The Katipunan Part 16

As to liberty of a.s.sociations. People in the Temperance world often ask themselves, does prohibition prohibit? Some make themselves believe that it does; but practice has shown what common sense tells each and every one of us, that it does not; for if a man (and I do not wish to be so ungallant as to exclude the ladies) cannot get what he wants legally, he as a rule sees that he gets it somehow. And so with the Filipinos who, denied the liberty of a.s.sociation, defied the authorities and held their gatherings in secret and secluded places.

All these various political ideas were decidedly advanced in as much as they had relation to a people in no way prepared to receive them. No father would put a loaded revolver or an open razor into the hands of his child; but those were the very things the separatists were howling for.

APPENDIX A.

A. L. G. D. A. M.

G. R. Log. SUNT.

"The executive Commission sends to the V.

Masters D. Deg. O. O. T. and O. G.

O. S. of the L. Log. of the Obedience.

L. T. M.

"Venerable Masters and beloved brethren. After our circular of the 28th of May last it would seem unnecessary to remind you, that you give the most exact fulfillment to those points which the same embraces, the which were approved by the Grand a.s.sembly celebrated on the 15th of the same month; but nevertheless, as the time of our cause has a.s.sured and all provision is but little in the present moments, it has appeared well to us to direct this other circular to you in order to fix more correctly the points which have to be the object of the most exact fulfillment. We will now pa.s.s on to the enumeration of the same.

First: The triangles will perform strictly all and every one of the dispositions dictated by their respective presidents, and venerable honorary brethren, not allowing the least or most insignificant point to slip their observation, for even when it seems to our venerable brethren otherwise, it is of the greatest transcendency.

"The smallest omission in these dispositions might prejudice in a great manner our labors, the fruit of many years of constancy and hope of a sure triumph.

"Second: Once the signal is given every bro. shall fulfill the duty imposed upon him by this Gr. Reg. Log. without considerations of any kind, neither of parentage, friends.h.i.+p or grat.i.tude, etc.

"Third: Those who on account of debility, cowardice or other considerations do not fulfill their duty, already know the tremendous punishment they will incur for disloyalty and disobedience to this G. R. Log.

Fourth: The blow having been struck at the Captain General and the other Spanish Authorities, the loyals shall attack the convents and shall behead their infamous inhabitants, respecting the wealth contained in the said convents; this shall be gathered by the commissions named for that purpose by the G. R. Log. and it shall not be lawful for any of our brethren to possess themselves of what justly belongs to the treasury of the G. N. F. (Grand Filipino Nation)

"Fifth: Those who fail to carry out what is set forth in the foregoing paragraph shall be held as malefactors and subjected to exemplary punishment by this G. R. Log.

"Sixth: On the following day the bro. designated shall bury all the bodies of their hateful oppressors in the field of Bagumbayan together with their wives and children, and on the site shall later on be raised a monument commemorative of the independence of the G. N. F.

"Seventh: The bodies of the members of the Religious Orders shall not be buried, but burned in just payment of the felonies which they committed during life against Filipino nation during the three hundred years of their nefarious domination. (see note 26.)

"And whilst awaiting the day of our redemption this executive commission shall continue giving the sure guide which we all have to follow in the presence of the facts to the end that none of our brethren shall be able to say that they were unwarned.

"In the G. R. Log. in Manila, the 12th of June 1896.--The first of the long desired independence of the Philippines.--The President of the executive Commission, Bolivar. The Gr. Mast. Adj. Giordano Bruno.--The Gr. Sec. Galileo.

APPENDIX B.

Under the t.i.tle of "My part in the Revolution," Isabelo de los Reyes in an artful attempt to defend himself before those who considered him a coward because of his ever s.h.i.+rking that part of the task of the revolt which naturally fell to him, gives his readers the following information:

"When it was desired to effect the manifestation of 1888, (see p. 60), Ramos took me to the palace of Malacanan, to express to Gen. Terrero verbally the complaints of the "country"; but I do not know why, but on that day the manifestation did not come off...."

"From the palace of Malacanan we went to the house of Doroteo Cortes, who instructed me in the object of the manifestation, thus:

"... We reckon with the pleasure of the Civil Governor Sr. Centeno (see note 2) to make a manifestation against the friars, who oppress us with their abuses, and oppose the progress of the country."

"--Very good indeed I replied full of enthusiasm.

"But my enthusiasm disappeared entirely when Cortes told me with the greatest frankness, that they asked and were sure of attaining their wish, that the Archbishop should be deported, merely for having failed to a.s.sist at the religious functions dedicated to the King [94].

"I then doubted the ability [95] of the directors of the manifestation, and believed that they would be irremissibly crushed by the friars, who were very astute and powerful, as in fact it so happened.

"I retired leaving Ramos in that house.

"I immediately went to see his father and said to him: The manifestation has fallen flat. I have come to tell you that in my opinion, your son ought not to sign the instance of the manifestos. Let all those who like do so, but it would be a pity that your son who, in the time to come, may be able to render signal services to the country should now fall crushed by the friars. Now that Cortes says that he reckons with the authorities, your son's signature is not very necessary.

"And neither Cortes nor Ramos signed it."

APPENDIX C.

Confidential.

A L. G. D. G. A. D. U.

Liberty Equality Fraternity.

Universal Freemasonry Spanish Family.

Sends S. F. S. to the Rep. Log. Modestia No. 199.

"Seeing that there have circulated rumors among us that in spite of the masonic secret, in spite of the secrecy of our works, there exist in the hands of our enemies, lists of masons more or less correct, more or less extensive, public opinion has shown itself anxious to know whether we have been vilely sold.... And when the La Politica de Espana en Filipinas has commenced to publish correspondence which ought to have been carefully and sacredly guarded, this anxiety reached its highest point, embracing the desire to discover the author or authors although it would appear that the source of leakage has been found, even though the form and details are unknown.

"The presidency of the Cons. Reg. has not been able to remain indifferent before the scandal which is developing ..; on the contrary it has from the first endeavored to discover the truth....

"I am sorry to have to confess that the hour of the revelation has not yet sounded.... But incidental discoveries oblige me to break silence giving the voice of alarm; and to what point this determination is justified, you shall judge by the facts I am about to relate.

"1st. Pedro Serrano, symbolic name Panday Pira, gr. 24, in his anxiety to discredit local masonry, since this refuses to be exploited has permitted himself to make calumnious affirmations to a foreign mason concerning this Federation, manifesting at the same time pretensions which are a sure sign of perverse intentions.