Evening star., 1901-08-09
How the Fires Of War Were Fed bY
the Philippine "Katipunan."
SECRET SOCIETY OF TIE fAGALS
important Factor in Both of Apuin-
a!do's Instructions.
THE PEOPLE TERRoRIzED

to people in the United States that the in
surrection in the Philippines should SO long
have been able to continue its existence,
and many have attributed this to the valor
OF the Philippine soldiery. There could
hardly have been q greater mistake. The
Philippine soldiery have not been able at
any point to oppose even nominal resist
ance to the American occupation Of every
town and village in the islands, and yet
peace has not existed. The warIike condi-
tions which have prevailed have been due,
not to Philippine valor, but to the Katipu-
nan. powerful. all-pervading secret or
ganization, nominally working for liberty,
appealing to native ignorance and racial
prejudice. dedicated to assassination, and
bold and avowedly INSCRIPTIONS in it's
methods by which It attains it's ends q So
ciety which, without sanction Of law or
authority other than its own rules as
sumed and freely exercised the power of
Furnishing by death any person who dis
Its displeasure, and which vested this pow
er In the ignorant local chiefs of it's lodges
throughout the islands.
Until the advent Of the Americans the
conditions which existed in the Philippines
outside Of Manila, were truly mediaeval in
character. The church and the state held
joint authority; the sole duty of the people
was obedience; Of recognized rights they
the people was the friar, and he is
charged with all manner of extortion and
outrage. He is said to have been greedy of
land and money, and to have lived in COM
parative splendor, at the expense Of the
people. in magnificent converts" built for
him by the forced labor and contributions
OF parishioners. He is charged with as
suming the reins Of civil government, while
neglecting his proper duties of instructing
the people, who were taught merely the
formulas of the Roman Catholic Church
and obedience to the priests. General ig-
norance prevailed. Some learned the Span
ish language, but ambition to study seems
to have been repressed, and the reading of
books not approved by the friars was. In
practice, ground for deportation, and the
writing of them a capital offense. The way
to profession was made long and diff
cult; twelve years of study, at least, were
required before diploma would be grant
ed which would enable Filipino to prac
tice a profession. Since the opening Of the
Suez canal few Filipinos, by favor. or as
exiles, have been educated in Europe. Cen
orally, however, the education Of the people
was discouraged.
The katipunan Organized.
It was in Manila, on the 7th of July,
1892, that the Katipunan Society of the
Philippines was organized under the name
OF the Supreme and Venerable Associa-
tion of the Sons Of the People," the word
"katipunan'' meaning association or So
ciety. The founder and soul Of the So
ciety'' was Andre Bonafacio. an employe
in brickyard. The purposes OF the Or
ganization were stated to be the political
social and moral elevation Of the Tagal
race. The society grew rapidly in Manila
and the Tagal provinces; and In July. 1896
the number Of members was variously re-
ported to be from 1900 to $1,000. In the
beginning the formulas Of Masonry were
employed, but these were simplified to
adapt them to the grade of intelligence of
fto hnr ykrn hnln ,ero6 <1o 1Drr~
classes, and who are stated to have been
"copyists, common soldiers, washermen,
wood-gatherers, shoemakers and laborers.'
The only person OF edusation connected
with the society was DR.. Pho Valensuela,
who was initiated in 1895.
When new lodge was opened a triangle
was formed, called "Hasik," or seed plot;
and an equilateral triangle and three KS
were the distinctive symbols of the society.
There were three degrees and a simple
cipher and secret signs were adopted. The
initiation ceremonies were made solemn and
terrifying, to impress the candidate and
to test his valor. He was first questioned
In a cabinet. and then introduced into
dimly-lighted room, where, upon table
draped in black, were human skull a
loaded revolver, a bolo, or short native
sword, and paper upon which were writ
ten questions which he was required to
answer. After this, various other tests
were applied, followed by the administer
ing of the oath, which was signed with
candidate, who was then declared a MEM
Der of the lowest degree. The supreme
council consisted of a president, secretary
syndic. treasurer and six members. This
council and the presidents Of local lodges
formed the assembly.
Twenty-Five women were admitted, to
quiet their suspicious of the nocturnal ex-
cursions of their husbands They were
told that the objects of the society were
simply mutual aid. The katipunan did, in
fact, aid its sick and bury it's dead, pay
ing the expenses Of the funerals "but al
ways at the lowest rates, so as not to
enrich the priests" The moral objects of
the society were. the teaching Of demo-
cratic IDEAS. and an opposition to relig-
ious fanatacism as expressed in the teach
ing of the friars who obscured rather
than explained religious truths The po-
litical objects Were the securing for the
Philippines the reforms granted to Cuba
and the limiting Of the powers Of the friars.
Copies Of the Rights Of Man" and a
history of the French revolution, as well
as other works, including treatises on mill
tary actics and on the manufacture of
powder and dynamite. were circulated
among the members.
A secret society of supposed Masonic ten
dencies and origin. which distributed in
cend1ary literature, and which organized
large numbers OF the lowest elements of
the native population into a coherent body
In opposition to the existing government,
could not fail to be obnoxious to the Span
ish authorities Efforts were made to sup
~ cSS duU the marx OF mutation was
ground for the Imprisonment of the person
bearing it.
Outbreak Of Revolution.
This was the situation in 1885, Andres
Bonafacio was the president. elected on the
LIST of January, and Emilio Aguinaldo pre-
sided over the lodge at Cavite. Aguinaldo
was then twenty-six years Of age, and
municipal captain Of Cavite viejo. Having
occasion to visit Cavite to receive the Or
ders Of the provincial governor, he learned
that list Of the members of the Katipun-
an had fallen into the hands of the Span
iards, and that the priest was Cavite Viejo
was endeavoring to cause his arrest He
FASTENED back to his town, and, with the
aid of his ueutenants. called together the
members, explained to them their danger,
and with them took up arms against the
Spaniards. This was on the 26th Of August,
1896 Within five days Aguinaldo and his
adherents had taken possession Of nearly
every town in the province. surprised the
small garrisons and secured their arms:
The insurrection spread rapidly throughout
the Tagal provinces, where the Katipunan
had been established. Andres Bonafacio
was killed. it Is believed at the instigation
Of Aguinaldo, and the latter assumed con-
troll Of the society and Of the forces in the
field.
The Spaniards sent large force against
fho nd IN eight "a or