The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-20
ROAST FOR THE FILIpINOS
General Chaffee Characteriles Them
as TreacherOus in the Extreme.
HAVE MASTERFUL POWERS OF SECRECY
Profess Submission to American Rule,
While at the Same Time They Are
Plotting Murders,

Washington, December 19.-"Hlstory al.
fords no parallel OF a whole people thus
practically turning war traitors. and In the
genius Of no other people was ever found
such masterful powers OF secrecy and dis
no powerful state was ever erected or ever
can be erected on such immoral and un-
enlightened foundations"
This statement is made by General Chat
fee, military governor OF the Philippines,
in a review OF one of a number OF court
martial cases In the islands, the records Of
which have been received at the war de-
partment.
The case which brought forth this com
ment from General Chafee was one where
In seven natives were tried jointly on a
charge OF murder. The accused were sol
dlers In the insurgent army and after de-
feat by the American army in the held,
abandoned even the show OF open opposl-
ton which such as the half uniformed
guerrilla bands make and took up their resi-
dence in Taytay, In Luzon, a place pro-
tected by an American garrison Then,
following the proclaimed policy OF the in
surgent chiefs, they proceeded TO organize
secretly a bolo band. When authorization
had been given 10 establish civil govern
ment the band came forward under the
leadership OF resident padre and were
elected municipal officers OF Taytay. In all
lawful matters they served with the APP
pearance Of loyalty TO the American gov
eminent, while at the same time they la
bored secretly and diligently In the inter
ests OF the insurrection
This duel form Of government, says Gen
eral Chafee, existed everywhere in strongly
garrisoncd cities like Manila, as 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
disappearance led TO the discovery Of the
perpetrators by the American authorities.
"One undeniable truth" says General
Chatfee, 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 mcrest rudimentary concep-
ton of his individual rights and duties as
a man; and no one knows this So well as
the Willy chiefs who use him for their ne
farouS purposes
Six Of The seven natives were sentenced
to he hanged but General Chafe commuted
tho sentence OF three Of them to imprlson.
mont nj hard labor for life
The seventh native, Leonardo de Posoy
n regularly ordained priest. asked for and
was granted a separate trial.
When TaYtay was given permanent gar
rison NJ American troops De Posoy was
found there in the regular pursuit of his
calling as curatc Of the pueblo Ie cnl-
GERS and promised to aid them W keeping
pence. But whcn the elections to Amer
lean civil government offices were held he
Put forward and caused 10 be elected MS
presidente Calendonio Javler. whom Gen
cral Chaffee describes rs an "illlterate and
bgoted man" whom De posoy we'll knew
was an officer # insurgents and whom he
commended to the people as the best man
for nc Office because he WIS hold.
Al his ;rinl Dc Posoy. who was held to
he the chief aGgrosSor in the Taytay muir
dcrs took advantage Of the loopholc which
appeared to he afforded by his position as
priest by contendlRg that while the par
ticirators In the wholesale murders in Tay-
tay would confess the same at confessional
he was compelled by his sacred office 10
keep silence. General Ch1ffoe pronounced
this defense OF no value, saying that 1.-THE
does not Jay upon any man.
priest or layman. the obligation Of sup
pressing knowledge Of crimes being com
inittcd by third parties. the contamination
Of which could have been prevented with
out violating the secrecy OF the confes
sional. f"
In this particular case 1t is stated the
knowledge Of tho crimes was brought d.
rectly 10 tho priests notice. and was not
gained through the confessional. General
ChafIec confirmed the sentence or death I'M
posed by the court martial which tried he
Posoy, but commuted the sentence "a
twenty years Imprisonment Mt hard labor |
''out Of respect for his calling and Of the
great religious organization Of which he is
a most unworthy member"