Evening star., 1901-12-19
WITHOUT A PARALLEL
Gen. Chaffee Denounoes the Treachery
of the Filipinos.
AND DISSIMULAfION
Comments in Review of Court
Martial Cases.
THE NATIVES DOUBLE LIFE

History affords no parallel of whole
people thus practically turning war traitors,
and in the genius of no other people was
ever found such masterful powers of Sc
crecy and dissimulation; but it is needless
to say that no powerful state was ever
erected or ever can be erected upon such
immoral and unenlightened foundations"
This statement is made by General Chaffee,
military governor Of the Philippines. in q
review of one of a number of court-martial
cases in the islands. the records OF which
have been received at the War Department.
The case which brought forth this comment
from General Chaffee was one wherein
seven natives were tried Jointly on a charge
Of murder. The accused were soldiers in
the insurgent army and after defeat by the
American army in the field abandoned even
the show of open opposition of the half-uni-
formed guerrilla bands and took up their
residence at Taytay, In Morong province,
Luzon-a place then protected by an Amer
lean garrison. Then, following the pro-
claimed policy of the insurgent chiefs, they
proceeded to organize secretly a bolo band
After the native population within the lines
OF the army OF occupation had been author
lied to establish civil government the band
came forward under the leadership OF a
resident padre. dictated and secured their
election as municipal officers of Taytay and
entered upon their duties under American
authority.
Duplicity of the Natives.
Then ensued a remarkable attempt to
serve two masters. In all lawful matters
they served with due appearance of loyalty
the American government. while at the
same time they labored secretly and dill
gently in the interests Of the insurrection.
This dual form of government, says Gen.
eral Chaffee, existed everywhere-in strong
ly garrisoned cities like Manila, well as
the smallest barrio. The municipal officers
Of Taytay next entered upon series Of
murders and continued their deadly work
until the growing number Of mysterious
disappearances from the community led to
the discovery of the perpetrators by the
American authorities.
"One undeniable truth" says General
Chaffee, stands out In this case. as in
hundreds Of like cases OF murder-that the
average native of these islands has not
more than the merest rudimentary con-
ception of his individual rights and duties
as man, and no one knows this so well
as the willy chiefs who use him for their
natives were sentenced to be hanged, but
General Chaffee commuted the sentence in
i the cases of three of them to imprisonment
at hard labor for life.
The Case of q Native Priest.
The seventh native, Leonardo de Posoy. a
regularly ordained priest, asked for and was
granted a separate trial. When Taytay was
given a permanent garrison of American
troops Posoy was found there in the regu-
lar pursuit of his calling as curate of the
pueblo. Through his advantages of edu-
cation, his spiritual relations with the peo-
pie and his active interest in their secular
affairs, he was easily the most influential
man in the community. He cultivated the
good will of the American officers and prom
ised to aid them in keeping peace. But
when the elections to American civil gov
ernment Offices were held he put forward
and caused to be elected as presidente one
Caledonia Javier. whom General Chaffee de-
scribes as an 'illiterate and bigoted man."
whom Posoy well knew was an officer OF
insurgents, and whom he commended to
the people as the best man for the office
because he was bold"
A DisingenuOus Plea.
At his trial Posoy. who was held to be
the chief agent in the Taytay murders, took
advantage of the loophole which appeared
to be afforded by his position as priest, by
contending that while the participators in
the wholesale murders in Taytay would
confess the same at confessional. he was
restrained by his sacred office 10 keep
silence.
General Chaffee pronounced this defense
Of no value, saying that "the confessional
does not lay upon any man, priest or lay
man, the obligation Of suppressing knowl-
edge of crimes being committed by third
parties, the consummation of which could
have been prevented without violating the
secrecy Of the confessional" In this par.
ticular case, 1t is stated. the knowledge or
the crimes was brought directly to tho
priests notice. and was not gained through
the confessional. General Chanee con-
firmed the sentence of the court-martial
which tried Posoy of death by hanging on
the charge of murder. However, he COM
muted the sentence to twenty years I'M
prisonment at hard labor ''out of his re-
spect for his calling and OF the great re-
ligious organization of which he rs most
unworthy member" Said General Chaffee
in concluding his review, mo person living
in these islands can be permitted to plead
his office, however sacred or exalted. as a
protection for crimes committed"
Two Other Cases.
In another case, Martin Gualverto, in a
quarrel with his wife, arising from her
well-founded jealousy, choked and beat her
to death He was sentenced to confine-
ment for life.
Gabino Santa Inez, captain or insur-
gents, had delivered to him as prisoners
two mucha chos, one a servant OF an Amer
lean presidente. He suspected them OF
friendliness to the United States. and Tor
that reason had them hanged up untl
nearly dead and then dispatched them by
shots from a rifle. He was sentenced 10
death, but this was commuted to thirty
wears Imprisonment at hard labor.
VENEZUELA WILL DEFY GERMANY.
N hn ESOrNfhlA C0l-