The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
SPAIN IN THE PHILIPPINES.
HER ~EIToRTTONs AND CRUELTIEs DE-
gCRIBED BIZ 4 SPLNIARD.

i Sources OF Weyler'e Eortune-The TnN-Rurs
dened NativeH-Blanco's Punishment OF
n Wholesale Murdersr-Tragedy OF DIR.
RiEal-Duckh Eggs Hntcbed by Natives.
DR.. Pinto de Guimares. q spaniard and resi-
dent OF Manila. prints In the ReUue DIES Reuues
of Paris an article on The Spanish Reign Of
Terror In the Philippines" In It he says:
No stranger can form any idea OF vexAtions,
formalities and regulations 90 ruinous 10 pri-
vate and public interests as those which the
Spanish officials have invented and put In
force in the Philippines. These gentlemen
have but one object In life. to make as large .
fortune az possible during their terms Of three
or six years In the archipelago and then re-
turn to Spain to escape the curses OF the un-
happy natives. The notorious Gen. weyler
was Governor-Genera Of the Philippines for
three years and was a shining model OF WE'LL
regulated economy. His annual pay was no.
900. Out Of this custom compelled him to dis
burse large sums for his personal expenses
and to subscribe generously to various public
works and charities. Notwithstanding all
these demands upon his purse this prudent
General contrlved to economic and deposited
In bank at London and.Paris. an amount which
his own compatriots estimated at from $780,
900 to $3.000.000. The conduct OF his suo-
cessor. Despajol. gives q clue to the mystery
OF the Generals economics. On tho day OF the
arrival OF this new Governor-G General at Manila
one Of thesrichest Chinese merchants OF the
city offered him a present OF $4,000 as q
tribute OF respect and esteem and was struck
In the face for his pains.
The officers composing the central Govern.
ment at Manila are many and we'll paid. The
Islands are divided into military. civil and
mixed provincial Governments. Each Is COM
posed OF a Governor and a numerous stan, all
paid.from the revenues Of their Governorships.
This system gives ample opportunity for fiscal
malversion and oppression which fall upon the
unhappy natives. Under Spanish law every
inhabitant Of the colony is compelled to carry
a personal card which answers the purpose Of
a passport, No one can travel without one.
It's cost varies. from $3.50 to sos. and 1t must
be renewed annually. Those who pay less
than $3.50 are compelled to give their personal
labor to the Government for fifteen days or
pay an additional tax OF $3.50. As the daily
wages OF workers ranges from 5 to 80 cents.
the severity with which this tax weighs upon
the masses can be imagined.
Throughout all the islands the taxes are
uniform and innumerable. Every native who
keeps and fattens an animal for food is taxed;
II he has a horse or some cocoanut trees he IL
taxed for each. II he wishes to make cocoa
nut oil he is again taxed for the privilege.
There are taxes on weights and measures. on
stores and shops: a tax on land. on all kinds OF
manufactures and on alcoholic spirits. Native
tdN S'liVtNoIb ~ dll LcspOuSll'l6 LOT JnC coll
lection OF the total taxes in their districts. At
Siquijor forty-four of these native functionaries
were exiled to Bohol after their houses. land
and cattle had been conflscated. because they
had not been able to make good the arrears
due by their fellow countrymen. This is the
price which the natives Of the Philippines pay
for their Government on Christian principles
And yet, owing to the marvellous fertility
Of their soil. the oppressed. tortured, ruined
islanders manage to exist. A primitive sys-
tenn of cultivation has produced. in one year.
eight millions OF dollars worth Of hemp. six
per and coal are found on the islands. The
exactions OF Spanish functionaries and the
foreign merchants and those who come to en-.
gage in business that they finally give up the
ATTEMPT to do any profitable trading and leave
sn ,GiSSaeh was the ses state at q the colony when. as
speeches made by Spanish officers at an army
reunion and BANQUET. who then and there pro
their lairs.' and declared that they would give
no quarter. but slaughter these rascals to the
the first detachment Of. Spanish troops which
eowardiy a fashion that they we're easily cut
to pieces, and the rebels secured several
The memory Of the Death Hole at Manila
will never be eraced while the present genera
Death Hole was a noisome dungeon. built in
t RiSef r0 Pasie SFae OF Of Ma msn fity FTFb%l sP n4isS on b thG
been unused for more than 100 years. ii was
hall fu and Of al, fop Rin TSste ef r the home or Of rats.
dred' natives were shut in It. During "q the
night nj ut they noy1, were en- heard EAR n sh55iekinS and begging
Spanish Lieute M It in IeI charge :eAe annoyed 1oy; i6 bS
their groans and complaints. stopped up the
fGeym. opf All seT Py f S@ISh d feesh ia air the so4 mdr rSaeh
Gen., Blanco was then ,Governor.General Of
the PHILIPPINES. When he heard. of this ntroc-
iy he summoned the butcher Lieutenant be-
cruelty. kicked him d9WnsiaiFFs! ~ The Cen.
officer the latter would have been acquitted.
AS shocking was the fate of Or. Rial. This
man. who had been educated in Spain and
France, For writing a book against Spanish
Dapitan. There he met, a young woman OF
Irish parentage. with whom he fell IN love.
some, %pretext,, the doctor was brought back to
MSaGi Ia, sent to Madrid to be tried: and from
CIR, to whom he was betrothed tells the rest
cent nttEv&ST All t 4ns F sosId t BE- D P%i RiFa AGAINST T%s INN R1%
was the publication OF his book. and the Span
r lsn o i. Neve M42 trssa he ei% Ras s% con neHeF sye to
death; then asked permission to be mar
thinLi 10 nm tn ada Ppf 70 they the h STqofed Of % Riys T %aTfgT.
dom. The marriage was celebrated by q
friar the same day on which he was SEN
knees in prayer before the prison door which
shut my husband from me. When morning
soldiers. his hands bound behind his back.
promenade OF the, city. where. all military
executions take place. The Lieutenant in
replied. Through the heart" Impossible"
cd only to, men of rank. You will be shot 10
the back" A moment after my husband
SPAIN and l., "Hurrah for the Philippines
and death to Spain" asked for the body.
y was refused me. Then / swore to avengo
and Joined the rebels, They gave me a MaUser
rife, and the Philippines will be free
An execution at the Luneta was considered
In the light ola spectacle, 1t usually took
place In the cool of the early morning. Hun
dreds OF women OF the upper Glasses wero
present. The spectators stood up In their
carriages and drank champagne while waiting
command OF the firing party lowered his sword
and the shots rang out the women waved their
handkerchief and sunBhadeS joyously. The