The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-11
A PHILIPPINE INQUISITION
A PRIEST TORTURED BY sPANIARDS
TO MAKE HIM CONFESS.
Charged with Completely in the In
surrectiOn, His DeniaIs Brought
MediaevaI MaItreatment.



Manila Letter in New York Tribune
The administration of justice by the Span
ialds in the Philippine islands is an I'M
pleasant subject, but it is also one which
calls for attention from the American peo-
pie at this juncture. If the archipelago is
to be returned to Spain we should under
stand what system we are responsible for
re-establishing. If the islands are to be re-
tanned we must in justice to the natives
familiarize ourselves with the conditions I'M
der which they have lived for many genera
tions. | will give the experience of one
Catholic priest of native blood in his pre-
liminary examination on a charge of abet-
ting the instruction. Three native priests
from the same province were similarly
treated. Each of them while still in prison
wrote an account of his experiences, and
all of these have been published in the
Independence during September and Octo-
Der, 1895
The three narratives are entirely accord
ant. They make definite statements of so
shocking a character about individuals
whose names and official places are given
that an outcry of denial would have been
heard were the narratives untrue / have
not seen these priests. but those who have
assure me that their scars attest the truth
fulness Of their accounts, the accuracy Of
which is not doubted by foreign residents of
long standing There is abundant evidence
that their experiences were not exceptional
There is still better testimony to these
narratives, for. according to yesterdays
newspapers, one Of the three priests Father
Gaerlan, has just been reinstated by the
archbishop. Had his narrative been false,
it would have constituted such an outra-
geous SANDER on a considerable number of
priests that reinstatement would have been
utterly out of the question.
OF the three narratives I select that Of
Father Dacanay, because his style is some
what more lucid than that of his fellow
sufferers, and because he alone withstood
every attempt to make him acknowledge a
dictated confession" The others endured
an astonishing amount of suffering before
yielding, and retracted the acknowledge
ments forced from them as soon as prac-
ticable. The prison record shows that the
three priests were liberated on April 3, 1897
without trial. Father Dacanay's age is
given as thirty-four years. My translation
has been made with care, but it may be that
better English equivalents exist for. some of
the ecclesiastical and legal titles, in which
L have adhered as closely as possible to the
Spanish forms.
NARRATIVE OF FATHER MARIANA
DACANAY.
AS every one knows, the insurrection Of the
Tagaos in this archipelago started near the
end of last year 1885, state of war hav-
ing been officially declared to exist in seven
Tagalese provinces and in Pampanga. In
consequence whereof and by order of the
civil governor of the province of La Union.
Don Antonio Diaz de Cendresas, various in
fuental inhabitants of that province were
arrested on the 18th of September and es-
c;orted to this capital Manila, on the follow
Being coadiutor in the township of
Arlngay in the aforesaid province, [ was
summoned by telegraph to Vigan by the
most illustrious and most reverend bishop of
New Segovla, Brother Jose Hevia Campo
names, together with two other clergymen,
Father Andrlano Garces, coadjutor of Ba-
Iaoan, and Father Mariana Gaerlan. CO.
adjutor of San Fernando, both townships
peing in the aforesaid province. So soon as
l got the order / started on my way, setting
out on the 18th day of that same September
Father Gaerlan and I, who made the jour-
ney together presented ourselves to the
provisor, the Rev. Father Brother Casimiro
Gonzales on the afternoon of the Dist day
of the aforesaid month. He Immediately
dered US to the seminary, where we were
locked up in solitary confinement. A few
moments after | was shut un there entered
my cell the father vice-rector of the sem
mary the Rev. Father Brother Urbano
Alvarez professor of metaphysics, ethics
etc). blaming me as he came for being in
VolVed in the rebellion, and for being con-
nected with Freemasonry. ] answered by
protesting my innocence of both charges
but unfortunately, was unable to convince
him. and in reply he showered upon me the
harshest epithets. calling me infamous low
perverse, vile and other things of the same
kind.
PROTESTING HIS INNOCENCE
After few days / received a joint visit
from the provsor, the Rector Brother Batro
lone Fernandez, and the aforenamed Father
Vice Rector Brother Alvarez, who put to me
various questions relative to the said
charges, to which 1 continued to answer by
proving my innocence and my entire ignor-
ance of these matters. They next proceeded
to examine my arms and legs with the ut
most care to see whether they showed any
signs of the bloodpact of the Katipunan ca
secret society, literally gathering, ranked
by the Spaniards with FreemasOnry). After
ward the prOYis0r said to me he rejoiced TO
see that | was free from that sign of de-
pravlty. But not satisfied with this, he en-
treated me as they went out to reflect Well
SO that l might make him full declaration
and conceal nothing when he came back,
since he would not be convinced that l was
really uncompromised.
Some days having passed the provisor
paid me his promised visit, accompanied by
Father Alvarez, and asked me if / were
disposed to tell the truth, addressing to me
various leading questions, among them
whether | was certain that / had offered my
aid in spreading the rebellion to Don Cay
atno Lueban (ex-register of union now resi-
dent in Madrid; for, according to them,
Senior Lueban had written to one of his par
tisans saying that The trusted greatly in
Father Dacanay on account of his energy
and integrity" l answered, saying that L had
not the honor of the gentleman's acquaint-
ance, either personally or otherwise, as is
truly the case; consequently l could not well
have offered my services TO promote the
ideals which he cherished, nor could he have
counted upon me for the ends which he pro-
posed to himself. They went away, but not
without charging me to consider we'll the
matter of making a clean breast of it. for
this would be the only way of escape from
a very compromising position.
Father Alvarez, whose visits were more
frequent, said to me on one occasion that
Father Garelan. who had been sent to San
Francisco on the requisitiOn of the civil gov
ernOr of the provinces. had there declared
the whole truth, viz, that he had really con-
tTived plot the purpose Of which was to
exterminate all the Spaniards of that prov
inCe. Father Alvarez added that i, being a
friend of Father Gaerlan, must be involved
in the conspiracy, that at the least /
must be aware of it's existence. AT each re-
ply which / made him, denying both of his
differences, he deeply insulted me, giving me
once also a tremendous buffet
On Oct y Father Alvarez put me in irons
with an air of triumph. asserting that he did
so at the order of the provisOr. On the same
date after midday, the fathers of the sem
mary entered nv priSOn with a great deal