The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-22
THE MORNING NEWS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH % 1890

given them save a pair of thinnest trous-
ers and small Jacket OF coat.
with this scant clothing they were set
to work in sugar cane fields in the hot sun.
Guards were placed over them, who com
PEELED them, with the usmost cruelty, TO
work whether they were physically able
to do so or not. Their food for an entire
day consisted of a handful of rice and a
little water. At night, if they asked for
more, they were tortured and cruelty
abused. When they returned from the
fields they We're compelled TO sleep on the
bare floors of their prisons with no cover
ing.
Some were thrown into dungeons and
others publicly beaten in the open squares
Food is forbidden TO be brought into
the jais, and if any one is seen assisting
some unfortunate priest by handing him
food he is liable to punishment and even
death. If priests ask for meat insurgents
cut the flesh from the arms and other
parts of the bodies of the priests ana COM
pei them to eat it. Scores of untortunates
have been crucified and tortured to death
in various other ways.
MANY of the priests who have not left
the islands are now at Manila under pro
lection of the Americans. There were
about 800 priests In the Vtscayas some
have returned to Spain. Forty-hve are
now held as prisoners by Filipinos. Forty
three others have been assassinated by
Filipinos. In Luzon there are now more
than 800 Spanish priests held as prisoners
by Filpinos.
"Aguinaldo offered to release the priests
provided each of four great ecclesiastical
orders in Spain provided him with bat
tleship. In reply Aguinaldo was Informed
that the church had not funds available
and could not entertain this proposition.
1.-The natives, that is the intelligent
class are universally a Catholic people
both in heart and practice. They are re-
ligious in the truest sense OF the WORD.
The only element that we fear is the So
called Indian or lower and supersutious
class which goes TO make up almost the
entire rank and file of Aguinaldo's army.
1.-The political outcome of the present
existing turbulent conditions of the ISL
ands can be nothing else than complete
subjugation or absolute annihilation of
Aguinaldo and his soldiers. American
spirit and character have made rapid pro-
gress among the natives of nearly every
province. Their only desire Is freedom,
and this they know is impossible without
the protection of the American govern
ment.
THE Filipinos have been forced from
every island, with the exception of Panay
and Luzon. They have made the latter
their stronghold and from there they plan
their operations for the complete subjuga>
ton of the islands. Natives of other ISL
ands are not in sympathy with them and
have taken up the cause of Americans
and the exiled priests.
"Aguinaldo is not responsible entirely.
| Associated with him are four Filipino
| lawyers, who are in fact at the head of
the natives. These men, natives by birth,
were educated in America and Paris. They
| are now using their education and knowl-
edge of government 60 deceive the Fill
| pinos by giving them a monarchial form
of government in the guise of a republic.
| They are all members of Aguinaldo's cab
met They make out and formulate the
orders, he signs them. They plan the
atrocities against the church, he sane
tions them. Their ambition is to obtain
all military, civil and religious powers.
Assisting them are several Filipino priests,
who are DESTROYS of wrestling religious
power from the Spanish bishops.
IF the Americans can but capture the
four chief supporters and advisers CT
Aguinaldo the rebellion will be easily
ouelled. Until this is accomplished, we
can hope for nothing else but continual
and protracted cruelty and carnage"