The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-10
MISRULED BY 'sPANlARDS
CAUSE OF THE REVOLT IN THE
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
Natives Deprived of Rights, Tricked,
Despoi'ed by Imported Friars.
Correspondence of the Associated Press. Copy

Correspondence of the Associated Press Copy
righted)
LONDON, July 2.-One of Aguinaldo's
leaders in the last Philippine revolt is living
incognito in London and practically acting
as Aguinaldo's tagent, being in receipt of
constant telegrams and letters from Cavite.
Questioned on the Philippine situation by a
representative of the Associated Press he
said:
The Philippine republic was proclaimed
in October, 1885, and its first President was
Andreas Bonifacio. When he died over a
year ago Aguinaldo was elected President
and commander-in-chief. On the arrival of
Captain General Primo de Rivera that Of
ficer adopted a policy of bringing the re-
belllon to an end by means of concessions,
force having failed Our leaders were Gp-
preached and the result was the pact of
Biaonibato, so-called from the village
where 1t was signed, on Dec. IA, 1897. Senior
Sagasta, the other day, denied that in that
pact General Rivera promised any reforms.
Here is an official copy of that pact, wherein
is promised the Punishment, or at least the
disbanding, of religious orders; Philippine
representation in the Cortes; the same adj
mlnlstratIon OF justice for the native as
for the Spaniard; unity of laws between
the Philippines and Spain; the natives to
snare the chief offices of the Philippine
civil administration; Encouragement of the
property of the friars and of the taxes in
favor of the natives; recognition of the in
dividual rights of the natives with liberty
VI Injecting ana OF the press; ana
general amnesty. These sum up the native
grievances, and are what we shall expect
the Americans will institute.
For the reforms mentioned Aguinaldo
and the other leaders promised that if Ri
vera carried out the pact they would ex-
patrlate themselves for three years and TO-
ment no movement against Spanish author
lty during that time. Upon the rebels sur
rendering their arms, ammunition, forts
etc, Agulna4do was to receive 400, 0C0 pese-
tas This money Aguinaldo deposited in the
or Homo
Kong, not for his personal use. but as a
fund, the interest of which, in case the
captain general carried out his part of the
pact-Wds TO be devoted TO the education of
natives IN England In case the pact was
not fulfilled by the Spaniards the money was
10 be used for arms and to renew the re-
DeIiloh Inc captain general never pro-
claimed a general amnesty. denied the ex-
istence of the pact and shot several rebel
leaders; who returned to Manila on the
since the renewal of the rebellion under
the inspiration of Admiral Dewey's vic
Tory Lne present captain general has APP
promised that If they make common cause
against the Americans he would carry out
the reforms stated in the pact. AS a mark
or bona noe he created a legislative council,
10 when ne nominated twenty leading min
listers OF the Philippine republic. All over
lures were scornfully rejected
Inc German pretensions are simply pre-
posterous. The Germans are practically
little more than peddlers. All the large
htSl SoHNllO muses. are f<uSllSN, winch nave
in their hands quite three-fourths. bulk and
value, OF the commerce. The banks rail-
ways telegraph, cable and local steamship
lines are English The only cotton mills
belong to the English and the English con-
troll the sugar and hemp trades. The Ger
mans are trying for some Of the heavier
trade, but have not capital or credit There
is only. one American house in Manila
There is only one Russian subject in the
island; Up TO now Spanish has been the
official language. but by last weeks mail
! learned Aguin6ldo intends, as far as the
republic is concerned, to substitute En-
glish.
The root cause of the Philippine rebel
lions has always been the steady depriva-
ton of the natives of their rights by the
Spaniards. Year by year security for life
and property has diminished, particularly
so as TO the native friar in the Philippines
The Spanish friars, too, have sent to Spain
all the, monastery wealth they could dis
pose OF, particularly that wiled to the
monasteries by rich natives. Then too, the
persecution OF the Freemasons by the friars
caused much resentment 1900 Freemasons
being lodged in jail at the instance OF the
| friars and loaded with irons. Besides, nc
| promise ever made by the Spanlards with
the natives has been kept"