The times., 1898-12-25

Under date of October Is, the Manila
correspondent of the New York Tribune
sent the following, printed later in that
journal. The story is good one for peru
sal by people who think the Philippines
ought to have been given back to Spain
THE administration of justice by the
Spaniards in the Philippine Islands is an
unpleasant subject. but it is also on,
which calls for attention from the Ameri
can people at this juncture. If the arehi-
peiago is TO be returned to Spain We
should understand what system we are re-
sponsible for re-estabiishing. II the islands
are to be retained we must, in justice TO
the natives. familiarize ourselves with the
conditions under which they have liyeo
for many generations. II will give the ex-
perienee OF one Catholic priest of native
blood in his preliminary examination on
d charge of abetting the insurreetion.
Three native priests from the same pro
vince were similarly treated. Each OF
them while still in prison wrote an ac
count OF his experiences and all of these
have been published in the Independencia
Dung September and october, 1895.
The three narratives are entirely ac-
cor6ant They make definite statement;
OF so shocking character about indi-
viduais. whose names and official places
are given. that an outcrY of denial would
-haye been heard were the narratives un-
true J nave not seen these priests, bul
those who have assure me that their scars
INF, afs,aS If fh.air
the accuracy of which is not doubted by
foreign residents of long standing. There
is abundant evidence that their expert
ences were not exceptional There is Still
better testimony to these narratives. for
according 10 Yesterdays newspapers. one
of the three priests, Father Gaerlan, has
lust been reinstated by the archbishop.
Fad his narrative been false it would
have constituted such an outrageous sian
der on considerable number oil priests
that reinstatement would nave peeh Ut
terly out of the question.
.'Of the three narratives select that or
Father Dacanay, because his style is
somewhat more lucid than that Of his fel-
low-sufferers and because he alone with
stood every attempt to make him ac-
knowledge dictated confession. The
others endured an astonishing amount OF
suffering before yielding, and retraeted
as soon as practicable. The prison record
shows that the three priests were liberat-
ed on April 8, 1897, without trial. Father
Dacanay'S age is given as thirty-four
years Ny translation has been made
with care. but it may be that better Eng
lish equivalents exist for some of the
ecclesiastical and legal titles, in which
have adhered as closely as possible TO
the Spanish forms.
Narrative of Father Dacnnay.
AS everyone knows, the insurrection
of the Tagalos in this archipelago started
near the end of last year 1885. a state
of war having been officially declared 10
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 Dia2
de Cendresas various influential inhabi-
tants of that province We're arrested on
the 18th of September and escorted to
this capital, Manila on the following
day.
Being coadjutor in the township OF
Aringay, in the aforesaid province, was
summoned by telegraph to igan by the
most illustrioas and most reverend
Bishop of New Segovia, Brother Jos,
HeYia Campomanes, together with tive
other clergymen, Father Andrianc
Garces, coadjutor of Baiaoan, and Fathel
Mariana Gaerlan, coadjutor of Sar
Fernando. both townships being in thu
aforesaid province. So soon as ] got thu
order started on my way, setting out OF
the 18th day of that same September last
FEATHER Gaerlan and l. who made the
Journey together, presented ourselves tC
the provisor, the Rev. Father Brother
Casimiro Gonzalez. on the afternoon o
the 2lst day of the aforesaid month. H'
Immediately ordered us TO the seminary
where We were locked up in solitary con
fnement. y few moments after ! wa:
shut up there entered my cell the father
Vice-rector of the seminary, the Rev
Father Brother Urbano Alvarez tprofes
sor of metaphysics, ethics, etc), blaming
me as he came for being involved in th
rebellion and for being connected witt
Freemasonry. / answered by protestin;
my innocence of both charges, but, un
fortunately, j was unable to convinc'
him, and in reply he showered upon M
the harshest epthets calling me infa
nous, low, perverse vile and other thing
of the same kind.
Protesting His Innocence.
".After a few days 1 received join
visit from the provisor, the Rector Brothe
Batrolome Fernandez, and the afore
named Father vice-Rector Brother Alva
rez who put to me various questions
relative TO the SAID charges, TO which
continued to answer by proving my limo
cence and my entire ignorance of thes,
matters. They next proceeded to eX
anime my arms and legs with the utmos
care to see whether they showed an,
signs of the bloodpact of the KatipunaI
"a secret society. literally a gathering
ranked by the Spaniards with Freema
sonryl. Afterward the provisor said t,
me he rejoiced to see that / was FREE
from that sign of depravity. But not sat
isfied with this. he entreated me as the,
went out to reflect well, so that j nigh
make him a full declaration and concea
nothing when he came back. since h
would not be convinced that / was reail,
uncompromised.
Some days having passed, the proviso
paid me his promised visit, accompan e
by Father Alvarez, and asked me Il
were disposed to tell the truth. addr, s.
ing TO me various leading uuest.o !.
among them whether ! was certsin a
/ had offered my aid in spreading the re
bellion TO Don Cayatno Lueban tsx-regii
ter of union, now resident in Madri
for, according to them, Senor Lueb /
had written to one of his partisars Say
ing that '.he trusted greatly in Fathe
Dacanay on account of his energy an
integrity" / answered. saying that
had not the honor of the gentleman's at
quaintance, either personally or othel
wise. as is truly the case: consequently
could not well have offered my service
to promote the ideals which he CHERISHED
nor could he have counted upon me fo