899.
(Signed) "Jovito Yusay,
"Temporary President.
(Signed) "Francisco Soriano,
"General Secretary."
—P.I.R., 52. 5.
[402] "Martin Delgado y Bermejo, lieutenant general and general in chief of the republican army of the Visayan Islands.
"General Headquarters of Santa Barbara,
"April 20, 1899.
"The existence of a state of war, and the trying circumstances through which the country is now passing have brought about a complete change in the order of nearly all the pueblos; and I have noticed with profound regret that sacking, robbery, sequestrations, and other crimes highly dishonourable to our noble cause, are of daily occurrence. With a view to preventing such conduct in the future, and in order to guarantee to the inhabitants of the military district under my command the most complete tranquillity, I hereby decree:
"1. That any person or persons who commit acts of brigandage, sequestration, incendiarism, rape, or other disturbances of a public nature calculated to excite the public, or which infringe individual or property rights, shall be severely punished in accordance with military law.
"2. That all offenders who present themselves to the Local or Military Authorities within the 30 days immediately following this date, and who turn over their arms and join our forces and help to fight other outlaws and to defend the nation, will be pardoned for the crimes they have committed.
"3. That when the period of 30 days above mentioned has passed, any person taken in the act of committing robbery, or who attempts to rob with an organized band of outlaws, or who steals, rapes, or performs acts of incendiarism, or any other criminal act, will be summarily condemned to death by a military tribunal.
"The Local Juntas of the various towns in conjunction with citizens of standing and the military authorities will organize a vigilance service to maintain public order and the authority of the law.
"M. Delgado."
—P.I.R., Books B 4.
[403] "February 13, 1899.
(In the margin: A stamp which says:) "Philippine Republic—Headquarters of operations of the provinces of Southern Luzon.
"It is with great regret that I have learned that robberies, assaults, kidnapping, and other crimes which are committed only by barbarous and savage tribes, are taking place in our towns, without taking into consideration that the purpose of the insurrection which has given origin to our social regeneration is true justice, for the reestablishment of which the lives and property are being sacrificed of all who are proud of being called Filipinos. These acts are being committed without restriction by civilians as well as soldiers perhaps with the cooeperation of their respective chiefs, to the shame of the authority vested in them and to the prejudice of the society to which they unworthily belong, and even to the integrity itself of the Republic. And in order that these barbarous and savage acts may disappear and that rigorous and exemplary punishment be meted out, I have deemed it proper to forward to you for general information the proclamation of these Headquarters of February 12th last, which is as follows":
* * * * *
(Signed) "Mariano Trias.
"Lieutenant-General.
"To the Politico-Military Chief of Infanta."—P.I.R., 896-9.
[404] "There does not seem to have been the faintest conception that there was any reason for not using the white flag to deceive people who were foolish enough to believe that Aguinaldo was going to adhere to the rules prescribed for its use. The writer in the early spring of 1899 once watched an insurgent party advance under a white flag upon an American line of trenches. When an officer and a bugler went forward to receive them they threw down the flag and immediately opened fire with the rifles which they were then seen to be dragging behind them."—Taylor, 48 HS.
[405] "Such ammunition was not effective unless fired from very close quarters, but even its possession made the guerrillas stronger than the people of the country and undoubtedly had much to do with securing their cooeperation, not only as bolomen but also in the digging of the pits which were placed in the trails and also set about the towns. These were required to be constructed by the local authorities. In the bottom was set a sharp spike of bamboo, sometimes poisoned; and the pit was covered with leaves and soil upon a fragile framework; so that if a man stood upon it he would fall through upon the spike. Bows were set in the jungle with a string set across the trail so that any one stumbling over it would discharge a sharp bamboo shaft with a poisoned head. On September 18, 1900, Lukban congratulated the people of the town of Katubig upon the efficient use they had made of arrows with the heads dipped in 'dita,' a native poison. (P.I.R., 502. 8.)"
—Taylor, 83 HS.
[406] See also the chapter entitled "Murder as a Governmental Institution."
[407] See p. 313.
[408] The following newspaper supplement printed in Tagalog for the benefit of the common people, is typical of this class of literature, with which the country was kept flooded:
(Circular printed in Tagalog. P.I.R., 17-6. Supplement to Heraldo Filipino.
"Friday, 24th February, 1899.
"Countrymen:
"We must consider ourselves fortunate that the bad intentions of North America were found out early. If we had not found them out by this time we should have been entrapped. And we should thank God that they commenced the war.
"You ought to know by this time that these people can teach us nothing good. What we can learn from them is all evil. You must admit the truth of what they are reported to do to our brothers in Manila where they rob the houses when the dwellers in them are out or busy. Their evil inclinations prevail over them to such an extent that the houses most worthy of consideration are not safe. They are worse than the wild people who live in the woods, they have not the slightest idea of looking at things from the point of view of a man of honour nor have they the slightest respect for reason, for this does not control their actions in the least. Without the slightest attention to civility they rush into houses and if they find the people eating, without saying a word, they take what they want from the table, put it into their mouths and go as they came.
"If they find people sleeping or resting, taking the siesta, it makes no difference to them; they go into the most private parts of the house as though they were walking in the street.
"In the shops they take what pleases them and if the owner wants payment they threaten him with their rifles.
"One can hardly believe and my pen refuses to write all of the perversity, and evil and bad habits of these people.
"Their habits and manners are a disgrace to the country where they were born. In no history have such customs and manners been described even in that of the most ignorant people.
"They search women who pass, feeling all over their bodies, taking from them money and whatever else they carry and if they come on them in a lonely place they strip them naked after violating them and do not leave a rag on them.
"Are these those honest men of whom we have heard? Are these the people who were going to teach us good habits? Are these the people who were going to guide us? The race which does these things is the most hated one in the world, it is the race which commits most cruelties, it is the race which does not treat its mother with respect; in this race there is not the slightest idea of personal dignity, it is a race which does not know what honour is, which does not possess the slightest vestige of regard for good manners. Are these the people who are going to protect us? It is better for us to die at once than fall into the power of these unequalled malefactors.
"iDown with the bad men!
"iKill the Americans!!
"iLet the people of the United States be exterminated!!!
"iNotice.—This sheet is distributed gratis."
[409] "A light upon the treatment of women by these people is given by the fact that after an American detachment had captured Lukban's papers and family on August 18, and came so close to taking him that he was able to recognize their guide, one of his correspondents wrote to him that to their surprise the women, who had fully expected to be abused, had been treated with respect and given a house to live in. (P.I.R., 1143.4.)"—Taylor, 84 HS.
[410] In a letter to General Ambrosio Moxica from ——— dated March 2, 1900, occurs the following:—
"The guerillas quartered in the neighbourhood must render mutual assistance and keep up communication, so as to get the news as to where the enemy comes or goes, and the time at which they will pass certain points, endeavouring also to arrange that all the guerilla bands should have regular couriers, with you or with general headquarters, giving advice daily of any occurrence and carrying correspondence. They must select trustworthy women to carry correspondence, charging them to hide the letters underneath their skirts, bearing in mind that the Americans do not search them; and in sending to the towns for arms or food, the orders must be sent by women and for small quantities, so as not to attract attention."—P.I.R., 2035. 3.
[411] Simeon Villa, who accompanied Aguinaldo on his long flight, kept a somowhat detailed account of events in the form of a diary.
[412] P.I.R., 869.
[413] Ibid.
[414] P.I.R., 2035. 3.
[415] P.I.R., 886. 13.
[416] Exhibit 1233
(Original in Spanish. Contemporary copy. P.I.R., Books B. 4.)
"General Headquarters, Santa Barbara, Feb. 28th, 1899."
(Literal copy of telegram.)
* * * * *
"Casualties, Americans, on 6th, 2000 Colonels dead, one General; all churches converted into hospitals full American wounded; total American casualties 7000 confirmed by General Fullon just arrived from Malolos; says also Iloilo quiet and not taken.
* * * * *
"A true copy
"By order of Chief of Staff.
"Juan Beloso."
[417] (Supplement to the Filipino Herald.)
"Thursday, Feb. 23rd, 1899.—4 P.M.
"The Filipino Army occupies the suburbs of Manila.
* * * * *
"The three columns commanded by Generals Pio del Pilar and Licerio and Col. Hizon now occupy the suburbs of Sampaloc, San Miguel, San Sebastian, Binondo, San Nicholas and Tondo.
"The Cavite battalion has possession of the Cuartel de Meisic and our flag is now flying there.
"Six Thousand Americans Besieged!!!
"The American troops now in Caloocan and La Loma to the number of over six thousand are besieged by the columns commanded by Generals Luna, Llanera and Garcia.
"The Honourable President
"This very moment the special train carrying the Honourable President has left for Caloocan.
"Viva the independent Philippines!!!
"Viva the unconquerable Philippine Army!!!
"Notice. This sheet is distributed gratis."—P.I.R., 70-6.
[418] (News.) The American General, MacArthur, with his entire staff, was taken prisoner by our troops in Northern Luzon. Another American general died on the 5th of January last in the North, who was seriously wounded in an ambush or fight. When shot he was a colonel, but on account of said fight he was promoted to the rank of a general, so that later when he died, he had the benefit of that rank."—P.I.R., 2035. 3.
[419] (Telegrams)
"Washington, January 15, 1900, 10 A.M.
"(Received, Cebu, January 16, 1900, 11 A.M.)
"Owing to a new disaster of the Union Army, MacKinley has tendered his resignation as President, Mr. Bryan succeeding him.
"Peace promulgated in the Philippines. Basis of the protectorate is being discussed.
"Philippine independence will be proclaimed February the 4th.
"Remark.—The basis of a protectorate has been published in English."
"Manila, January 20, 1900, 10 A.M.
"(Received at Cebu on the same day, at 11 A.M.)
"Otis' successor, John Waterly, of the democratic party, has just arrived. He brings with him papers and instructions in regard to proclamation of the Philippine Republic.
"It is believed that Rev. Martin, Bishop of Cebu, will be transferred to the Archbishopric of Manila, and Rev. Nozaleda to Spain."—P.I.R., Books B-10.
[420] P.I.R., 1193. 2.
[421] Ibid., 2025.
[422] Taylor, 47 HS.
[423] Beginning on page 730.
[424] Taylor, 36 GV, Exhibit 1017.
[425] Taylor, 28 HS.
[426] P.I.R., 1021.6.
[427] Unhusked rice.
[428] Village.
[429] 153, according to Blount himself.
[430] "Nor can the ultimate responsibility before the bar of history for the awful fact that, according to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Atlas of the Philippines of 1899, the population of Batangas province was 312,192, and according to the American Census of the Philippines of 1903, it was 257,715, rest entirely on military shoulders."—Blount, pp. 383-384.
[431] Blount, p. 597.
[432] See Chapters XI and XII.
[433] Taylor, 13 KK, E.
[434] Taylor, 15 and 16 KK, E.
[435] "Pope" Isio was the last of a series of bandit leaders, claiming for themselves miraculous powers, who long infested the mountains of Negros.
[436] P.I.R., 970. 7.
[437] P.I.R., 1134-1.
[438] P.I.R., 17. 9.
[439] For the full text of these instructions, see appendix.
[440] "Mr. McKinley sent Mr. Taft out, in the spring preceding the election of 1900, to help General MacArthur run the war."—Blount. The Taft Commission was sent out, to 'aid' General MacArthur, as the Schurman Commission had 'aided' General Otis."—Blount.
[441] "In February, 1899, the dogs of war being already let loose, President McKinley had resumed his now wholly impossible Benevolent Assimilation programme, by sending out the Schurman Commission, which was the prototype of the Taft Commission, to yearningly explain our intentions to the insurgents, and to make clear to them how unqualifiedly benevolent those intentions were. The scheme was like trying to put salt on a bird's tail after you have flushed him."—Blount.
[442] P.I.R., 1300. 2.
[443] A brand of whiskey then much in use.
[444] For the text of this document see the Appendix, p. 977.
[445] In view of the alleged attitude of General Otis toward the work of the Commission, the following statement by him as to the effect of this proclamation is of interest:—
General Otis said: "It was unanimously decided to print, publish, post, and disseminate as much as possible among the inhabitants under insurgent domination this address, printing the same in the English, Spanish, and Tagalog languages. This was done, but scarcely had it been posted in Manila twenty-four hours before it was so torn and mutilated as to be unrecognizable. It suffered the same fate as the proclamation of January 4, set out in pages 113 and 114 of this report, but it produced a marked beneficial influence on the people, especially those outside our lines, as it carried with it a conviction of the United States' intentions, on account of the source from which it emanated, it being an expression from a committee of gentlemen especially appointed to proclaim the policy which the United States would pursue."
—Taylor, 90 AJ.
Taylor adds: "The commander of one of the regiments of sandatahan in Manila reported that he had forced the people of the city to destroy the proclamations issued by the commission (P.I.R., 73. 9). As he found this necessary, the action of the people could hardly have reflected their real feelings in the matter."
[446] Taylor, 96 AJ.
[447] Ibid.
[448] Taylor, 97 AJ.
[449] Taylor, 97 AJ.
[450] Ibid.
[451] Nominally they were named by Aguinaldo.
[452] Report of the Philippine Commission to the President, Vol. I, 1900, p. 9.
[453] Now chief justice of the Philippine Supreme Court.
[454] Blount, p. 235.
[455] Blount, p. 105.
[456] Report Philippine Commission, Vol. I, p. 183.
[457] P. 981.
[458] September 15, 1913.
[459] The building where the executive offices of the insular government have been located since the American occupation.
[460] Taylor, 18 HS.
[461] This name is applied to certain provinces organized under special acts because the majority of their inhabitants are non-Christians.
[462] Tayabas, Romblon, Masbate, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Cebu, Bohol, Occidental Negros, Oriental Negros, Leyte, Albay, Ambos, Camarines, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Batangas, Surigao, and Misamis.
[463] Obviously a misprint, perhaps, for "perusal of."
[464] Blount, p. 380.
[465] For further details see pp. 746; 753.
[466] A native surf boat.
[467] See Chapters XXI-XXIV.
[468] Chap. XV.
[469] Chap. XIV.
[470] Chap. XVI.
[471] Chap. XVII.
[472] Chap. XVIII.
[473] See Chapter XIX.
[474] Chap. XXX.
[475] Chap. XXX.
[476] Chap. XXXI.
[477] Chap. XXXII.
[478] Chapter XXVII.
[479] Chapters XIV, XXII, XXIII and XXIV.
[480] Reply to Jones, Pamphlet, Manila, 1913.
[481] See pp. 375-77.
[482] See pp. 357-77.
[483] Under the new regime these figures have been reversed.
[484] See Chapters XX-XXIV.
[485] "The merit system has received renewed support from President Roosevelt in his administration, and by the extension of civil service throughout the nation, as well as in our new possessions. The Philippine service is reported to be very satisfactory, and efforts are being made for the extension and larger development of regulations in Porto Rico."
[486] "From the President down, every official charged with a duty touching the government of our dependencies is imbued with a profound sense of duty, and adequate realization of the situation and the imperative necessity of an unselfish, patriotic execution of the laws and regulations in the interest of the highest welfare of the inhabitants of the dependencies. With this state of affairs, the establishment of the merit system in them on an enduring basis should follow as a matter of course. It will be the aim of this Committee to aid in every possible way in extending and improving the system, and to that end to give to the whole subject careful and detailed study."
[487] No data for 1906 available.
[488] Eight passed last year.
[489] He now receives $9000.
[490] Male servant.
[491] Two weeks at Christmas and ten weeks in April, May and June.
[492] Blount, p. 425.
[493] Blount, p.430.
[494] Native dugouts.
[495] See p. 998.
[496] Female servant.
[497] Men appointed to assist the judge in deciding questions of fact. Their decision is not binding on him.
[498] Here [i.e. in me] you have a new servant.
[499] Malaria.
[500] A strong alcoholic drink commonly made by diluting low-grade alcohol with water and flavouring it.
[501] There was one stray case in March.
[502] "To the Editor of El Soberania Nacional, Manila, P.I.
"Sir: In your issue of the 7th of July there appeared a paragraph embodying a shameful libel of the administration of the San Lazaro Hospital, which reads as follows:
"'Un cuadro verdaderamente aterrador es el que prezenta el patio del Hospital de San Lazaro. Los fallecidos por la enfermedad del colera, son expuestos desnudos en el atrio de dicho Hospital con un cartel atado en los pies con la inscripcion de sus respectivos nombres.'
"This statement was so grossly and ridiculously false and at the same time so extremely harmful in its effect as to bring you fairly and squarely within the reach of the law.
"Yesterday morning I sent you a courteous letter requesting you to come to my office, purposing to discuss the affair with you in a friendly manner, and hoping to find that the statement referred to had been prepared by some irresponsible subordinate and published through oversight.
"As, however, you have neither acceded to my request for a conference nor had the courtesy to reply to my letter, I now have the honour to forward you herewith a communication which embodies a reply to the false statement above referred to and at the same time conveys information as to what is actually being done at the San Lazaro Hospital. I request that you give this letter immediate publicity through your paper, and in the editorial columns or elsewhere in some conspicuous place retract immediately and fully the libellous statement relative to the exposure of the dead, above referred to.
"Kindly advise me of your intention in the matter. The bearer of this communication has instructions to wait for your reply. I shall interpret failure to hear from you by return messenger as refusal to retract this slander and to publish the enclosed communication, and shall act accordingly.
"Very respectfully,
"Dean C. Worcester,
"Secretary of the Interior."
[503] Just before I left Manila in October, 1913, cholera reappeared there.
[504] Sept. 15, 1913.
[505] The first organization of American physicians in the Philippines was the Manila Medical Association, from which the Philippine Island Medical Association ultimately developed.
[506] Now a major-general.
[507] About 28.7 miles.
[508] May 1, 1913.
[509] Captain Meade.
[510] He had the volunteer rank of colonel, but was a major in the regular army.
[511] Report of the Philippine Commission, Part 1, 1903, p. 58.
[512] May 1, 1913.
[513] April 15, 1913.
[514] May 1, 1913.
[515] This rate, for the fiscal year 1913, was 3.33 per thousand for Filipinos and 2.49 per thousand for Americans.
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