On the 3d of April, 1898, a party of 5,000 natives made a raid on the city of Cebu. The leaders were armed with rifles, but the rank and file had only bolos. The Spanish fled before them, and the natives cut the cable to Manila, so that the refugees could not communicate with the garrison there. A gunboat came in from Mindanao that afternoon, however, and two small boats were sent to Iligan (ē lē gän´) and Iloilo for troops. These arrived two or three days later, and were followed by reënforcements from Manila. The rebels were forced out of the city on the 8th of April, and sustained a crushing defeat. After that the Spanish chased them back into the mountains, where they took refuge.
This new movement was more serious than any that had gone before. All trust in Spain was swept away. The earlier leaders had desired reform, but the Filipinos now in the field sought first of all vengeance for the wrongs which had been heaped upon them.
It had been understood in connection with the treaty of Biac-na-’bato that General Primo de Rivera would stay in the islands and see that the reforms were carried out. Instead of his doing this, however, the home government recalled him early in 1898, and appointed in his place General Basilio Augusti (bä sē´li ō au gus´tē), a stranger to the Philippines. He arrived in the islands early in April, and in the second week of that month Primo de Rivera left Manila for Spain. Before he reached Madrid, Spain’s disaster in Manila had taken place, and the islands were fated never again to come under Spain’s rule.
Summary.—One of Primo de Rivera’s first acts was to offer amnesty to all Filipinos who would lay down their arms and pledge their allegiance to Spain. This was a good move, and many accepted the offer. Later, however, another edict was issued, which forbade people to leave their towns or villages without passes stating their business, the roads they might travel, and the time when they should return. All persons were also required to prove identity by “cedula personal.” This measure was so unreasonable and so severe that it enraged the people, and the rebellion blazed up anew. The rebels issued a proclamation calling upon the people to join them, and stating their grievances and demands. The governor-general advised the authorities in Spain to grant some of these demands. In August, 1897, Pedro A. Paterno, a Filipino, was sent in behalf of Spain to confer with the Filipino leaders. He met them at Biac-na-’bato, and there a treaty was arranged. War was to cease; and the rebel leaders would leave the country and give up all plotting against Spanish authority. The government agreed to pay certain sums to the revolutionists; to reimburse Filipinos not in rebellion, who had suffered from the war; and to grant the reforms demanded by the rebels.
When this treaty had been signed, the thirty-five rebel leaders were escorted to Sual, whence they sailed for Hong-Kong, on December 27, 1897, with an escort of Spaniards of high rank. At Hong-Kong they were handed a draft for $400,000, Mexican, the first installment of a sum agreed to be paid them. Business now went on in Manila. Many of the Spanish troops were sent home; but no steps were taken toward the promised reforms, and the people began to see that they had again been deceived. On March 24, 1898, the Seventy-fourth Regiment of native infantry revolted when ordered to go against certain Filipinos who had taken up arms in Cavite Province. Next day this regiment deserted in a body, and on the following day another regiment joined them. On March 25 occurred the massacre of Calle de Camba. All trust in Spain was now at an end, and the people again began arming themselves. Contrary to the understanding claimed under the treaty of Biac-na-’bato, a new governor-general, Basilio Augusti, was sent out, and Primo de Rivera left Manila in April, 1898.
Questions.—What was the edict that caused the rebellion to break out afresh? What proclamation did the patriot leaders issue? What did Rivera advise the government to do? What was the treaty of Biac-na-’bato? How was this treaty kept on the part of Spain?
Chapter XIX.
THE BEGINNING OF AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
In the month of April, 1898, war was declared between the United States and Spain. The cause of this war was the feeling of the people of the United States in regard to the way in which Spain was treating the people of Cuba and Porto Rico. These were the only colonies left of the many Spain had once possessed in the New World.