Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-10

ance, rank superstition and awe OF
| these in authority, a condition which
the church and government system did
Ettle to ameliorate. In the over three
hundred years Of Spanish dominion in
the islands no concerted effort was
ever made to teach the people the
Spanish language and thus give them
a literature and a common medium Of
communication. The plan was other
wise The native dialects, which pos
sess no literature, were taught eX
clusively in the parishes, instruction
being limited in ost cases to the
| catechism and church literature. Only
| the small percentage Of persons able to
come to the Manila schools ever ac-
quired knowledge Of the Spanish
language or Of the world outside the
confines of their particular pueblo. This
system was based, it is said, upon the
| theory that by cCntning the people to
| their own dialects and shutting to them
the pages Of history the possibility Of
united &ction upon their part against
either the church or state authorities
was minimized.
Given the above condition of affairs
coupled with the natural actions Of
men Of ordinary human passions when
invested with practically unlimited
power, and the result is not difficult TO
picture. The pri6 st controlled and
dominated the people, not only by the
power which comes from superior race
and superior education and mentality.
but he held i'll his hands as u scourgc
for those who questioned his words or
his deeds the threat and the fear of
imp isOnmcnt ar Punishment in this life
ard the terrible fortunes and torments
Of the damned in the hereafter. SPANS
army in the islards was never large,
while her civil official roll was also
comparatively small. For this reason,
and because the church was a state in
stitution, churchmen played a large
part in governmental affairs.
The priests were subsidized by the
state, practically all Of them receiving
4 regular allowance from the govern
mcnt treasury. In a vast number Of
the towns Of the archipelago the priest
was the only repre- sentative of Spanish
sovereignty among the people, being
not only the intermediary between the
government and the people, but per-
| forming as well the duties Of q gov
eminent official. The strong arm of the
state, WitE its mysterious power To ar
| rest. inprisun, punish or kill, was al
ways back OF him, making his author
itv dreaded among the people. So
| strong, in fact, did the religious cor
porations grow eventually, and so
powerful vas their influence through
out the islands, That The government
| ana lt9 ollictlS pccaih' 'HVli P"Pfct9
ana the tenure 81 the governor OF IN"
officers VINO dared oppose thelf VIII 81
| their plans was short.
If * not rItogcthcr strange that this
| tremendous Influence given into their
hands was too often abused The high
ends Of their calling soon became little
,n.,r, than q memory. their power be-
| i,,o. r,,,,,+it,,toI VI ,,tigft,. n.rso,,,r ,,,-
nrtftas .,nl enmities ana 10 enrich their
| orders. Holding over their intended
victims TIN twin terrors IF punishment
he., and hereafter, few ever dared t.
| resist lh'lF WILL and none perhaps So
cesSluliy. 'ollcupiliaSe OH the part oi
| priests win the women OIL thelr par
| iShCS was Of such common occurrence
as scarcely 20 excite comment. To
| such an extent. indeed, did their power
| ,b.i, ecrbi.trv ana tbair ..snirit,,a1 Hi
II -
| Ht'ehce tAt@i'd over tue women oi
| their hocks that the latter frequently
| considered it ali honor to have rcla-
| g., In III ,i,t. ,,I ,,,.,. ,,,c,,5
'ioI'H WIN ny ~ ITS 'ii'' W. - '"''
Of the children they bore MN. Many
| of the nrnnniunut FiIininos of IN.
" - .,...:.,- 49,,
ISLANDS tOIay trace lhtlf spanish Dlouu
to this source. and. openly speak Of
Il g..