The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-02-17
AGU|NALDO ON PRISONERS
CLASSES PRIESTS AS ACTIVE
PARTICIPANTS
Says Converts Have Been the Strong
est Forts of the Spaniards-Prie
Regarded as Military Leaders.

Aguinaldo has had correspondence
with General Otis in regard to the
Spanish prisoners in his hands. The
American. published in Manila, gives
the correspondence at length, from
which the following is condensed. Agui-
naldo will most probably use the liber-
alton of the prisoners for saving him
self in his present difficulties
When General Otis applied in writ
ing to General Aguinaldo for the re-
lease of the Spanish clerical and civil
prisoners held by the Filipino govern
ment, the Filipino president in very
lengthy dispatch to General Otis de-
clined to give up his prisoners and es-
pecially objected to the surrender of
the clergy on the ground that the Vat
lean still declined to ordain Filipino
priests and allow them to perform re-
ligious duties either as bishops or as
parish priests.
Aguinaldos second dispatch still de-
clining to surrender the prisoners
without a suitable quid pro quo, is a
very long document. In refusing to
liberate the clerical prisoners held by
him the rebel leader said:
Il already told you in my last letter
that General Augustini had obliged all
civil employees and religious orders who
were Spaniards to take an active part
against the Revolutionary party, and
both of those formed volunteer corps
who did military duty, apprehended
and tortured the Indians and even
shot those who were peaceful citizens,
or they Joined with the regular forces
| of the Spanish army to fight us.
| General read carefully the local
! papers from the beginning of the revo-
luton and will see there the contirma-
ton of what l say of the help given
| by these prisoners to the effective force
help. viii you after this argue that
should not keep the civil servants pris-
| oners?
"And still more the sacerdots who de-
| scended from their positions as minis
tiers of the God of Peace, and on The
other hand turned themselves into act
ual servants of the corrupt govern
ment, and even into false accusers o
harmless citizens. 1t is almost incred
ible that these sacerdots who should
have called down the wrath of HEAVIER
on the cruelties perpetrated on limo
cent Indians by the Spanish authorities
did not do so, but were the most ac
tive and vengeful and lying accuseri
of the innocents, thereby sacrificing
many precious and innocent lives ant
the honor of many citizens.
In spite of all this it is not reveng
which prompts me to keep these cleri
Gals prisoners of war, but they haV
actually taken up arms against us a
regular soldiers, one example being tn
priest of Spa in the province of Batan
ges, who among others placed himsel
at the head of a body of volunteers
During the siege of Manila by my for
ces all the religious orders forme
themself into military force and ha
! uniform. They Co-operated with tn
direct and effective forces against tn
Philippine army both by money and b
armed help and melted the soldiers t
the greatest Cruelties.
THE converts have been the strong
est forts of the Spaniards and | haV
now a large number of arms take
from them which We're used by tn
priests.
so that so far as the priests ar
concerned we will take your own vie'
of the matter and put them down a
military leaders,"
The remainder of the letter cites in
ternational law on the subject, admit
that on-combatants are not to b
, held as prisoners of war, under the &c
neVa convention, and endeavors to es
tablish the argument that the priest
We're practically active participants i
favor of Spain in the late war.