The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-19
The Secret of Aguinaldo's Rebellion


correspondent IN Manila. John +. Lass.
The Evening Post is violently hostile
to The administrations Philippine pol
icy and its Representatives. Mr.. Bass,
went to Manila sharing his employers
opinions on his subject. But several
months study of Philippine conditions
on the spot have modified Mr. Bass
conclusions, although he has not yet
been able to convert the editor Of the
Evening Post. Under date of April .
Mr.. Bass writes that the backbone Of
the Fhilippin" rebellion has been
broken and that the more intelligent
officers and men in Aeuinaido's army
recognize the futility If their struggle
and want to make peace on the basis
Of acceptance of American rule, but
thcV are held back by the terroriznS
tactics of an oath bound secret society,
which has forced the hopeless fighting,
ordered most of the crimes committed
among the peace-loving population a
veritabie reign of terror.
There has for years" writes Mr..
Bass. EXISTED secret brotherhood
known as the Eatapunans. political
organization resorting to the methods
memory in our own country. and using
the same mystic symbol, *. *. X
Not politics alone. but financial gain
and other cOnsidera tiOns prompted the
members of this order to deeds of MUIR
der, robbery and arson. The leaders Of
ciety, and for the time being. at least
succeeded i'm making it their chief
agent and support. During the months
when the Americans were lying idle in
Manila. awaiting the action OF the
peace commission, the senate and the
administration. this society was busy
recruiting it's strength from among the
young and reckless and irresponsible
Filipinos,un it became strong enough
10 make the entire populacc bow to its
will and fear its vengeance. Through
out the city every able bodied man was
listed and made to give in his adher-
ence To the revolution. Even the SER
wants of white families. TO whom they
were attached because of kind and gen.
erous treatment were registered as
revolutionary soldiers, and feared to
make protest. The .Filipinos who drove
officers carriages, were their personal
servants, did their washing. or cooked
in their Kitchens, as we'll as others who
worked in company Kitchens or about
the hospitals. were either Katapunans
themselves or 50 feared them that,
when the time came for action. they
deserted their posts to Il man, stealing
what they could, including all tho
clothing in the hands of the Laundry
men. Many OF them were found dead
in the trenches on the day of :he big
fight around Manila.
1T was dread of the secret and swift
vengeance of this society that enabled
Aguinaldo 10 collect his taxes in every
house in Manila. The Americans col
lectcd the regular taxes only where
their military authority extended. but
Aguinaldo collected his even from the
body servant of the military governor
tionary leaders have set in motion,
and which now holds them in its re-
lcnQess grasp. There is net wanting
evidence that its strength was tested
by Aguinaldo imme ediately after the
failure of his attack on Manila and his
disastrous defeat at Caloocan showed
him his inability to fight the Americans
successfully. There We're rumors that
AguinaldO had been deposed because
he sent emissares to General Otis TO
consult about peace, and that Mon
tenegro had been made commander of
the army. This proved not to be who'll
ly true, but it appears that Montenegro.
an ardent revolutionist, though but q
bell-boy at the Lala Hotel before the
war; had the Katapunans behind him,
and was strong enough to dictate the
policy of the president. who had either
to go on with the war or become a
refugee himself, with the possibility of
Katapunan vengeance seeking him out
wherever he might 60"
70 this oath-bound society cemented
together by Malay ignorance, supersti-
tior ana love of intrigue, Mr.. Bass
ascribes most Of the eXCesses of the in
surrection, including the unsuccessful
plot to assassinate, at a given signal,
every white person residing in Manila.
80 this" he concludes, lis the sltua-
tion: The United States grasped the
Philippine electric battery and cannot
let go, and Aguinaldo grasped the
poles of the revolutionary electric ma
chine and cannot drop them. The lead
ers OF this revolution, eXCept the
fanatics that now control the original
leaders, went into this movement for
personal gain, They wanted to force
the United States into terms with
them, or in case our government was
blufted into recognizing their so-called
republic. they had II so fixed that 1t
would be a purely oligarchical govern.
ment, with themselves in control. They
ovcrShot the mark when they unlous-
ened the force they now are unable 10
control, and are between the devil and
the deep sea. However, | think there
will be no more serious lighting, that
the insErgent army will gradually dis
integrate, that the liatapunans will
steadily lose strength and power "a
terrify the people, even if they keep
up a guerrilla warfare for a time, and
that peace will be established by the
time the rainy season sets in which a
garrison of 10000 men can maintain -
In the ligh. OF this information, the
authenticity Of which is thoroughly
established, wen may the Philadelphia
neWsUaDeF recently edited by the nrps.