The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
NOT HIGHLY CIVILIZED.
FiIipinOs Little Adanced from Bar
barism, According to Spaniards.


barism, According to Spaniards.
MANILA, Nov. /, via San Francisco Dec.
19.-All sorts of rumors are current here as
to what the Philippine republic is doing with
reference to the settlement of the Philippine
question, but the Filipino newspapers insist
that nothing but absolute independence will
be accepted by the natives Senior Paterno,
president of the Philippine Assembly, is said
to have cabled long message to Madrid
few days ago to the effect that if Spain
would guarantee autonomy and other re-
form measures the whole country would sup
port Spanish rule in preference to any other
form of foreign Intervention.
The claims strenUously made by the
natives that they are highly civilized race
is not borne out by facts, according to Span
ish refugees from the north, who have just
reached here. They say that after the sur
render of the town of Apart the insurgents
formed a parade, the central feature of
which was a Spanish lieutenant, who was
carried along the streets suspended from a
bamboo pole. to which his hands and feet
were tied, just as hogs are carried here by
the coolies. On arrival at the place the
procession halted the pole was placed on
two forked sticks and squad of rebels
proceeded to terrorize their helpless victim
by shooting as close to his head as was
possible without woundng him. When the
unfortunate man was unconscious with ter
ror the procession moved on again.
Another story is told of a Spanish officer
being confined in cell with his hands tied
behind his back and compelled to eat the
portions of food allotted him from the floor
of the cell, like dog. Not satisfied with
this his captors are said to have hooked a
rope to his swollen wrists and through a
pulley overhead hauled him off his feet un-
til he tainted. Still another refugee states
that because he threw some papers which
he did not wish the rebels to have into a
cesspool the natives dropped him into the
hole and compelled him to recover the pa
pers, after which he was paraded through
the streets for hours.
The Spanish priests who were captured
Jared somewhat better, according to all re-
ports, for the rebels organized them into an
eXtempore brass band to head their process
sion. and, by dint of kicks and blows COM
PEELED their captives to produce plants of
discord, which highly amused the natives.
The natives Indignantly deny these allega-
tions, and their newspapers retaliate by
printing horrible stories of atrocities prac-
ticed by the Spaniards before the surren-
the affidavits of victims
Aguinaldo's official organ, the Republica
Filipina, announces that it's Paris corre-
spondent, presumably Agoncillo, says that
the Philippine group has been ceded to the
United States, which will grant independ-
ence to the Filipnos after time, which is
to be fixed by protocol and will not be less
than six years, If the Filipinos show that
they have a satisfactory faculty of govern
ing themselves"
Aguinaldo has seen fit to remove the en-
barge on Americans and has issued an or
der granting the right to travel through the
territory at present held by the revolutions
ary government to all foreigners except
Spaniards. so long as they are unarmed.
No one, however, may approach within two
hundred yards of any forts or intrench-
ments or carry Kodak under penalty of
arrest Any Spaniard who sets foot on Phil
ippine territory, If captured, will be ad-
judged by military law.
The present unpleasant weather is having
its effect upon the health of the American
troops hundreds of whom are suffering
from cramps and chills. occasioned by the
dampness of their quarters and exposure.
1t has rained almost continually for four
days and there is every indication of a con-
tinuance OF wet weather, although the rainy
season is supposed to be over 1t was cur
rently rumored that at least 20 per cent Of
the American army of occupation is ON the
sick list. which would indicate an epidemic
but inquiry at the brigade hospital proved
this to be an exaggeration, for the total
number of patients there was 75O OF which
only eighteen We're smallpox and about two
hundred fever patients.
An order has been issued compelling med
ical practitioners TO report all cases of
smallpox under their notice to the authori-
ties in order that they may be promptly re-
moved TO the pesthouse. owing to the num-