Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28

whether they had accomplished or prom
ised any good for the people. There we're
several questions concerning the effect OF
public improvements proposed by the gov
erEmeat and the success Of the new cur
reney that has just been introduced: and
then went into personalities, faquif4ng his
opinion of President Mckinley, President
RocseYeit, 0sv. Taft. Judge Wsisht and
others: and With tkess and other questions
conceived that ! had furnished him
ground plan for an interesting interview.
which any gentleman Of his position and
ambition would be glad to hare DubliaheA.
But nothing came OF Il.
When called the second TINA. according
to appointment. he was exceedingly agree
able and expressed great qualification AZ
seeing me again He hoped that I was
having pleasant visit, that liked Manila
and that would use my pen ana personal
influence for the welfare OF ais people. nut
gized for not having the interview ready
for me- He had been interrupted: friend
had been Visiting him: his attention had
been distracted Tor various reasons. ana ne
unuld have to ask nie to indulge him 1t
lie longer. When asked IL he would have
the answers to my questions ready IN an
other week he replied hopefully; he ex-
Of his advisers as to the propriety OF pub
fishing his views at this time, and that It
would be necessary for him to obtain some
information before he would be able TO an
swer some of the questions. l gave MN the
date of my departure, and he promised TO
be ready before that time.
Rut when 1 made the third call he had
nothing but regrets 70 oner; and seemed 20
feel very much concerned because he had
not complied with my wishes He onered
various excuses, and finally admitted tn1t
friends I'm whom he had confidence consid-
cred 1t indscreet Tor MN 70 oscuss 1919 s,oS
him to let politics entirely alone. When
asked IL he had any message for the Amer
fear people he thanked me for the susses-
= frsrt1 or II.
dent that he had nothing to say and was
too wise to say It -.
He referred pleasantly to his acquaint
ances among the American colony ana
seemed proud Of the fact that his boy nan
found a friendly reception among the chill
dren of several American officials ana was
attending an American school. anu thas
his daughter was expecting to enter pms oI
fine schools next year. She was alreaoy
taking music lessons, fact OF which we
had become painfully aware. for during tho
entire interview the little damsea SAT az
piano in the next room ana thumpeo s"ay
a her exercises with great VlGor ana ~
siduity.
Apu;ns,do looks younger than he Is. He
hos tho appearance OF boy. He was born
March q. 1859, and Is therefore thirty-nye
wears old but you would judge that he was
no more than twenty-five. He was teaching
school at the little town of Silan. nsar
cavite. when the rebellion against tho
friars in 1895 broke out. and joined tho
revolutionists as a sort OF secretary %
writer He composed their program ana
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, which Is q wild exortation
to the people in most extravagant terms.
to take up arms and deliver themselves
from the tyranny Of the monks. Inc re-
beflion was against the church rather than
against the government, and that has been
the case with every outbreak In the Philip
rines for hundred years. Almost every
generation for more than century mas at
tempted to overthrow the ecclesiastical des-
potism under which they had lived. In
1927 In 1874 and in 1872, when occurred the
nost serious Instructions OF the last CEN
fury the fame of rebellion was lighted by
natives who had suffered from the exac-
were directed against the friars rather than
against the Spanish authorities.
In 1872 learned Filipino priest named
Joseph Burgos organized a movement to ex-
clude the Spanish frfars from parish duties
and demanding native secular ciergymen
for the cure of souls. He drew upon him
self the vengeance OF the religious COM
muBities who CONTROLLED the government.
and DIR. Burgos and three other native
priests who had joined in the movement.
one OF them eighty years of age. were ar
rested on the Luneta, the fashionable prom
enade along the seashQre.
revolution of 1896 was provoked by the
execution of DR. Rlzai "a favorite poet and
physician, who Incurred the hatred OF the
fTiars and was pers&cuted aud finally ex-
ecuted by their influence. The first mani
festo written by AgVdnaid0 a literary tri-
umph of which he issvery proud. declares
that: ~
I'VE aspire to a government representing
all the live forces Of the country In which
the most able. the most worthy In virtue
and talent may take part without distinc-
ton of birth, fortune or race. We declare
that no monk or friar shall pollute the soil
of any part of the archipelago and that no
convent or house of religious secluslon shall
be tolerated.
Friars Tortured.
the rebels. September /. 1885, the second
day after the outbreak, attacked a monas-
tary and captured thirteen friars Sew
eraI Of them were tortured in the most
inhuman manner. One was cut up piece
meal while he was still living. the frock
of another was saturated with petroleum
and set on fire. and Aguinaldo and his COM
rades roared with laughter while the poor
creature was trying to, tear the flaming
wrappings from hiseperson; another was
bathed in oil and fried with bamboo spit
run through the length OF his body.
These atrocities were intended to en-
phasize the cause and the purpose OF the
Instruction. which was directed at the
church instead of the authorities of Spain
AguinaldO approved of and participated
In Them and within three weeks had be-
came the acknowledged leader of the move
ment. Nor has he changed his views con-
corning the regular clergy" as the friars
are called. Like every other Filipino, he
hates them with inexpressible hatred.