The Katipunan Part 19

Foreman was a traveller in machinery and as such was enabled to get to all the princ.i.p.al parts of the Archipelago. He was, as he himself confesses, always well received in the pueblos, and greeted by the parish priests (friars) and lodged in the convents free of cost. Although Foreman did not perform vile practical jokes upon unsuspecting and inoffensive hosts as did the now "commissioner"

Worcester in his travels, he did many things no honorable man would have done. Although he professed himself a Catholic it was only for "business" purposes; one has only to read the preface to his book to find that out.

Foreman was an Englishman, disliked by the English, despised by everyone he came in contact with; and if the things said of him by his intimate acquaintances, are true, then he well deserved the snubs he has lately received all round.

On the 17th of April 1899, before the members of the Schurman Commission, Neil Macleod testified of Foreman, as follows:

Questioned by Worcester:

Q. Have you read Foreman's book?

A. Yes; I know him personally.

Q. Was he a Catholic?

A. I do not know.

Q. He says so?

A. Yes.

Q. He is an engineer, isn't he?

A. He has been here frequently travelling all over the country, selling machinery.

Q. You know he attacks the Church?

A. He attacks the church very much, and he ought to be very thankful to the priests, for they have been very good to him; ...............

considering that he availed himself of their services and hospitality all over the country, he should have thought twice before putting a thing like that (his history) into print."

Worcester was fis.h.i.+ng for trout and caught a crab. He got enough and the subject ... suddenly changed.

[39] See Appendix G.

[40] Philippinos: insular Spaniards, or Spaniards born in the Philippines. Filipino: more commonly known as indio: that is, an indian native of the Archipelago.

[41] For this decree see Appendix H.

[42] He was conducted from calle Iris blindfolded in a quilez (a vehicle of the country) to a house which he later on discovered to be that of Bonifacio, situated in calle Oroquieta.

[43] In an official letter of the Grand Secretary of the Oriente Espanol to the Lodge Nilad, dated Madrid 8th of June 1892, the secretary, warning the said lodge to be careful in the performance of its labors says: "... not all men, although they profess our ideas and doctrines, serve for good masons."

[44] "The oath bound (the Katipuneros) as well as the militares (the rebel army) were to be supported and equipped by several wealthy persons of Manila, among them D. Francisco Roxas who was in charge of the maintenance of the rebel army." Testimony of 2nd Lieut Benedicto Nijaga y Polonio. (fols. 222-224)

[45] See Appendix I.

[46] Wildman will probably be long remembered by many who suffered brutalities and tortures at the hands of Aguinaldo's horde of cut-throats, inspired by the late Consul's advise.

Correspondence took place between Aguinaldo and Wildman concerning the Spanish prisoners. In reply to a request of the Dictator, Wildman wrote:

"Never mind feeding them. A meal every day, of course, and water will be a good diet. They have been living too high during the last few years. As the Spaniards want more bloodshed in the Philippines, I trust you will let them have a taste of real war. Do not be so tender with them, etc., etc."

Little did Wildman think that the day would come when these words of his would inspire equal or greater barbarity against his own countrymen.

The publication of the valuable papers in Wildman's possession at the time of his death in the s.h.i.+pwreck which occurred almost at the very door of his home would doubtless throw much light upon the past four years of Philippine history. The s.h.i.+pment of tons upon tons of ammunition, a large s.h.i.+pment of which left London on the "Inaba Maru,"

on the 25th of September 1899, addressed to the "American Consul", Hong-Kong, have yet to be accounted for.

[47] There were always plenty of funds, but the money too often stuck to the fingers of those who had the handling of it.

[48] A name given among Spaniards, to young servant boys or girls. The word signifies servant and is used as such in the same manner as in British Oriental colonies the word boy is used,--irrespective of age.

[49] Nipa.--Nipa fructificans.--Nipa is a small palm which grows in salt water. From it the natives make a species of wine and vinegar, whilst its leaves serve to thatch their houses. It is one of the plants of most utility to the indian.

[50] The reason for Rizal's deportation is set forth clearly in the decree of Deportation which is given entire in Appendix.

[51] As a sample of these statements I will quote the following doc.u.ment, which is one of a number copied from a book of decrees received by the Revolutionary authorities of the pueblo of Mendez Nunez, province of Cavite,

"K. K. K."

"Chiefs of each pueblo"

"In the urgent letter received to-day from the General (Aguinaldo) concrete notice is given that to-day there have anch.o.r.ed the wars.h.i.+ps proceeding from j.a.pan to our a.s.sistance, and it is said, that they are now just on the other side of the island of Corregidor...."

This doc.u.ment is dated 11th September 1896, and is signed by El capitan comandante, Crisstomo Riel.

[52] What a fine president he would have made for the Federal Party! Castaneda was worthy of an office in the Ayuntamiento with a sign over the door--Hon. Juan Castaneda, Native Commissioner.

[53] Ambrosio Flores: (bro. musa) was the Gr. Pres. of the Gr. Cons. Reg. of the Philippines. (See note 23)--Moises Salvador stated of him in his declaration (fols. 1,138-1,143), in reply to a question as to the manner in which Flores was affiliated to filibusterism, that "by reason of his high position in freemasonry, he aided the ends of the filibusters, making propaganda among those affiliated to the lodges." He stated, at the same time that Flores, in no concept, formed part of the Liga or Compromisarios. It was Ambrosio Flores who, at the opportune moment let fall the masonic sledge hammer upon the back of Pedro Serrano, charging him with being a traitor (see note 12) to the cause.

[54] I have frequently quoted the "Memoria" of Isabelo de los Reyes, because I consider that whilst in it he exaggerates and lies considerably, there are yet points upon which what he says has all the probability of the truth, in as much as when he finds it pays to tell the truth he tells it. In this particular point, however, it is "according to what is said."

[55] How much this reminds me of the story of the little boy who went to the grocer's and asked for 10 cents worth of mola.s.ses. The shop-keeper measured out the mola.s.ses into the jug and asked the little boy for the dime, receiving the reply: "its at the bottom of the jug." And that's just where the other little boy's money would have been.

[56] In the official extract of advice given by the Secret Service to the Gov. Gen. Blanco, we read: "Aug 1. Notice is hereby given that, by references from j.a.pan, the Gov. Gen. has received from the Emperor of that nation some messages which had been directed to him by some 22,000 Filipinos in representation of the native inhabitants of these islands, and in the which, after congratulating him for his triumphs over the Chinese Empire, asks his protection and shelter for this Archipelago, and its annexation to the j.a.panese Empire."

[57] The word Kongo signifies Imperial diamond.

[58] The Bazar j.a.pones situated in Plaza Moraga.

[59] Typical of the heads of the twelve apostles of filibusterism.

[60] In his "Memoria".

[61] I am inclined to differ somewhat with this opinion. What is more probable is that as regards the actual members.h.i.+p there existed a gulf between the wealthy and the lower cla.s.ses which was bridged by the representatives of either a.s.sociation. I have not come across any concrete evidence that the two elements really mixed, the one with the other; the inborn pride of the Chinese half caste, the cla.s.s from which, the majority of the wealthy elements came, and of the indio of money or political "pull", would not permit such a mixture of the two a.s.sociations Senor Valdes supposes.

[62] See appendix A.