The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-08-24
SECRET POLITICAL SOCIETY
IN THE PHILIPPINES.

According to Col L. ". V. Kennon,
Of the United States Army. now on
duty in the Philippines. there is a
secret organization in the archipelago
compared with which the mythical Ku-
Klux Khan of the South in the days
Of reconstruction and the historic Mo-
| ly Maguires Of the Pennsylvania min
ing regions were innocent and harm
less organizations. To the "Katipunan
OF the Philippines Colonel Kennon at
tributes the prolongstion of the war in
the archipelago. rather than TO the va
lor and determination of the Filipino
soldiery. In the August number of
the North American Review Colonel
Kennon gives an interesting descrip-
ton Of the work of this powerful or
ganization. its history and purposes.
The "Katipunan" Society of the Phil
ippines was organized at Manila on
July Z, 1892. under the name of the
Supreme and Venerable Association
Of the Sons OF the People" Ostensibly
the purpose of the society was the
political. social and moral elevation
OF the Tagal race. The Tagals are the
dominating tribe among the Philippine
natives, their home being in the coun-
try around Manila and in the neigh
boring provinces. The real object of
the society was TO create an organized
opposition to Spanish rule. The Su-
preme and Venerable Association OF
the Sons of the People" increased rap
idly in numbers, and in July. 1896, its
membership was estimated at from
1900 to $4,000. The initiation cere-
monies were solemn and terrifying and
were designed to impress the candi-
date and test his courage. After vari-
GUS tests had been applied the candi-
date signed an oath, using, in place of
ink. blood taken from his left fore
arm. The members of the society were
supplied with copies of The Rights
Of Man" and history of the French
Revolution. They also studied trea-
tlses on military tactics and on the
manufacture of gunpowder and dyna-
mite The organization does not ap-
pear to have had among its members
many persons OF education and posi-
ton. although later it was utilized
by the Filipino leaders.
The Spanish authorities were, of
course. aware Of the existence of the
Isociety and efforts were made to sup
press it. Emilio Aguinaldo was the
presiding officer OF the lodge organized
at Cavite. near Manila On August 26.
l1Se6, having learned that list of the
members of the "katipunan" Society
had been obtained by the Spaniards.
he induced the members Of the organ
ization TO take UP arms against the
spanish rule. Within five days Agui-
Inaldo and his adherents had taken
possession OF nearly every town in
the province. surprising the garrisons
and securing their arms. The insur-
rection spread rapidly through she
Tagal provinces. where the -Katipu-
nan had been established. II lasted
fouteen months and the operations
on both sides appear to have been con-
Quoted with cruelty. Finally the Span
iards gave Aguinaldo and the other
leaders of the movement 100000 to
leave the Philippines. promising. in ad-
EDITION TO the Indemnity TO make sub
stantial reforms in the administration
Iof the islands This was SPANS ex-
perienee with the -Katipunan- Ac-
cording to Colonel Kennon. 1t was due
solely to the methods of the Supreme
and Venerable Association Of the Sons
ot the People that the war in the
philippines resulting from the Ameri-
lean occupation continued more than .
year after the organized forces OF the
Filipinos had been destroyed
Colonel kennon describes the -Kati-
lpunan~ as : society dedicated to as
sassinafion: as an organization
which. without sanction OF Law or
authority. exercised the power Of pun
!ishlng by death any person who dis
Iobeyed its mandates The F1iIpinos
we're forbidden. under pain Of death.
to accept once under the Americans.
although at this period. according to
Colonel Kennon. the American occu-
patton was complete throughout the
archipelago Every town and province