September 2, 1896.]. ..
its corruption, and they were circulated in all parts of the world. On the 6th of this month the doctor, who is rather a young man, was quietly taken from the fortress at Dapitan and conveyed to the steamer Espana, on which he was taken to Manila. He was then put on board the gunboat Otalora and afterwards transferred to the cruiser Castilla, where he was detained up to the time the Esmeralda left Manila. His destination | was then unknown, but we learned yesterday that he had been sent to Cuba-rather an unlikely place to send him to. However, our informant of this particular version states that the priests were so incensed at the presence of Dr. Risal that they determined to make it appear to the Spanish Government that his near presence, even on board a man-of-war, was likely to promote a renewal of discontent amongst the natives, who looked upon him as one of their first champions. The priests concocted cock-and-bull stories about the impending danger and stoutly averred that the natives were only waiting for Dr. Rizal to land, when they would rebel, overthrow the Government, and take the reins themselves. The truth was, this gentleman went on to say, the natives desired peace and a relief from the oppression of the priests, but he indignantly denied that the dissatisfied ones ever dreamt of rising in arms against the priests. The priests, and the priests alone, were to blame. He was confident there would be no fighting.
Having given these versions of the con- spiracy, or the discontent, or whatever the trouble can be called, we quote the following observations which appear in Mr. Foreman's book "The Philippine Islands," which will doubtless be read with much interest:--
"Almost each generation has called forth the strong arm of the conqueror to repress native aspirations of liberty in one island or another, Whilst the flame of rebellion has as often been kindled by sacerdotal despotism as by official rapacity.
"In the present century several vain attempts to subvert Spanish authority have been made ; notably in 1823, when a body of disaffected native troops, headed by their captain-a creole named Andrés-conspired to seize the capital
and assume Government.
The rising was quickly subdued by the Governor-General in person, who, with Spanish troops, fortunately dispersed the rebels, their chiefs being captured and executed.
In 1827 the standard of sedition was raised in Cebu and a few towns of that island, but these disturbances were speedily stifled by the influence of the Spanish Friars. In 1844, dur- ing a rising in Negros Island, the Spanish Governor was killed. The cause is said to have been due to the Governor having compelled the State prisoners to labour for his private account.
"In 1872 a most daring effort was made to throw off the Spanish yoke; the centre of the plot being Cavite. A number of native soldiers took part in these events; and it was convened between the conspirators in Cavite and their accomplices in Manila that the signal for the outbreak should be given by those in the capital, who were to fire off a rocket on the night that they would be ready for simultaneous action. It happened, however, that those in Cavite mistook the fireworks of a suburban feast for the signal agreed upon, and they unwittingly commenced the revolt, unsupported by their comrades across the bay.
FC
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. sifficient in number to attend to the cure of souls. The native party consequently declared that the Friars retained their incumbencies illegally and by intrusion, in view of the sufficiency of Philippine and Spanish secular priests. Had the Council of Trent enactments been carried out to the letter, undoubtedly the religious corporations in the Philippines were doomed to comparative political impotence. The Spanish religious faction, therefore, in- sisted upon the extreme penalty of the law being inflicted upon their opponents, and Dr. Joseph Burgos with three other native priests were executed on the Luneta, by the seashore near Manila, whilst several of the native clergy and laymen were banished.
Y
"This insurrection coincided so opportunely with the desire to attaint Father Burgos and his partisans that perhaps future historians will throw a clear light upon the real instigators of the Carite tragedy. The rising appears to have been carefully planned, and the form of revolutionary government had been discussed, if we can give credit to the bill of indictment put forward by the public prose- cutor. The clerical party can better elucidate these recent events.
"Some of the accused in this revolt, who pro- tested their innocence, were banished to the Marianas Islands, whence a few escaped to foreign countries. Of those personally known to me, one is a successful lawyer now residing near London, and three are still in Hongkong. In 1899 I visited a penal settlement in Mindanao Island, and during my stay at the director's native convict who is said to have been Louse I was every day served at table by the nominated by the Cavite insurgents to the Civil Governorship of Manila.
"Great praise is due to Colonel Sabas, who, with landable courage, crushed a conspiracy which, had it spread beyond the limits designed by its secret promoters in seclusion, would have produced a state of protracted anarchy intensi- fied by the return, whilst it lasted, of the way- ward native to their savage instincts, for they are far from being able to govern themselves on any civilized plan.”
31st August.
|
Fotest
"Madrid, 22nd August. The conspiracy, discovered and the Philippines, has raised a unani throughout Spain, and the punishment of the conspirators is demanded.
"His Majesty's Government declares that it - has confidence in the ability General Blanco to solve the situation.
"All parties offer their co-operation to nip the affair in the bud.”
From this telegram it logically follows that the information supplied by General Blanco has led the Spanish Government to believe that in these islands there exists a separatist conspiracy ...*** In this General Blanco has iniquitously imposed on the good faith of His Majesty's Government and the public of Spain. -
To what is 'General Blanco indebted for his recent promotion? To the loyalty and ready obedience of the Philippine soldiers in the island of Mindanao, who, at their officers' word of command, were ready to sacrifice their lives. without protest. The honour conferred upon him his conscience should tell him he owes to them.
Can General Blanco say that anywhere in the Philippines there exists a true separatist.con- spiracy which he has discovered and thwarted F The country to whom he owes his promotion asks only for his good will, that he will not sacrifice its inhabitants to his crafty ambition, that he will not drag them from their homes by arbitrary deportations, the consequences of which are most melancholy. The loyalty of the natives towards the mother country has been, is, and always will be indissoluble.
pines, let the Government of His Majesty and
If there exists any conspiracy in the Philip all the nations of Europe know that it is contrived and elaborated in the Palace General Blanco himself, in that of the Arch- bishop, Fray Nozaleda, and in the convents of the Friars, that it is not directed to separation, but, as regards the first named, to secure praise in his military career and other peculiar advantages of a pecuniary nature; and, as regards the latter, that they may be constituted the priestly rulers of the Philippines, that they may exhibit their satan power in the face of this unhappy country and make the Government believe that they are the Further particulars are to hand concerning true and indispensable guardians of the national the conspiracy in Manila. They strongly support integrity. This policy has been steadily and for the agitation, their object being, as was the idea that the priests are alone responsible profitably followed in these islands, which they have held and exploited for more than three stated in our account on Saturday, to prejudice centuries, now by terror, now by measures the natives in the eyes of the Spanish Govern of deceit, while they try to keep the natives in ment by spreading absurd fabrications about ignorance that the Friars have succeeded in their increasing restlessness and thereby in-building up a colossal fortune and a sovereign ducing the Government to send a few regiments power. The Philippinos who oppose their of soldiers of true Spanish blood in order to dark doings or do not submit to their robbery safeguard the priests authority. More natives and exploitation are held to be orin have been thrown into prison, and it is also are persecuted without mercy, are banished to reported that an American named Collins has Jolo, the Mariannes, Balabac, Iligan, etc., been apprehended. The Yuensang arrived from executed on the beach at Bagang bayan, because Manila on Saturday morning and reports that the Friars, haughty, vengeful, cruel, theocra- as she was about to leave on the 26th August tical, etc., intrigue to make it appear that there the captain was crdered to remain in the is a conspiracy amongst the natives, the con- harbour. After waiting for about five hours spiracy being promoted and subventioned by the the Customs officials came on board and arrested Friars themselves, who afterwards denounce to two first class passengers who had taken tickets the authorities such and such Philippinos for Hongkong. They were natives of Manila (enemies of the ambitions Friars) as the and the reason given for their arrest was that authors. This is the explanation of the conspi- they had taken an active part in stirring up racies or revolts which, it is said, there have strife. The vessel was then allowed to proceed. been and are in this unfortunate country. They are all plots of the Friars for their own peculiar on her voyage. It is further reported that the
ends, provoked exclusively by them, but to the President, Treasurer, and Secretary of an asso- ciation alleged to have been concerned in the prejudice of these unhappy islands and of the conspiracy have been arrested. There is also Metropolis a story that some of the leaders are in Hong- kong and Japan and that arms have been sent from Japan to Manila, but of course it is difficult to say whether any reliance can be placed in these reports.
The following letter has been addressed to the Editor of the Daily Press from Manila
The disaffected soldiers took possession of the arsenal and made a firm resistance, whilst others attacked the influential Europeans. The loyal troops were called out, the arsenal was retaken, and all the rebels who escaped death were taken prisoners. The origin of this
Sir,-There being no free press in this capital tumult was native opposition to the Spanish of the unfortunate Philippines Archipelago -Friars A certain Dr. Joseph Burgos (Philip through which an energetic protest might be pine born) had headed a party which urged the made against the arbitrary deportation of honor exclusion of Triars from parochial inoumable men which this despotic Government is bencies and called for the fulfilment of the
now carrying out with impunity, I address Council of Trent decisions, which prohibited myself to you, most earnestly requesting you to Frist from holding benefices. It appears that translate into English and insert in your the Friars, nevertheless, secured these ecole-
stical preferments by virtue of Papal Bulls columns this solemn protest, which, in the name
subsequent Popes, who anthorized parish priests, not in perpetuity, long as secular clergymen were in-
!
y country, I make against such outrageous oppression. No doubt you have seen the Comerico of the 24th August, in which the following telegram appears :*
Banton
Gene
Despujols
Will these Friars tell us whence came the kegs of powder and firearms concealed in the ground in the village of Pandacan, near this city? Will they tell us whence came, those subversive and revolutionary proclamations, edited by themselves and printed Asilo de Huerfanos, which is under of the Augustine during the gover Criminal pros nection and Intr shown to was the result thousands of d they acquired s to their power land
thing done They alw outrageous
the
nunity even for their.
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