Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-24

INC region is congcnial for the develop
mcnt OF passion. The whole philjppine
group Is OF volcanic origin; one of the
Ercatest active volcanoes in the world,
Mayon, Is within sight of Manila. Earth
Iuahes are frequent, and they are so terri
Oie lhae mems bones are said to shake.
Sir 'ohh Browning said, "Thcy ovcrturn
mountains, they fill up valleys they desc
H'e pains, they open passages from the
sea iii,o 'he INTERIOR and from the lakes
INTO the sea. The earthquakes of japan
are gentle tremors in comparison.
AS IL volcanic eruptions and earthquakes
qua not suffice to keep up popular excite
meh'' nature selected the Philippine group
10 ne u cradle of typhoons Nayigators
sailihg the China sea hardly dare lift their
eye from the barometer to talk or cat or
Steep so long as they are in the latitude of
Quyon. In the old days many a brave
gaiieon on her homeward VOYAGE. such
as the one which Bret Harte described as
slowly drifting athwart the setting sun.
was crushed to atoms in the whirlwind
before she lost sight of Mayor.
The eXcitable race is prone to plot and
conspiracy. In July, 1896, a brotherhood
OF Malays and Chinese was formed to over
throw the government. Each member on
beng sworn made the "blood COMPACT. 3"
rom cut in the arm or leg the blood
was drawn, and with this blood the name
OF the member WAS inscribed on the roll of
the katipunan. The plot was BETRAYED
The authorities laid hands on the ring
leaders, and before New Years the prisons
at Manila contained 4,377 persons, many
OF whom alterward met their fate at the
hands OF Il firing party
But the spirit of rebellion was not
quelled. a petition was signed by ), 600
natives, Malays and half breeds, and was
addressed to the milado of Japan. begging
him to annex the islands, Japan had ac-
CURED Fornosa as one of the results of the
Chinese war, and from the southernmost
cape of Forinosa to the nor,hernmost cape
OF Luzon the distance is not great Com
menting on the petition, japanese news
paper which was supposed to be inspired
observed: 1.-The revolt in Manila is really
a consequence to some extent of the rising
power of Japan in Pacific waters. Having
acquired Fornlcsa and become ambitious
OF territorial and commercial empire. the
eyes of the japanese have lately been di-
rected toward the next islands on the
south. The weakness of Spain is regarded
as the opportunity of Japan"
1t is remembered by some who met Cen
eral Grant on his return from Asia that
that farsecing statesman predicted the ac-
QUESTION by Japan of all the islands lying
off the Chinese coast.
When the nikado was studying the
Philippine petition, the rebellion broke
out more fiercely than ever in Luzon,
though force OF 1000 Spanish regulars
had been imported to suppress it. Battles
We're fought at scores of places and shock
ing massacros cnsued. Both sides were
imbued with fiendish ferocity
Whenever an instruction breaks out
the captain general calls for volunteers to
assist the regular troops, y prompt re
Spouse generally comes from the natives
of all races and coors, but on a recent oc-
casion when the new recruits were exam
incd by Il surgeon it was found that most
of them bore on their arms or legs sears
of the blood compact, which showed
that they were secret members of the kati-
DQnaD.