The sun., 1901-05-26

1890 to 1923; and so-called procuradorss
from 1884 to 1887
The insurrection at Cavits in 1872 resulted
In the execution or exile Of many members
| OF the Masonic body. and for some years
| thereafter the brotherhood was under
cloud The Peninsula Spaniards dissooiated
| themselves from the revolutionary party
Under these circumstances the creoles and
| mestizos gradually organized new societies.
which still professed. however. to aim AT
obtaining reforms ny legal and Constitu-
tional means The "Liga Filipina' was
founded by DR. R:xsl and Domingo Franco;
Its first President was shot. Nearly oil tho
members we're Masons: they were WELDON
and fairly educated, not inclined 10 put their
persons or property in danger In MT
Sawyers opinion. they did not want to hght'
Rather did they strive to bring about the
fufilment Of their programme by founding
newspapers in Spain, and prosecuting
legitimate though vigorous propaganda
By writing articles and making speeches
they obtained the support OF some Liberals
and anti clericals in the Peninsula. and num-
bered many adheronts In the islands On
tho whole. the "Liga Filipina" Is pronounced
paratively harmless SO much cannot be
which was formed Of very different elements
There is no X in tho Spanish alphabet hut
this letter Ia found in the Malay dialects.
and, consequently. In Tagal. Inc ~ord
Katipunan means simply "association'
but the whole symbol Of the organization
means Sovereign. worshipful ASSOCIATION
Of the sons Of the country" Tho hatpunan
adopted some OF the Masonic paraphernaiia ana
some OF the intiatory ceremonies. but we're
in no sense Masonic lodges. The members
Of the society were poor people; writer's.
common soldiers. mechanics washermen.
and tenants on the friars' estates. They
subscribed small sums monthly for the pur-
chase OF arms and for other expenses Bear
ing in mind how many conspiracies had been
denounced to tho priests by the women
the lenders Of this movement gave their
meetings the outward appearance of benev-
olent associations, and directed the members
to represent the society 10 their wives In
that light. Tho purpose OF the katipunan
was. In its own words. "to redeem the Philip
pines from its tyrants. the frars. and TO
found communistic republic How many
men were affiliated TO this organization cam
not be known Estimates range from ten
thousand to fifty thousand members. Mr.
Sawyer has no doubt that 1t was the most
potent factor In the instruction OF 1885,
and that ia members. unlike the creoos
and mestizos we're ready TO give their lives
for their cause
II Is well known that the lnsurrrction of
isoG-97, start ed and supported by the Knti-
plnan. was temporarily brought to an end
by the sc-called pact Of Biak na-bato, signed
on Dec "a, 1897. and arranged between the
Governor General Primb da Rivera and
ASuinaldo. through tho mediation Of Don
Pedro Palermo. native gentleman Of means.
who had been educated in Spain In pursu-
ance Of this pact which had been approved
BY tho Government In Madrid. Aguinaldo
and a number Of prominent rebels werc
escorted to Hong Kong by relative Of the
Governor General, and there received
sum OF four hundred thousand dollars, the
first nstallmont Of the amount agreed upon
Al Hong Kong the doportcd rebels seem
10 have lived In an economical manner upon
their own resources They did not divide
the indemnity. nor convert II 10 their own use
but kept II as war fund in case Of need
The event showed the wisdom Of this course,
for the agreement to give the Fiipinos an
amnesty and reforms was not carried out,
The proclaimed amnesty was disrcgarded
In point OF fact and no reforms were ever
granted Tho frlars continued their ar
bitrnrv courses against those who had been
concerned in the rebellion Under these
circum stances. bnndS Of mlrauder' soon
began again 70 infe't the province' and
some Of them drew near TO Cavite on March
"a 1898, tho oSeventy-fourth regiment Of native
infantry, in garrison AT that town, the reei-
mcnt which had distinguished itself rcmark-
ably on the Spanish side during the pre-
cedinc insurrcction was ordered 10 march
out against the rebels Whatever tho reason.
whether they felt that their services had
not been duly acknowledged, or because
their pay was much In arrears, they refused
10 march against their own countrymon
Eight corporals were called out Of the ranks
and shot then and there, the regiment was
then again ordered 10 advance. and the threat
was made that a refusal would mean death
10 all All did refuse, and were sent to
barracks 70 await sentence The next morn
ing the entire regiment, with arms and equip
mcnts. marched ont and deserted in a body
20 the insurgents. saying they were willing
to fight tho foreign enemies OF Spain, but
not against their own friends The following
dny another native regiment In the Spanish
service Joined them These two regiments
constituted the nucleus Of the force organized
by Aguinaldo in the summer Of 1898