The record-union., 1899-01-25

which the friars held about 50 per cent
AS parish priest the Spanish friar was
beyond all control of the civil govern
ment. He can neither sue nor be sued.
He is, in fact, quite independent Of
civil government Their superiors
would at times pretend to punish them,
but would never expel one. He med
died in every public affair, and if some
person or persons acted contrary to his
wishes he or they were singled out for
his revenge. If young man returned
home from Hongkong or other city with
an education or different ideas he is
marked for social ruin, Imprisonment or
death some day.
In the beginning, the rebellion had
for. its objects: a. the expulsion Of the
monastic orders: (2) the abolition of the
Governor Generals power to Danish
without accusation, trial or sentence;
CD restoration to the natives of the
lands held by religious orders; "a q
limit of the powers of the civil guard;
90 no arrest without the Judges war
rant; 60 abolition of the fifteen days
per annum of compulsory labor. The
rebellion broke out on September L,
1896, and lasted until December, 1897,
when the Spaniards sued for peace and
commissioned a well known native of
Manila, named Palermo. to negotiate It,.
The terms were drawn up in the
treaty of Biac-na- Bato, and signed on
the 18th of last December, between
General Primo de Rivera and General
Aguinaldo.
The two Generals returned to Hong
kong, while Aguinaldo waited to see, the
contract carried out; Primo de Rivera
returned to Spain; then the treaty was
laughed at by the Spanish Government.
and General Aguifaldo was compelled
to return to the scenes Of his battles
and renew the campaign, but this time
he felt justified in compelling the Span
ish to evacuate the islands.
General Emilio Aguinaldo is a smart
man and intelligent, small in stature,
and apparently little over thirty years
of age. and he speaks Spanish we'll. He
is not, as some people think, an adven-
turer, but a landed proprietor. I be-
lieve he was once a petty Governor OF
his province, Cavite.
The chief productions of the islands
are hemp, sugar, tobacco and cigars;
NAASAN oiGt llOWCNCly ldt sc Qddll1llGS IA
choice hard woods, dye woods, copra,
rattans, hats, gum, etc. The islands
are very fertile and could, I believe.
be made to- produce almost any tropical
plant abundantly. There is claimed TO
be only about one-fourth Of the tillable
land under cultivation.
There Is one railroad on the island of
Luzon, about 125 miles in length, rum
ming from Manila northward to Dagu-
pan, on the Gulf of Lingayen. This
railroad passes through a level and
very fertile country, which produces
great quantities of rice, hemp, sugar
and tobacco. The city Of Manila is To-
Gated at the mouth of the Pasig River,
which empties into Manila Bay on the
extreme eastern side, something like
twenty-five miles from the entrance of
the bay. The city is practically divid-
ed into two parts by the Pasig River.
The official, or walled, city on the left
bank and the business part, or new
Manila, on the right New Manila is
ands, which are formed by numerous
small canals through which the natives
paddle or push with bamboo poles their
native boats, laden with the native
products of the island.
The walled city is connected to the
new city by three bridges, the first is
located about mile from the mouth
Of the river, which is used by street
cars, vehicles and pedestrians; the
approaches to these bridges are
quite steep, and it is not an unusual oc-
currence to see the small horses unable
to pull the heavily laden cars up the
incline, and to see all hands get out
and help push the car up The next
suspension bridge is about a quarter
of a mile farther up and used by We
hicles and pedestrians. On this bridge
there is collected toll. The other
bridge is about half mile up the
river farther. and is modern steel
structure. The Pasig River presents a
very interesting view. From the stone
bridge down to the mouth it is crowded
ferring freight. and launches and the
numerous canoes of the natives. Here
and there on the sea wall you see
groups of native women and children
washing clothes, each taking their turn
in washing and swimming. From the
stone bridge up, you see many cascos,
tugs and small boats. such as ply up
and down the river. In the early morn
ing the river is quite crowded with
native traders in their canoes loaded
down with all the products of the vi
cinity, from betel nut to a monkey.
F. E. RUSSELL, JR-