Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-09
The PHILIPPINES.
XxvI-The Spanish and
the Fi|ipinos.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

One of the droll incidents. Of the Span
ish American was was the complete
ignorance of the Spanish governor of the
Island of Guam, which is about 500 miles
from Manila, that state of war existed
between his country and the United
States. When a squadron anchored on
the coast of Guam his excelency was
roWed out in his chic little boat, and upon
boarding the American flagship explained
that he did not salute the visitors for
the simple reason that he had no powder
He was greatly astonished when Informed
OF the war between the two countries
But this governor of 1898 merely
repeating the performance of the man
who was governor general Of the Philip
pines when the English took Manila in
1762
That functionary was Migue! Ezpeleta
who had been Bishop of Cebu before be-
coming the governor and captain GIT
eral The first he knew of the war lie
tween England and Spain was wnen the
English squadron entered Manila bar
September -. lI62. To his great aston
ishment and indignation. tie English COM
manders, Admiral Cornish and Gen ORA
per- commanded the surrender Of the is
lands to the King of England. Tn. dc
mand was refused; British troops were
landed and. October ). ManiN. was bonn
barded and captured. A great deal mas
been written about the British occupa-
ton OF the Philippines. but the cold facts
are that the English ruled Manila ana
Cavite only, and that the Spaniards never
lost control of the rest Of the archipelago.
This control was maintained despite III
termittent attacks by the English, pdtch'
Portuguese and Chinese.
Unfortunately, murder, arson, robbery
and rapine distorted the face of the is
lands dur
Many Crimes Committed ing this
in Name Of Patriotism. pisorgan,-
zation These crimes were committed In
the name of patriotism. HE excuse be
ing that they were done in order to fight
the British. Two years later France,
England and Spain concluded a treaty or
peace and March 81 the English sailed
away.
The next interesting event was the ex-
pulsion of the Jesuits in compliance with
| the decree of Charles III, April = 1907,
that the order should be banished from
all his possessions. Everything the
uesuits owned was seized by the govern
ment and the members of the order were
succeeded by the Recolatos. At the time
Of their expulsion from the islands they
had become very rich. They had built
| magnificent churches and converts in
| many towns. In Manila they owned the
Church Of San Ignacio. San Jose College.
a seminary where Filipinos were edu-
| Gated for the priesthood. and the only
printing press in the islands.
When the Spaniards took the Philip
pines. they found a very primitive form
| Of government, IL 1t could be called gov
| eminent at all. The people We're divided
| into tribes and right was always on the
/ side Of the tribal chiefs who ruled their
people as they pleased. Slavery existed
\ in many evil forms: home life was al q
\ very low order and everything indicated
| a semi-civiized state. For more than a
| century Spain did very little 10 better
the condition OF the Filipino people or s.