New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-03

too containGeneral Weyler has been apie ~
,u.nose of an army Of nearly 2oO.W)o ''iei' "s
wall ~ of thr best military and naval resources
If the mo,hcr country. only II few lays 'is''n'
fran, th. .,.nc Of the conflict. Willie 'alaa'"'
c.,or,I HIanco has under his orders mt -''"o
Spanlsl-born troops. the major portion "a 'm'
.,;,., army having mulnied. killed ticlr ON
c.rs and gone over To the insurgents. l"'se
,no ,roons are concentrated in Manila ITSELF,
already threatened by the rebels. whose opera
tions in the remainder Of the archipelago h'''S-
.,rIv remain unchecked until the home gov
eminent finds it possible 10 SEMI REM o'c''''e.e
The latter cannot arrive upon the scrnc ior
some time the distance between the islihs '''''.
Snain being nearly half the circumference vi
the globe. and enta:ling sea voyage 'l '''''
Two months.
Although dsaffrction has for some TIME p's'
been rife in the Philippine Islands, years '''s"'
have elapsed before any outbreak woulu nave W.
cured had it not been for the conduct "a '"e
authorities ut Madrid True. the population "''u
much 10 complain OF. more even ih'th ''r ""
bans. since they are much more heavily taN'u
and are compelled To submit to Il c'aSS OIL o.
tciais who in most cases have incurred sue"
disgrace in Spain that they are coiisblefeu ZOO
bad even for employment in the Antilles H'h''
matters might have rubbed along had not the
captain-General. who is worthy OLD soio'el
of the Martinez CampOs type. suddenly recel'eu
teleyraphic orders TO increase by almost ~
per cent the existing land and agricultural
taxes. which are borne entirely by the native
population: the clergy and the religious oruer>'
who own all the finest lands throughout the
archpelagO being exempt from ever! h'FoS'
of This kind. The avOwrd object or ms Ill
crease OF taxation was TO provide resources lor
the continual ion Of the war IN Cnoi.
This led To the first outbreak Of the revolt III
the shape OF the withdrawal or 'he hcau men
if the towns and villages responsible Tor the
collection of the taxes 10 the mountains when
native troops commanded by Spanards. were
sent against them, the nlen killed Their officers
and Joined the insurgents No sooner nad news
To this effect reached Madrid than p"felnptory
orders were sent by Prime Minister Canovas Tor
the wholesale arrest OF foreign a. well ~ native
members OF the Masonic lodges AMI other secret
societies. which abound in the Philippines, ana
are regarded by the authorities at Madrid rs
centres Of dislifection well ~ for the spreau
Of revolutionary IDEAS over 400 citizehs were
thus thrown into jail AT Manila alone on August
io3. I'm the Philippines nearly every one belongs
70 some secret craft. Each island each town.
4 each village. has It's lodges. There are Chinese
Hodges. and Malay lodges. mxcd'breed lodges
ana Spanish republican lodges. while each
foreign nationality represented in III" archi-
pclago has It's lodges. This is chiefly due to the
fact that the lodges have been until now Tie
only places where citizens conld meet iogcther
and discuss their wrongs without any inter-
ference on the part OF the police. Consequently
fine action OF the Govcrnori'eneral in arrestlng
all well-known and conspicuous members
which. by-thc-ly. h. did under strong protest
has had The effect OF adding still further fuel 10
the revolt since there is hardly single ialnily
~ any wealth or prominence. either native OF
foreign. that has not been affected 10y the
measure