The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-06

SPANISH PERFIDY.
In the latter part of last year the insur-
gents held the mountains while the Span
iards were masters of the principal towns
and villages on the coast. Gen. Primo de
Rivera understood that an end must be
made to this condition of affairs, and by
means of two well-to-do natives whom he
dispatched to Aguinaldo at Biac-na- Bato
entered into negotiations with the insurgent
leader. A council was held and the insur-
gents agreed to lay down their arms on the
following conditions:
l. The expulsion or secularization of the
religious orders, and the abolition of all the
official vetoes of these orders in civil af-
fairs.
2. A general amnesty of all rebels and
guarantees for their personal security and
from the vengeance of friars and parish
priests after returning to their homes.
8. Radical reforms to curtail the glaring
abuses in public administration
4. Freedom of the press to dsnounce Off
cial corruption and blackmailne.
5. Representation in the Spanish Parlia-
ment
8. Abolition of the inquitous system of Sc
cret deportation of political suspects. etc.
Does not the simple enumeration of the
conditions of peace condemn the colonial
conditions. did not the governor general adj
nit that they existed? For Gen. Primo dc
Rivera did agree. only insisting that the
leaders should leave the country. To pro-
vide them with the means of living, since
all their property had been confiscated or
destroyed, the government paid the $500 900.
So far all was well. But when peace was
restored and the insurgent leaders had left
SPANS governor general refused to execute
any and all the conditions agreed upon,
playing the same trick that had been sue
cessful with the Cubans after the peace of
canyon, signed by Martinez Campos. More
than that, no sooner had the arms been laid
down than the religious orders commenced
to prosecute those insurgents who had not
been able to leave trump up imaginary
charges against them and have them ar
rested. The agreement had been signed on
the 18th day of December 1897. by Gen.
Primo de Rivera on behalf of the Spanish
government and by General Aguinaldo for
the insurgents. Neither the governor nor
his government had any intention whatever
to execute it. And these Spaniards dare
prate OF honor! They do not know the
meaning of the word which to them implies
only to live without working Spanish
honor is an exotic we must be careful not to
import in this Republic of ours, and the
sooner it is eradicated from these islands
the better it is for humanity. But to
tinue:
Aguinaldo and his associates had left for
Hong Kong, and the former continued on to
Singapore, where Spanish agents tried pref
ty hard to get hold of him. Even before the
war with America broke out it seems that
he had decided to revive the Instruction
SPANS violation of the agreement absolving
him. On the oath of April Aguinaldo met
Hon. E. Spencer Pratt, United States con-
sui general, in the presence of Messrs. How
ard w. Bray, Aguinaldos private secretary,
William J. Leyba, Col. Nj. II. del Pilar and
Dr. Marceino Santos. In this interview
Aguinado described the causes and Incl
dents of the last rebellion and, in case or
war, explained the nature of the co-opera-
ton he could give, while he promised TO
maintain order and to conduct the war on
civilized principles He declared his ability
to establish a responsible government on
liberal principles, and that he would be will
ing to accept for Luzon the same terms as
the United States intended giving to Cuba.
Consul Pratt communicated by wire with
Admiral Dewey, at whose request he left
Singapore fer Hong-Kong on April 20, on
the p & o. steamer Malasea. Since then
Aguinaldo has done some fighting; he has
given evidence of pluck and ability, and,
thus far, has kept his agreement He has
certainly great influence and host of fol-
lowers among the Philippines.
AGUINALDO'S PLAN.
Aguinaldos scheme is a republic, with
himself as president, and he thinks that in
this scheme he has Admiral Deweys sup
port But, although the American hero re-
ceived the insurgent leader kindly, gave
him two modern field pieces. three hundred
rifles and plenty of ammunition, Dewey has
proved himself too subtle diplomat to
commit either himself or the government
to any wild scheme. Fancy republic of
some eight million people, of whom one
half are savages and the rest, not more than
fifty thousand excepted, have such civiliza-
ton as Spain chose to impart. OF these four
million not more than 2 per cent. can read.
The Spaniards and PHILIPPINES, that is, ma
tives of the Philippines of Spanish parents,
number, perhaps, 10000 To establish a re-
publican form of government under these
circumstances would mean to plunge them
at once into barbarism.
l mentioned Admiral Deweys ability as an
administrator and diplomat and pleased
to return to this subject. While maintaining
a most vigorous blockade, he willingly
granted permission TO a QeleSduOn OF Bit
ish and German merchants to remove their
families to Cavite. He ordered that place TO
be made sanitary and placed Consul Will
lams in charge. The consequence is that
wealthy Manila families, like that of the
Coster, have placed all their houses in
Cavite at Dewey's disposal He has made
himself exceedingly popular among the
British shipmasters. Instead Of carrying
NIT ha abc IF a l,ah oc
aided and facilitated their business so far
as it did not interfere with his duties, His
praise is sounded in every port in the far
East, and when he was in need of coal
these shipmasters readily sold him three
thousand tons, so that he was well supplied.
AN ARCHBISHOP'S LIES.
In the meanwhile the Manila papers, all
of which are under government control, try
to keep up their courage by all sorts of
lying and sensational reports. They main
tain still that the United States war ship
Baltimore was so damaged in the late battle
that the American admiral decided to seut-
tie her. The latest issue contains ii procla-
nation from the archbishop stating that
out, and that God has informed him that
in the next engagement the armies of the
most Christian Spain will be victorious!
This church dignitary is doing his utmost
to revive the religious war of the sixteenth
century. He has published a pastoral from