The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-20

With the arrival of thirteen Spanish
friars IN this city from Manila last Friday
mas come one of the most vivid, realistic
ana probably truest descriptions of the
recent InsurrectiOn and rebellion in the
tQlIlpplne Islands. These men who have
fallen under the cruel interdict Of Agui-
NaIdo, narrate one of the most thrilling
stories OF the cruelty and carnage that
have been wreaked and practiced through
the vengeance of the great insurgent
leader upon the Spanish priests Of the
Islands Prosecuted and ostracised, they
nave come 10 this city to seek protection
from the rebel leader and the Filipinos
They are all members Of the RecoIleto
Augustnian Order of Monks. and come
from the various provinces of the islands,
where they have worked indefatigabIy for
years among the natives. Their stay here
IS, however. but temporary, as they ex-
pect to sail for Panama this morning.
The story they tell of the persecution,
rapine and revolving cruelty of the Fflipi-
nos against the Catholic priests is prob
ably the best authentic bit of history that
has been given TO the world In discuss
ing the impIacable hatred of the natives
against the members Of their own and,
in fact, all the representative orders in
the islands they have drawn 2 perfect his
tOTcal sketch of almost the entire rebel
lion, outlining its causes and predicting
its results. Rev. Father Felix CULLEN not
his colleagues as We'll, when for the first
time last evening in an interview he gave
1Or publication q true and realistic con-
CeptiOn OF the inSurTeCtiOn, and an outline
Of the probable outcome OF the tnsur-
gents efforts 10 overthrow the American
troops and establish a nominal republic
with AgUinaldO as the chief executive.
Father CULLEN is from the little town Of
BOhOl, on one Of the Islands Of the Wis
Cayas Although born and educated in
Spain, he has labOred among the F1llpinoS
TWENTY-FIVE OuIIlQlUE
his impression he said:
The effect Of the present internecine war now
being Waged IN the philippines on religion IS
one that can be predicted and decided almost
without a doubt, and, in fact, l think with
certainty. What the religion of the Filipinos
viii De, after the war IS over depends so!ely
upon the nberality OF the American constitu-
ton. We ali look for tolerance from your
Government, but nothing but protracted perse-
cutioa from the Philippine monarchy. which
AguinaldO is endeavOring 10 establish under
the guise Of 9 sham and nominal form OF
government. The intelligent class of natives
are universally q Catholic people. both at heart
and in practice. They are religious in the
rrUest sense Of the word. IN proof OF this it
may be said that if mass were said at OF
O. clock in the morning they would attend with
re-stftf0lis class which goes to make up almost
the entire rank and file Of Agu!naldos army.
1a1f co15irioTs can be nothing else than com
pIete Subtraction and the absolute ami Initiation
IAN srt-f- ana Character have already made
- 1Tr0zir-a Their only desire is freedom
and this they know is impossible without the
protection of the American Government They
want 10 adopt the Stars and Stripes as their
flag. They want peace and they realize that
this is the only way Of obtaining it.
The insurgents have been forced from every
island with the exception OF Panay and I1uzon;
The latter they have made their stronghold, and
from there they plan their operations for the
complete subtugation OF the Islands. me ma
with them but have taken UP the cause Of the
Americans and the eXiled priests. Their am
bftion is 10 see the Americans take 1-uzon ana
destroy the power OF AguInaIoo anu aus tol-
lowers so that they may have peace. IN some
OF the islands the natives nave Manufactured
American flags, which tney Ia1seu 10 gree
the American troops on their mission OF con-
quest Their sole reason Tor doing THIS was
gratitude 10 the Americans VINO had pro
tected them from the vengeance OF the lnsur-
gents Of Luzon; From what have hearai
s1nce I arrived in this country, OF the general
impression of the people regarding the rebel
lion I infer that they attribute II solely 10 the
influence OF Aguinaldo- ms IS not the ease.
a great extent for the present instruction, he
IS not responsible for It entirety -, ,,,,. -
vers who are, IN fact, at the head OF the IN
surgeons These men. natives by birth, were
Educated in America and Paris. They are now
using their education and knowledge or gov
eminent to deceive the natives by giving them
a rnonarchical form Of government in the dis
5--s 80 ci - Esbjra+ and work with him to
ACCOMPLISH their own ambitions by furthertng
his They acknowledge him as their chief and
assist him in every way 70 overthrow the
= HT
formulate the orders-he signs them Ihey plan
ne atrocities against the churCh-he sanctions
Them Their ambition IS TO obtain all military,
civil and religious power. Assisting them are
several Philippine priests, who are desirous OF
wrestling the religious power rom the spanish
hishous now in charge OF the Catholic Church
in the islands They expect 10 receive as
result OF their prestige with the insurgents. II
the latter succeed in overthrOwtng the govern
Tnent. the sanction Of the Pope TO the dignities
and power which they cOvet-
Aguinaldo is not as many believe, OF hlgn
birth re came from the common people, over
whom ne IS now trying to rule with tyran-
meal hand In his early career he was coach-
man 70 priest named Fidel de Biase- About
The same time he was appointed captain or the
11iiitfa In the town Of Bohol In theory Ag1in-
aldo is a devout Catholic. as are all the mem
hers Of his family At his home in the years
zone BY the priests were taught the native
language and received encouragement there 10
-511f5eTT1v further the work Of the church
T6e Insurgents at the commencement Of the
rebelIfon showed every indication OF barbar-
Ism They not only mutlated the Dodles OF
their enemies but they drank the blood OF the
wounded that they might become valiant rms
sL-Ir9ay,ftv IS vet practiced, and II is for this
80 'other reasons that we have been coTnpeIled
- leave the islands. Their prevailing trait OF
Character is stubbornness- There are very rev
40 rIze hove the level of the common herd,
ard consequently they blindly and lgnorantIy
follow AguinaIdo and his councillors, Jhey
haL,a Implicit confidence IN his ability and
deem him a god believing him TO be IN
y,7,InerabIe It is my impression that Il the
Americans can but capture the -FOUR chlei sup
porters and advisers OF AguinaIdo, areaay
-1nentioned the rebellion Will be easily quelled.