The Philippines: Past and Present Volume II Part 55

"'In order to carry out the complete destruction of that accursed army of drunkards and thieves, it is indispensable that we all work in unison, and that orders issued from this war office be faithfully carried out.

"'As soon as you receive this circular, measures will be taken for strict compliance with the following orders:

"'(1) Such measures will be taken that at 8 o'clock at night the members of the territorial militia under orders will be ready to go into the street with their arms and ammunition to occupy San Pedro street and such cross streets as open into it.

"'(2) The defenders of the Philippines under your orders will attack the Zorilla barracks and the Bilibid guard, and liberate all the prisoners, arming them in the most practical manner in order that they may aid their brethren and work out our revenge; to this end the following address shall be made to them:

"'Brethren: The Americans have insulted us and we must revenge ourselves upon them by annihilating them.

"'This is the only means for obtaining justice, for the many outrages and infamies of which we have been the object. All the Filipinos in Manila will second us. May the blood of the traitors run in torrents! Long live the independence of the Philippines!

"'(3) The servants of the houses occupied by the Americans and Spaniards shall burn the buildings in which their masters live in such a manner that the conflagration shall be simultaneous in all part of the city.

"'The signals for carrying this into effect--shall be to send up two red paper balloons and the firing of rockets with lights and firecrackers.

"'(4) The lives of the Filipinos only shall be respected, and they shall not be molested, with the exception of those who have been pointed out as traitors.

"'All others of whatsoever race they may be shall be given no quarter and shall be exterminated, thus proving to foreign countries that America is not capable of maintaining order or defending any of the interests which she has undertaken to defend.

"'(5) The sharpshooters of Tondo and Santa Ana shall be the first to open fire and those on the outside of the Manila lines shall second their attack, and thus the American forces will find themselves between two fires. The militia of Trozo, Binondo, Kyapo (Quiapo), and Sampalok shall follow up the attack. All must go into the streets and perform their duties.

"'The militiamen of Paco, Ermita, Malate, Santa Cruz, and San Miguel shall attack when firing has become general everywhere, which will be approximately about 12 o'clock at night; but if they see that their comrades are in danger before that time they shall give them the proper a.s.sistance and go into the streets whenever it becomes necessary.

"'The Spanish militia enlisted as volunteers in our army shall go out at 3 o'clock in the morning and attack Fort Santiago.

"'Brethren, the country is in danger and we must rise to save it. Europe sees that we are feeble, but we will demonstrate that we know how to do as should be done, shedding our blood for the salvation of our outraged country. Death to the tyrant! War without quarter to the false Americans who wish to enslave us! Independence or death!

"'A. Luna.

"'Malolos, February 7, 1899.

"'Colonel Jose: By order of General Luna, have several copies of this made, in order that these instructions may be communicated to all.'"--Senate Doc.u.ment 331, part 2, p. 1912, Fifty-seventh Congress, First Session.

[137] Major F. S. Bourns.

[138] Dr. Manuel Xerez Burgos.

[139] This is the "note by compiler on exhibit 816," which is Luna's order.

[140] Taylor, 96 FZ.

[141] Taylor, 99 FZ.

[142] Ibid., 44 HS.

[143] Blount, p. 313.

[144] Taylor, 70 HS.

[145] "In December, 1900, the people of the town of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur, seized the guerilla commander of the town because he had raped some women, and then burnt their acts of adhesion to the insurgent government. They declared themselves adherents of the Americans, proceeded to give them all possible aid and a.s.sistance, and captured and delivered to them all the guerillas who dared enter the place (P. I. R., Books C-13)."--Taylor, 45 HS.

[146] P. I. R., Books A-9, No. 39.

[147] Taylor, 37 HS.

[148] Taylor, 28-29 HS.

[149] The essential part of the resolution reads as follows:--

"Whereas since the completion and publication of said census there have been no serious disturbances of the public order save and except those caused by the noted outlaws and bandit chieftains Felizardo and Montalon, and their followers in the Provinces of Cavite and Batangas, and those caused in the Provinces of Samar and Leyte by the non-Christian and fanatical pulajanes resident in the mountain districts of the said provinces and the barrios contiguous thereto; and

"Whereas the overwhelming majority of the people of the said Provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Samar, and Leyte have not taken part in said disturbances and have not aided nor abetted the lawless acts of said bandits and pulajanes; and

"Whereas the great ma.s.s and body of the Filipino people have, during said period of two years, continued to be law-abiding, peaceful, and loyal to the United States, and have continued to recognize and do now recognize the authority and sovereignty of the United States in the territory of said Philippine Islands: Now, therefore, be it

"Resolved by the Philippine Commission in formal session duly a.s.sembled, That it, said Philippine Commission, do certify, and it does hereby certify, to the President of the United States that for a period of two years after the completion and publication of the census a condition of general and complete peace, with recognition of the authority of the United States, has continued to exist and now exists in the territory of said Philippine Islands not inhabited by Moros or other non-Christian tribes; and be it further

"Resolved by said Philippine Commission, That the President of the United States be requested, and is hereby requested, to direct said Philippine Commission to call a general election for the choice of delegates to a popular a.s.sembly of the people of said territory in the Philippine Islands, which a.s.sembly shall be known as the Philippine a.s.sembly."--Journal of the Commission, Vol. I, pp. 8-9.

[150] A designation applied by the Spaniards to people who had taken to the hills to avoid paying taxes or to escape abuses, or punishment for crimes.

[151] A Tagalog designation applied to the common people, and especially to field labourers.

[152] See p. 699 et seq.

[153] Mabini's "True Decalogue," published as a part of his const.i.tutional programme for the Philippine Republic (P. I. R., 40. 10) contains the following among other remarkable provisions:--

"Elementary instructions shall comprise reading, speaking and writing correctly the official language which is Tagalog, and the rudimentary principles of English and of the exact physical and natural sciences, together with a slight knowledge of the duties of man and citizens.h.i.+p."--Taylor, 19 MG.

Also the following:--

"Whenever the English language is sufficiently diffused through the whole Philippine Archipelago it shall be declared the official language."--Taylor, 20 MG.

Of this language matter Taylor says:--

"Mabini's plan of having English the language of the state is odd. He wanted independence and he wanted the recognition of the right and of the ability of the natives to govern themselves; and yet he wanted them to adopt a foreign language. By the time this pamphlet was published, or shortly afterwards, Tagalog had been tried and found wanting. The people of the non-Tagalog provinces did not know it and showed no desire to learn it, and indeed protested against its use. Spanish, and all things Spanish, Mabini was weary of, and would sweep them all away. Yet, when he wrote this he did not know English."

[154] Brigandage.

[155] 8-3/4 miles.

[156] Lady of the night.

[157] Carabao is the Filipino name for water buffalo.

[158] Of the endless cases which might be given I cite the following as a fair sample:--

"Personally appeared before me the undersigned ----, this 24th day of July, 1913, W. A. Northrop, who first being duly sworn, deposes and says:--