The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-12
Spain In the Philippines.

Spain In the Philippines.
The unexpected intensity and success
of the insurgent movement in the Phil
ippine islands after its reinforcement
by Admiral Dewey is explained in a
letter from Manila to the Washington
Post. Here, as in Cuba, Spanish mall
administration had been supplemented
by the most unblushing Spanish per-
fidy. Only last December the insur-
rection of the Tagals led by Aguinaldo
had been ended by an agreement be-
tween Aguinaldo and the then Spanish
governor general, Primo de Rivera,
under which the insurgent leaders were
to be recompensed for property de-
stoyed to the extent of 100000 payable
to them in bank at Hong Kong; and
Spain pledged herself to enact imme-
dately the following reforms: First
The expulsion or secularZation of the
religious orders, and the abolition of
all the official vetos of these orders in
civil affairs. Second-A general amnes-
ty for all rebels and guarantee for their
personal security and from the ven
geance of the friars and parish priests
after returning to their homes. Third
radical reforms to curtail the glaring
abuses in the administration. Fourth
Freedom of the press to denounce Of
fetal corruption and blackmailing.
Fifth-Representation in the Spanish
parliament. SiXtE-Abolition of the
iniauitous system OF secret deportation
of political suspects, etc. No sooner
was this agreement signed and the in
surgents disarmed than Spain repudi-
atcd ii utterly.
TO resentment of this gross perfidy
the insurgents, now again in arms with
the stimulus of American help, add re-
membrance Of the notorious unfairness
| of Spanish rule in general. We have on
several occasions mentioned the extra
| ordinary system of taxation practced
| by Spain in the Philippine islands. but
| this letter in the Post gives the first
explanation that we have seen of where
the taxes went In the year 1867. a
fair sample year Spain imposed on the
Philippines a revenue burden of &c.
10000 pesetas (s16770, ,00O, but not 3.
| penny was expended for public works
or internal Improvements, and" says
the Post correspondent, "only 10000
pesetas (S7G5o) went for scientific stud
les indispensable repairs, rivers and
! canals, while the amount set apart for
| religious purposes and clergy amounts
to nearly 100000 pesetas (s1365, ,OOO).
| This sum does not include the amounts
paid to the clergy for baptisms, mar
| riayes, sale Of indulgences papal bulls,
scapularies, etc, which exceeds the
government allowance The magnif
cent SUM of 200,00C pesetas ($39 0O0) is
set apart as subvention to railway
companies and new projects of rail-
| ways. but the college for Franciscan
monks in Spain and the transportation
| of priests comes in for 275O00 pesetas
| (s53,325)! Thirty thousand pesetas for
| all the new improvements, but the choir
of the Manila cathedral receives 10000
| (s3, 5000, and 2a4, 900 pesetas (s57 $500 are
| set apart for the support of the cathe-
| dral! Public instruction. Including ma
! VAL scientific. technical, and art schools.
| must be maintained al a gross expense
| of 3Q3, ,525 pesetas ($59,lSO, and from
this pttance museums. Libraries, the
| observatory. and "A special chair in
the University of Madrid must be paid.
Add to this the squeezing and pecu-
lation of every Spanish official from
| the governor general down to the low
| est alguacil. and it is no wonder that
| these people, robbed right and left of
the fruits of their toll, hate the Span
| lard and will have no more Of Spanish
| rule" 1t should be added that the
Philippine treasury had also TO pay a
heavy contribution to the general eX-
penses of the government at hcme
| (Madrid), the pension of the Duke de
| Nerag qua (oun guest during the Col
umbian Exposition), and that of the
Marquis of Bedmar, besides those of the
Sultans and native chiefs (datos) Of
the Islands of Sulu and Mindamao; to
provide for the entire expenses of the
| Spanish consulates at Peking, Toxic.
| Hong Kong, Singapore, Annoy Saigon,
Yokohcma, and Melbourne; for the
staff and material of the Minister of
the Colonies. including the purely or
namental council of the Philippines;
the expenses Of supporting the colony
Of Fernando Po, in Africa, and all the
pensions and retiring allowances of the
civil and military employees who have
served in the Philippines, amounting
to the sum of $500, 900 pesetas ($1, 49,
00o) per annum.
No wonder the edifice of Spanish do
mlnion in these unfortunate islands
crumbles with the first sign of a storm.