“Commander of American Forces:
“Sir: Manslaughter in war is not a crime, though, if irregular, may be an offense. You will place the slayers of Aglipay in the guard house until you judge they have learned the lesson and until discipline is conserved, then release them for service.—Benjamin Daft, Governor.”
News of this transaction did not set well with the people of Manila. There was an old song sung in the island, and that night clumps of stragglers paraded the streets, noisily singing to that tune the improvised words:
He may be a brother of Governor Daft,
But he ain’t no friend of mine.[1]
[1] A priest who said the burial service over a man who was buried alive was really pardoned by the American governor and this song, with change of name, was actually sung relative to the American head of government. [↑]