The record-union., 1899-01-30
ILOILO AND MANILA.
Methods Used to Deceive the
Natives.

Iloilo. at present, although quiet to all
appearances, is really like quiet vol
cano boiling underneath, but ready at
any moment to break out into active
revolution. The Catapunin Society mas
already organized the natives into a
potential army. One of the servants OF
our host was a Lieutenant in the mys-
FERROUS army. l am told that they are
merely waiting for the decision of the
Paris conference. If the Spaniards are
to keep the island of Panay, revolution,
full fIedged, will break out in the town
OF Ilollo itself. In the meantime revo-
lut;onists in the interior of the island
are driving the Spanish troops gradual
ly back to Hold. The town is very
badly defended. There are no 1ortlt-
cations about it.. An old fort without
any guns squats helplessly on a small
promontory in the harbor. There are
only some 800 Spanish soldiers on the
island: the rest of the troops are all
native born, and are undoubtedly in
yoIved with the revolutionists. As yet
the revolutionists In the interior are
badly armed, but supplies of rifles and
ammunition are being sent down from
Aguinaldo's headquarters in Luzon,
and before long the natives will be
well armed with Mauser rifles.
Troops are constantly coming in and
going out of Iloilo, to and from diff
ferent places in Cebu and Panay where
the insurgents gather. The troops are
always sent away at night, apparently
to keep the inhabitants in ignorance of
what is going on in the interior. The
Spaniards celebrated victory while We
were in Iloilo The troops were review
ed and the Governor received the con-
gratulations of the people. In the even
ing there was a dance. The papers
reported the loss of six Spaniards killed
and twenty wounded the loss on the
insurgent side was said to be great. AS
a matter of fact it seemed doubtful It
the Spaniards had the upper hand in
the fight The Chinese, who are i'm
partial, and communicate with one an
other throughout the island in Chinese
characters which they alone can read,
report that the Spaniards were defeat
ed.
How unreliable the local press is will
be seen from the following abstract,
which appeared on the day of our ar
rival. The extract, which states that
American soldiers are shooting down
Spaniards and natives in the streets
of Manila whenever they please, shows
the methods used to deceive the native
population about American Govern
ment:
"DO NOT EXCHANGE.
From travellers arriving yesterday
from Manila we have heard of the con-
duct of the Yankees in that town tow
ard the natives.
most insignificant cause, because for
this there is a lack of justice. In direct
disregard of orders, they point car
bines at the face, and fire shots at the
wisest and most able.
"They laugh at the nobility of the
Spaniards. and say that the measures
we employ are big-and of little utility.
Any Yankee soldier has the right to
take the life of those disgraced ones.
( Various shooting ARRAYS carried
to head in the open street
have been referred to US, and
without their commission having
other result than the sentence of the
soldier Immediately responsible.
"As is natural, this conduct, SO little
in harmony with Spanish sentiments, is
here vigorously censured, notwith-
standing that all know that it is the
method employed with the unhappy
natives of America, whose race is on
the verge of disappearance.
Zone of the Yankee personages of
most knowledge in Manila, according to
what person who has means of know
ing tells us, said not many days ago
that to exterminate the legal race
would require fifteen years Already it
has. entered into their calculations to
employ in Luzon the method followed in
America. What deception more horrible
has been practised till now than that
which the Yankees have assisted in
against these. islands?
ITO this date they will not call its
best people aiiies0f their future hap
the Filfpihos cannot complain They
have fashioned their own disgrace. -
Harper's Weekly.