Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-06-02

principal tneateT Oh tne Tepcihohs Vu''o
In Batangas, Bulacan. and Pampanga
there are ten to twenty branches OF
the order, and at least one in each OF
tho other provinces. Their growing
influence and implacable hatred OF tho
clergy was q source of grave apprehen-
sion to the priests. who petitioned the
minister to order General Ramon
Blanco, then governor general OF the
archipelago, now of Cupa. to put an
end to Freemasonry. But General
Blanco was not energetic in carrying
out this command. being too much oc-
cupicd In a contest against Mohamme-
danism in Mindanao. Tho government.
again appealed to by the priests. ana
peculiarly susceptible to this influence
peremptorily ordered Blanco to take
the rigorous measure Of dcporting 4O0
members OF the lodges.
This order was the direct cause OF
the uprising in 1896. which began IN
Manila. and extended to Cavite. Pam
panga, Laguna and Bulacan, but not to
other provinces, because OF the ancient
rivalry of the races. the surest safe
guard of Spanish rule. This is fac
tor in the politics Of the islands that
the government fully appreciates. to
the point, indeed. Of encouraging the
factional enmitIes. Before the con-
quest by Magellan the islands were
ruled by warning Sultans. and there
still remain vestiges OF numerous
tribes.
Because OF his inactivity and appar-
ent Indulgence to the rebels Blanco was
denounced in Madrid by religious bod
les, What exaspernted the priests
most was that he refused to kill Rizal.
who was by them proclaimed to be the
principal factor In the rebellion. AS
matter of fact. however. this does not
appear to be true, and no just cause
was given for such summary action.
The clergy sought revenge upon Rial
above everything else for his denun-
citation OF them to the people.
RIzars Tragic Career.
Rizal was a -blooded Indian. who
was brought up by the Dominicans Of
Manila. He went to Europe. studied
medicine. law. sciences and foreign
tongues, and returned to Manila hon.
ored with the highest degree Of con-
Il
the inexorable foe Of the corrupt cler-
gy. He was the author Of n novel
called "Nolle Me Tangere," in which he
showed the despotic, rapacious and de-
bauched nature Of the priests Of the
country. This book was placed In the
Index Expurgatorius and the authors
goods confiscated. his brothers deport-
ed, his aged mother banished. and HIM
self relegated to the Island Of Min
danao, entirely peopled by Mohamme-
dams. mortal enemies of Spain.
Rizal lived in this exile for several
years. until he learned that physicians
and surgeons were needed with the
troops fighting in Cuba. He offered his
services to Spain. which accepted them.
and he embarked at Manila for Barce-
Iona. When he arrived at the penin-
sula and was ready to leave for Havana
he was arrested. sent back to Manila.
summarily tried. and executed. This
was tho work OF Governor Polavieja,
who had succeeded Blanco. While Ri
zal was on his journey to Spain rebel
lion had broken out, and the anger of
the authorities against him was arous-
ed by new charges of perfidy made by
the priests. to whom Polavieja was de-
voted. The execution Of Rial made
the rebellion more furious, and the in
surgents sought as much to avenge his
death as their wrongs. RiZal to them
was the martyred hero OF their cause.
The first victims Of the rebels were tbs
priests. Their monasteries were burn
ed, and the hatred for the monks
sought extremes Of cruelty in its ex-
preston.
Not only the uneducated and super
stitious elements Of the population took
part in the rebellion. but the most
prominent native families. Many young
men are sent each year to Madrid ard
other peninsular cities to be educated,
and return to their homes with knowl-
edge of the freedom of speech and un-
restricted liberty Of the press in Spain
and imbued with republican or anar-
chist ideas, which encourage them to
attempt the free expression OF their
opinions. The result is persecution.
Furthermore, a native, no matter how
prominent. Is never given a salaried
official position, all Of which are mono
polized by the retainers of different
ministries. To all of the wrongs de-
scribed are to be added the notorious
corruption of the judiciary and the
brutality of the police.
The people yielded submissively tc
accumulating injustice for many years.
Tolerance is one Of the chief character.
istics Of the Indian, natives OF the
Philippines, who greatly resemble
their near neighbors, the Japanese
Their uprising two years ago was al.
most incomprehensible to witnesses OF
the respect of established authority.
submission, and gentleness of habit
through years of misrule.
Blanco was deposed by the enmity OF
the monks, who thought him too toll