The Washington times., 1914-12-27

Just what the facts are in the attest
story Of scdition and uprising from
Manila will not be definitely known un,
til Secretary Garrison receives a reply
TO his dispatch TO Governor General
Harrison. who probably is spending the
Christmas vacation period at the Gov
ernment's summer capital on the noun
tain tops of Benguct province. Resi-
dent Commissioners Manuel Quczon and
Manuel Earnshaw, who represent the
Philippines in Washington, are both
positive that the stories that have so
far been brought to light are abso-
lutely false. Mr.. Earnshaw has Just re-
turned from Manila. where he spent
TOUR months investigating conditions
and learning from the people just how
they feel toward the present govern
mcnt. Mr.. EarnshaW told me las. eve
nin= that he never saw tho islands in a
moro contented state. and that The
people were greatly pleased with the
way they had been treated by the pres
ent Administration.
Mr.. Quczon, who is probably the most
brilliant and best intrcnchcd political
leader in the islands-the real leader of
the so-called iTriependista faction.
which has sought absolute independence
IN all sorts of WAYS until MIR QUczon
eflorts-Mr Quezon and his associates
have more to lose and less to gain by
any sort OF a revolution or Instruction
not only because they represent a much
greater element of the Philippines nu-
meTically. but because thev are on the
point of securing from Congress,
through the Jones bill, which has
passed tho House.. concessions toward
self-gOvernment that they did not allow
themselves TO dream would come for
many Years.
So much for the circumstances here.
Now, take a look at the situation there:
A Filipino TolStoy.
The great mass of the Filipino peo-
pie are in many respects the most
curious collection of people in the
world. So far as I know, from per
sonal contact with the FiIipinos. they
are the only great political division CT
humanity which has little Or no music,
folk lore, common literature. or heroes.
When Mr.. Taft established the civil
government in the islands during the
time the insurrection OF 1893 was still in
progress. he discovered this fact, and
as he also discovered the emotional
character Of the people, he searched
through the government archives with
the idea of finding something that could
be utilized TO focus their attention and
vcneration. The Filipino is a very re-
lgiOus person. He has been devout
Catholic for more than three centuries,
and he has all the tempeTamental emo
tionaliSm that is likely to result from
the combination OF the Spanish religion
and customs with the Malay's natural in
tellicenCe. Mr.. Taft found among the
government records and verified in talks
with many business and professional
men of Manila, a most poetic story OF
the life and work of DR.. Jose Rial,
native Filipino. who was a Doet. college
professor, dreamer, and rCvolUtionist-
perhaps one ought to say patriot.
Or. Rial was the highest type of
patriot in all that goes 20 mako Up
such person. And he was executed for
his part in the revolution Of 1896 on
December 81 of that wear. Rial was a
wonderful man in many respects-a man
everyone that knew him owed and re-
spccted. lie was not a political aGi-
;ator in any sense. Highly cultured.
brought up in refined surroundings and
he might be called a Fill
pino TOlstoy-thc reyolutionist and the
dreamer OF loftv ideals. 1t was DC
cause he sought to help his people that
he incurred the cnmitv % tho Spanish
Government, and. though nc fed from
The islands. he was brought back upon
a pTcteXt and executed.
Story of the Katipunan.
At the time OF the revolution in which
Dr. Rizal was so unfortunately con-
.erncd. 4 secret societ known IS the
Katipunan was Organized-peThaps il
nav have existed before that. hut IT
anne 10 prominence then. Most OF the
Of that day and Of later
inc when the Americans had com"
.-rre members OF the Natlpunan.
,ctIv q revolutionary body nor did il
AVE anv revolutionary AIMS. II was
, sort Of national organization Of
rateruaI nature. the primary purpose
4 which was TO promote the welfare
u the peoplc, as whole, just as the
10 sonic- ORDERS. the odd Fellows, etc,
: our own country have such objects;
IN the revolution the katipunan fell
nto disrcputc. because NUMBER OF us
lemDcrE we're reVoiuuOnlStS, ana IN
.Ee revolt against the United States. IN
SO. II fen into further disrepute be
.Iusc its emblem. q rising sun, adorned
Inc Filipino flag and its cabalistic signs
were uscd-nisused. II might be Said-to
cover the crimes of some of the blood
iliTsty bandits who took advantage OF
DE revolution TO carry on their own
peculiar kind Of warfare. OF course.
Il might be said that the Katipunan
lodges really authorized some Of the
things charged against them-but
doubt much OF II.
However. into such disrepute did the
society fall with the American Govern
mcnt that the display of a Katipunan
lag was regarded as a seditious act
and membership in the Katipunsn was
rimz facie evidence Of revolutionary
Now. TO connect the Katipunan, Jose
,sizal. and the present situation:
After Mr. Taft had discovered Rial,
20 advised the Filipino friends 10 make
his man the George Washington of tho
Rial was martyr Rial
VAS a patriot, and RiZaI was all the
hings that n gentleman and a scholar
should be. Therefore, Mr.. Taft told his
.