Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-12-25
A NATION OF TRAITORS.
General Chanec Gives Startling In
formation About FiIfpinos.

History affords no parallel of a
whole people thus practically turning
war traitors, and in the genius Of no
other people was ever found such mas
| terful powers Of secrecy and dissimu-
lation. but it Is needless to say that no
| powerful state was ever erected or
ever can be erected upon such immor-
al and unenlightened foundations"
This statement is made by General
Chaffee, military governor of the Phil
irpines, in a review Of one of a num-
ber Of 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 sew
en- natives were tried jointly on a
charge Of murder. and the accusers
were soldiers in the insurgent army
and after defeat by the American
army. disbanded, and took up their
residence in Tay Tay, in Morong prov
ince. Luzon. place protected by an
American garrison.
Then following the proclaimed policV
Of the insurgent chiefs. they proceeded
to organize secretly a bolo band. Az
ter the native population within the
lines of the army occupation had been
authorized to establish civil govern
the leadership Of a resident padre. die
tated and secured their election as
municipal officers of Tay Tay, and
entered upon their duties under the
American authority. Then ensued a
remarkable attempt to serve two mas
ters. In all lawful matters they serv-
ed with due appearance Of loyalty the
American government interests Of the
insurrection. The dual form Of gov
ernment. says General Chaffee. existed
everywhere. in strongly garrisoned cit
les like Manila, as well as the smallest
places. The municipal officers Of Tay
Tay next entered upon a series Of
murders and continued their work un-
til the growing number of mysterious
disappearances from the community
led to the discovery by. the American
authorities.
Zone undeniable TRUTH" says General
Chaffee, stands out in this case as In
a hundred like cases Of murder. that
the average native Of the islands has
not more than the merest rudimentary
conception Of his individual rights and
duties as a man and no one knows
this 80 we'll as the willy chiefs who use
him for their nefarious purposes"
Six of the seven natives were SEN
fenced to be hung: but General
ChaHee commuted the sentence IN
the cases Of three Of them to
imprisonment at hard labor for life.
The seventh native Leonardo Posoy,
a regularly ordained priest, asked for
and was granted a separate trial.
At his trial Posoy, who was held to
he the chief agent in Tay Tay muir
ders, took advantage Of the loophole
which appeared to be afforded by his
position as priest. by contending that
where the participators in the murders
in Tay Tay would confess the same at
confessional. he was restrained by his
office to keep silence. General Chaffee
pronounced this defense Of no value.
saying that "the confessional does not
lay upon any man. priest or layman.
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 particular case.
1t is stated, the knowledge Of the
crimes was brought directly to the
priests notice and was not gained
through the confessional. His sem
tence was commuted to Imprisonment
for 20 years.