The story of the Lopez family, a page from the history of the war in the Philippines;

Ill)

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

'^

Ocs

L L KM KNC- 1 A L< ) 1' K/,

Who came to scrk justice at the hands of the President
for her imprisoned brothers

THE STORY OF THE
LOPEZ FAMILY

B page from tbe Ihistor^ of tbe Mar
in tbe pbilippines

EDITED AND WITH AN INTRODUCTION

By CANNING EYOT

" O ye loud TVaves ! and O ye Forests high !
And O ye Clouds that far above me soared!
Thou rising Sun ! thou blue rejoicing Sky !
Yea, ererytliinij tliat is and tri// lie free !
Bear witness for me, wheresoe'er ye be,
With what deep worship I have still adored
The spirit of divine.st liberty."

— Coleridge : Ode to Liberty.

BOSTON
JAMES H. WEST COMPANY

1904

Copyright, 1903,
By James H. West Company.

A copy of this book will be sent, postage paid, to
any address within the Postal Union, on
■ receipt of $/.oo by the Publishers.

T

DS

Dedication.

TO THK PEOPLE OK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,

WHO, FOR THE SAKE OK LIBERTY,

HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF A NATION WHICH HAS ITSELF

PAID THE PENALTY AND OBTAINED THE PRIZE,

(Tliis 13ook is ©cliicateli

WITH THE HOPE THAT IT MAY IN A MEASURE CONTRIBUTE TO THE
CAUSE WHICH THEY HOLD DEAR,

AND WITH A FERVENT PRAYER THAT,

IN PEACE,

STEADFASTNESS, AND PATIENCE,

THEY MAY LIVE TO SEE THEIR NATIVE LAND SUBJECT TO NO POWER
SAVE THAT OF THE CREATOR.

[SPANISH TRANSLATION.]

DeDicatoria.

Al Pueblo Filipino que, por causa de su Libertad, ha sufrido en las
manos de una Nacion que ha pagado ella misma la pena y obtuvo el
Premio, este libro esta dedicado con la esperanza de que en alguna
manera contribuya a la causa para el tan querida, y con el ferviente
voto d5 que en Paz, Firmeza y Paciencia, viva para ver su tierra natal
libra de todo Poder excepto a aquel de su Criador.

-^

[TAGALOO TKANSLATION.]

Bias.

Sa Bayan Filipinas na sa pag ibig sa Kalayaan, nagtamong hirap
sa kamay nang isang Bayan nang unang panahon ay nagdusa rin at
Kinamtan ang Kapalaran, ang sulat na ito ay inialay nang mi pag asa
na makatulong nang gaano paman sa bagay na Kanyang minamahal,
at mi nasang taimtim na sa Payapa, sa Tiaga at sa Tiis siya'i, mabuhay
na makita ang kanyang tinubuan lupa hindialagad nino man makapang-
yarihan maliban na lamang sa Lumalang.

■4 cro>« /ih^r^

"It is unworthy of a mighty and generous nation, itself the
greatest and most successful republic in history, to refuse to stretch
out a helping hand to a young and weak sister republic just enter-
ing upon its career of independence."

Theodore Roosevelt.

*• Under the best of circumstances, therefore, a colony ia in a
false position. But if the colony is in a region where the coloniz-
ing race has to do its work by means of other inferior races, the
condition is much worse."

Theodore Roosevelt.

Note

THE facts set forth in the following pages are not
published with the object of parading the mis-
fortunes of those to whom they relate. What is
told of the Lopez family is, unfortunately, true of many
other families in the Philippines,

Those of the Lopez family who were here in America
urge that it cannot truthfully be represented that theirs
is an isolated case, or that their sacrifices and sufferings
have exceeded those of many others of their fellow-
countrymen.

It should also be stated that the Lopez family, as well
as Dr. Rizal and Senor Basa whose portraits appear in
this book, are full-blooded Tagalogs. This statement is
made authoritatively, in refutation of oft-repeated asser-
tions to the contrary, and in order that readers may know
that they are in contact with real Filipinos. It may,
then, be asked. Whence the Spanish names, — Lopez,
Castelo, Rizal, etc. } The explanation is a simple one,
and has to do, not with genealogy, but with history :
Many years ago, before Spain became despotic and
odious, the better-class Filipinos, at the suggestion of
the Spanish authorities, adopted Spanish surnames. The
possession of a Spanish name by a Filipino does not,
therefore, imply racial mixture.

Boston, Mass., 1903.

List of Illustrations

Clemencia Lopez Frontispiece

Who came to seek justice at the hands of the President
for her imprisoned brothers.

Jos6 RiZAL AND SiXTO LoPEZ Facing p.

From a photograph taken in Hong-Kong, on Rizal's return
from Europe in 1891.

This photograph has a special interest owing to the attitude
of the Manila authorities toward the dead and the living
patriot : thus, while the Members of the Civil Commission
were each subscribing toward the erection of a statue to
Rizal, they were at the same time excluding Lopez from his
own and Rizal's native land !

It is interesting also because of an incident which occurred
when it was being taken. In response to the customary in-
junction to "look pleasant," Rizal said to Lopez, " Yes, —
imagine that you are just abgut to be executed by the Span-
iards ! " These words were prophetic of Rizal's tragic death,
which occurred five years later.

32

Juliana Lopez Facing p. 48

Whose letters form the basis of this book.

View of part of Manila, showing the Shipping on the

River Pasig.
View of the Luneta, Manila, where Rizal was executed

BY THE Spaniards in 1896 Between pp. 64-65

The actual place of execution is behind the pavilion dimly

shown in the distance beyond the center of the road.

8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Jus]£ Maria Basa, of Hong-Kong Facing p. 88

Senor Basa, frequently referred to in this book — some-
times under the familiar name of Don Pepe — is the " Grand
Old Man " of the Filipinos. Once a well-to-do merchant in
Manila, a man of independent mind and hence unwilling to
cringe to the small tyrant, he was exiled to the Island of
Guam under a false charge of complicity in the Burgos insur-
rection of 1872. After serving three years of his sentence he
was released from Guam, but was not permitted to return to
the Philippines. For the past twenty-eight years he has lived
in Hong-Kong, where his home, at 7, Remedios Terrace, is
the Mecca of all Filipinos who visit that picturesque British
colony.

Senor Basa was the life-long friend of Rizal, and is now the
custodian of Rizal's library and letters, which are destined as
the nucleus of a public library to be founded when Rizal's
ideals have been achieved.

View of the Magellan Statue, Manila Facing p. 121

Maria Lopez Facing p. 144

The youngest of the Lopez sisters.

Rehearsal by some of the Members of the Women's
Red Cross Society of Lipa, Batangas, for a Con-
cert TO BE given in AID OF ITS FUNDS .... Facing p. 169

JOS6 RlZAL, shortly BEFORE HIS EXECUTION IN 1 896.

SiXTO Lopez, at the present time Facing p. 193

The Story of the
Lopez Family

H page from tbc Ihistor^ ot tbe "Mat in
tbe pbUippines

^«>

TRUTH is not only stranger, but in most instances
more interesting and instructive, than fiction. No
epic or romance, no literary art or descriptive skill,
could furnish a truer conception of the war in the Philip-
pines and its achievements, or give a better insight into
Filipino life and character, than the simple truth of the
story of the Lopez family as set forth in the accompany-
ing series of letters — a story of the infliction of wrong
and injustice on account of adherence to principle and
fidelity to family ties.

In order, however, that this page of history may not
be wholly detached from natural continuity it will first
be necessary to give a brief account of the Lopez family
and of their attitude toward the Spanish government.

"IFn former ^imes."

"Old Batangas," as the province is now appropriately
termed, — the last to yield in the unequal struggle, and

lo STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

the scene of some of the most regrettable incidents in
the war, — has been the home of the Lopez family for
several generations. Immediate interest, however, does
not extend beyond Natalio Lopez, who died in 1886, the
father of the present family which comprises Maria
Castelo,* his widow ; six sons, Mariano, Lorenzo, Sixto,
Cipriano, Manuel, and Jose ; and four daughters, Andrea,
Clemencia, Juliana, and Maria. Natalio was in many
respects a remarkable man. His education, received at
the college of San Jose, was due solely to his own activ-
ity and industry. But business cares at an early age
made it impossible for him to continue his studies at the
university. Yet in later years, though without the dis-
tinction of a university degree, which means so much in
the eyes of the Filipinos, he became the acknowledged
friend and counselor — "the unprofessional and unpaid
adviser" — of his fellow -townsmen, who styled him
"Defender of the just." In this, one is reminded of
Scott's beautiful lines :

**The thatched mansion's gray-haired sire.
Wise without learning, plain and good.

Whose doom discording neighbours sought.
Content with equity unbought."

Though devoted to his religion and to an unwavering
belief in the protecting care of the Virgin Mother,
Natalio Lopez always took the part of the people against
the unjust methods of the Spaniards and the Friars,

* The wife or -widow, according to Spanish custom, retains her maiden
surname. Senora Castelo's full name is Maria Castelo de Lopez, but
this would be used only in certain special circumstances.

STORY OF THK LOPKZ FAMILY ii

never failing to condemn their irregularities. As a
natural consequence he incurred the displeasure of the
Religious Orders, and, although himself a peace-loving
man, those who feared honesty and uprightness were
never at peace with him. On more than one occasion
he was secretly denounced and arrested on false charges ;
but his reputation among men, and his palpable honesty
of character, were a shield and buckler against the attacks
of his enemies. On one occasion, when confronting his
accusers before Jose Maria Alix, the then Governor of
the province, the Governor was so impressed with
Natalio's straightforward bearing that he declared :
" This man is innocent ; he cannot be guilty of the
charge preferred against him." Years later, when Alix
had returned to Spain, the charge was again trumped up
against Natalio. His only means of obtaining justice
was to appeal to his former protector, and in those days,
before the completion of the Suez canal, it was a slow
process to transmit and receive communications from
Spain. Nevertheless, though it meant a delay of several
months, the appeal was made ; and not in vain, for Alix,
who must have been one of the best of men, readily bore
witness to Natalio's integrity, with the result that he was
finally acquitted and set free.

But though thus protected, Natalio realized that there
were others of his fellows who were less fortunate. He
saw that justice under Spanish rule was the rare excep-
tion, and, though he never openly advocated separation
from Spain, he impressed upon his children the obvious
truth "that they could not live an honest life and escape
tribulation as long as the source of authority was in a
foreign land."

12 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

This was the school, so to speak, at which the present
members of the family graduated. In such surroundings
and with such teaching — the justness of which few will
dispute — it was natural that they should be impressed
with the writings of Jose Rizal, whose final dictum was
that there was no salvation for their country short of
separation from Spain. The whole family, even to the
youngest daughter, finally shared in this aspiration for
freedom from foreign rule, but perhaps a larger share of
the mantle of Natalio fell upon Sixto, his eldest son by
the second marriage. Unassuming and quiet, yet gifted
with an unusual tenacity of purpose, it was Sixto Lopez
who, at an early age, became associated with Rizal ; who,
later, introduced and circulated Rizal's books in the
Philippines ; who, privately, gave pecuniary aid to Rizal
and personal aid to his plans ; who was set down for
arrest when Rizal was arrested, on the ground that he
was " Rizal's most active agent " ; who escaped Rizal's
fate only by accepting voluntary exile from his native
land ; who endeavored, along with Dr. Regidor of
London, to rescue Rizal from the hands of his execu-
tioners during Rizal's memorable voyage from Barcelona
to Manila ; and who, humbly taking up the banner as it
fell from Rizal's dying hand, has worked unassumingly
for the independence of his country, notwithstanding
recent political changes and in spite of personal and
family loss and misfortune.

But if Sixto was thus persistent and devoted, the other
members of the family were equally resolute and were
ready to make any sacrifice for the liberation of their
country. They were wealthy, and, had they chosen to
be time-servers, and to throw in their lot with Spain,

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 13

they could have retained their wealth and secured unlim-
ited favor. But such was not their character or inclina-
tion. They aspired to national freedom and were prepared
to support their aspiration with their wealth. So, when
Aguinaldo and his compatriots rose in revolt, and when
Rizal — to use his own words — " scaled his life's work
with his blood," the Lopez family risked everything they
possessed, including personal liberty, in support of a
cause which others might regard as hopeless but which
they believed would ultimately succeed.

Their fidelity cost them dear. When the seriousness
of the revolt became known to the authorities, and when
additional troops had been brought from Spain, the
Spanish forces swept their estates as with a withering
breath. The laborers on their plantations, who had
grown up with them from childhood to manhood, were
mown down and slaughtered and their families dispersed.
Of their five thousand working-animals, used by these
laborers in the fields and in the sugar-mills, only seventy
were finally recovered. Their house was plundered ;
their sugar, coffee, and rice fields were laid waste ; and
the ^700,000 which they had advanced in purchasing
on-coming crops from smaller planters were reduced to
the value of an entry in a cash-book. In all, their losses
during the insurrection amounted to upwards of a million
and a half Mexican dollars, and the male members of
the family were imprisoned with apparently small hope
of escaping with their life.

Yet they were undaunted. Calamity might wreck
their possessions, but not their principles. During the
lull in the insurrection after the Treaty of Biac-na-Bato
they gathered together the remnant of their possessions.

14 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

It might have been justly conceded that the family had
already made more than their share of sacrifice for their
country's freedom ; but their resources, in fidelity at
least, had not been exhausted. When Aguinaldo returned
with Admiral Dewey they again offered their personal aid
and gave of their remaining property to assist in the
cause which at last seemed to be assured of final success.
And when the new Republic was born, though their
wealth had been sacrificed, though two of their ships
were gratuitously in the service of the government, as
were also two of the brothers — the one, taken from
sorely needed attention to their business affairs, to serve
in Aguinaldo's army, the other, as a member of the
Malolos Congress — the family felt that they had ample
recompense in the achievement of their country's free-
dom from foreign rule.

'*TKIlas tt Bll for flougbt?"

It was at this juncture that the then American Admin-
istration conceived the idea of purchasing the Philippine
Islands from Spain, and of demanding of the Lopez family
and all other Fihpinos unconditional allegiance to a new
foreign sovereignty.

Now, unquestionably, American statesmen had a
right to adopt any new policy, consistent with justice;
they may even have had a right — if the people so
willed — to discard those principles of democracy which
have made America a great and free and prosperous
nation. But had they the right — admittedly they had
the power — to demand that the Lopez family, who had
made such sacrifices for freedom, or that the Filipinos,

STORY OK THi: LOPEZ FAMILY 15

who had suffered and fought for liberty, should, in the
twinkling of an eye, change their political beliefs because
of a new policy conceived at Washington ? One of the
tests of the righteousness of a policy is its reasonable-
ness, for a righteous policy will always be reasonable even
if a reasonable policy may not always be righteous. Ap-
plying this test to the Philippine policy, was it reason-
able to demand that these people, who were fighting for
national liberty, or that this family, whose life's teaching
had led them to reject foreign rule and whose sacrifices
in behalf of their ideals had meant to them the differ-
ence between prosperity and adversity — was it reason-
able to demand unconditional submission to a new foreign
authority which did not and has not even yet declared
its policy as to the immediate or ultimate status of their
country and people ? Was it reasonable to expect these
people to submit, without protest or murmur, to what
may or may not be given them in a " distant and indefi-
nite future," without treaty or pledge or intimation of
ultimate intention on the part of America ? There are
many Americans, kind of heart and pure of motive, who,
apparently without due thought, have accepted the theory
that the Filipinos were rebels and traitors, and that they
had therefore forfeited every right and all reasonable con-
sideration. But to be a rebel presupposes former alle-
giance ; to be a traitor predicates infidelity to a principle
or party or power to which allegiance has formerly been
given or owned. In neither of these ways had the Fili-
pinos offended against America, and the theory that they
had so offended is based upon ignorance of the real situ-
ation prior to the unsought, though welcomed, interven-
tion of the United States.

i6 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

**Uo thine own Self be true.''

But when the American Administration, rightly or
wrongly, proclaimed its intention of taking possession of
the Philippines, by force "if need be," and when the
consequent outbreak of hostilities occurred, what attitude
did the Lopez family assume, and what action did they
take ?

Obviously, no policy conceived in America, however
artful, could change their opinions; no Paris Treaty,
however adroit, could alter their desires ; and no force,
however great, could make them cease to love liberty.
Hence, they remained, and still remain, firm in their
beliefs and true to their principles ; they still maintain
the right of their country to independence.

But in view of what they regarded as the futility of
an armed conflict with America, the family — with one
exception to be hereafter explained — withdrew from act-
ive participation in the war.

Thus, the mother, the four daughters, and two of the
sons, Lorenzo and Manuel, who were engaged in working
the plantations at Balayan and the shipping-business in
Manila, took up a neutral position.

The youngest son, Jose, a student at the Manila uni-
versity, after taking his degree, finally went to England
to study naval architecture, where he is so engaged at
the present time.

The eldest son, Mariano, withdrew from the Malolos
Congress, to which he was an elected member, and coun-
seled peace. His position is best described in his own
words in a recent letter to his brother Sixto : " In answer-
ing your letter I will only say that, considering the at-

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 17

mosphere in which you live, alone, and almost called
upon to be a martyr for your country, it seems to me
excellent and not to be improved. But as for me and
millions of our compatriots in the surroundings in which
we live, considering the circumstances and our respective
families, for whom we must have very special regard, we
cannot follow you on the patriotic road which you have
laid out. But zvc do not on tJiat account consider our-
selves any less patriotic than y on are ; for if history holds
up to you examples of heroism, even to the point of
sacrificing one's life for one's country, it gives us, on the
other hand, examples of even great nations who have
yielded to the superior force of the enemy, preferring to
submit to the conqueror rather than to continue the
struggle at the price of total extemiination."

Sixto, who at the time of the outbreak of hostilities
with the Filipinos was serving as secretary to the Com-
mission which went to Washington seeking recognition
for the newly formed Philippine Republic, wrote numer-
ous despatches to Aguinaldo and to the Central Com-
mittee at Hong-Kong urging a cessation of hostilities,
pointing out that armed resistance could not secure inde-
pendence, but would only confuse the issues and do injury
to a good cause. He also repeatedly urged the sending
of one or more Filipinos to America with the object
of informing the American people of the real situation
which, he claimed, was being woefully misrepresented by
General Otis and others. In this manner he hoped to
bring about negotiations and an adjustment of the diffi-
culty by peaceable means. While he was thus urging
his own people to cease warlike and adopt peaceable
means, he secured publication of several articles in the

i8 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

American press, having the same object. In one of
these articles, pubhshed in the Indepoidcnt of Decem-
ber 14, 1899, — four years ago, — he concludes as
follows :

" Why not negotiate ? If negotiations fail, it will then
be time enough for war.* True, in the past our over-
tures of peace and good will were not received in a hearty
manner by the Administration. But let that pass. It
cannot be undignified to do what honor and righteous-
ness demand. Who will help me in the cause of peace }
Could any cause be worthier the genius of the statesmen
of a great nation .^

" In placing this statement before the people of Amer-
ica, I beg to assure them that whatever its demerits may
be it is the outcome of a sincere desire for peace and
for an honorable settlement of the differences and diffi-
culties of the Philippine question."

Finally, when none of his fellow-countrymen could be
induced, or were able, to visit America, Sixto Lopez him-
self, on the invitation of Mr. Fiske Warren, of Boston,
came to this country, and his demeanor and utterances
while here have been characterized by moderation, re-
spect, and good feeling,

Cipriano — the exception referred to above — was an
officer in Aguinaldo's army, prior to and during part of
the conflict with America. He was therefore subject to
exceptional rules of conduct ; for though the civilian
may choose to adopt a neutral position under given cir-
cumstances, the soldier has no such choice. To resign

* This was addressed to the American people, as ihe article itself
shows.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 19

one's commission, for whatever reason, in the midst of
active warfare, is universally regarded as cowardly and
dishonorable. Had Cipriano thus forsaken his chief, even
through disapproval of the war, he would have been sub-
ject to very general condemnation. For these reasons,
though realizing the futility of the conflict, Cipriano kci)t
his sword until the nth of March, 1901. Even then,
it was only because of repeated illness in the field, and
in response to the entreaties of his mother and the urgent
representations of his eldest brother, that he surrendered
to Major Bullard, witJi all his vicn a)id arms. His con-
duct in all this will be understood and appreciated even
by opponents.

It need not be regarded as a violation of the canons
of good taste, since this is simply a narration of facts, to
tell also of the hospitality shown by the Lopez family to
the American officers stationed at Balayan ; or how, by
keeping open house and providing social diversion, they
induced some of the younger officers not to indulge in
habits of intemperance which were all too common among
soldiers unaccustomed to a tropical climate and shut off,
by the strained relations during the conflict, from refin-
ing and elevating associations. One of these officers
tells, in an American newspaper, how existence was made
"delightful" to himself and other officers by the kind-
ness and hospitality of the Lopez family, for "the 'latch-
string ' was always left out for us at the Lopez residence,
the finest in Balayan." But, while the family thus enter-
tained the American officers, they never made any secret
of their desire for Philippine independence, nor did they
conceal or try to conceal the fact that they had a brother
in the "insurgent " army.

20 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Furthermore, foreseeing that the prolonged resistance
of his countrymen to the forces of the United States,
though futile in the securing of independence, would
provoke the American forces to gi^eater severity and
cruelty, Mariano Lopez placed his services and influence
at the disposal of the American authorities with the
object of bringing about peace. In this he was largely
successful, securing the surrender of several important
Filipino commands, including Generals Cailles, Gregorio
Katigbak, and (indirectly) General Trias. Official testi-
mony to the nature and value of these services is given
by Major R. L. Bullard, as follows :

"Manila, July 5, 1901.

" I take pleasure in certifying that the bearer of this
paper, Senor Mariano Lopez, of this city and of Balayan,
Batangas province, has rendered service to the United
States in the pacification of Luzon as follows :

"In March of 1901 he accompanied me at his own
expense into the country west of Lake Taal, and there
through the influence of himself and family he opened
negotiations with all the insurgents of Batangas west of
Lake Taal, which negotiations resulted in their surrender
and the pacification of all Batangas west of Lake Taal,
and cut off from the insurgent General Trias in Cavite
province all his military support from the south.

"At my request he afterwards visited Lipa in the
province of Batangas, with a view to opening negotia-
tions with the insurgent General Malvar. From these
latter negotiations there resulted, as I believe, the surren-
der of insurgent General Gregorio Katigbak and Colonel
Cipriano Calao, Senor Lopez's personal friends, and some
125 officers and enlisted insurgents. He also offered his
services and did all in his power to induce the surrender
of the insurgent General Cailles, who did surrender.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 21

" I have found him a man of judgment and honor in
all his dealings with the United States.
(Signed) *' R. L, Bullard,

" Major, Commissary,
" United States Anny, Chief Commissary."

It will be noted in the above testimonial that Mariano,
in rendering these services, did so " at his own expense."
Though desirous of peace for the sake of saving the
lives and property of his countrymen, he wished to re-
main neutral and to avoid being, even in appearance, in
the paid service of America. For the same reason he
refused to accept a proffered office under American rule.

But though Mariano was thus largely successful in his
efforts to secure peace, he failed to have any influence
with General Malvar who, with General Lukban, still
kept the field. Accordingly, Sixto Lopez, who was de-
sirous of returning to the Philippines, left America with
the hope of being able to induce Malvar, with whom he
was personally acquainted, to cease fighting. He believed
that, owing to his knowledge of the real situation in
America, and because of his long service in the cause of
Philippine independence, he would have some influence
with Malvar, and that Malvar would listen to him as he
had listened to no one else. But on Sixto's arrival at
Hong-Kong, the Manila (American) press published sev-
eral inflammatory and foolish statements, one of which
was to the effect that " Sixto Lopez was coming to order
America out of the Philippines, failing compliance with
which, he would wipe Uncle Sam out of existence." And
so, before his services were even formally tendered, they
were rejected — unless he were prepared to submit to
certain conditions which would have at once disqualified

22 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

him as a successful emissary to Malvar. He holds, how-
ever, that if General Chatfee had been willing, as was
Vice-Governor Wright, to make use of his services, much
if not all of the bloodshed and reconcentration and burn-
ing and torture that characterized the later period of the
war would have been avoided. In this he is supported
by General Bell who, in a letter to General Wheaton,
dated December 27, 1901, says: "If Sixto Lopez, or
any other man of equal influence, could be trusted to
work honestly and sincerely there is no doubt but what
he could bring about peace."*

'*/iBan'5 Inhumanity to /llban/'

Now, the above is a brief statement of the position of
the Lopez family in relation to the war and to American
sovereignty in the Philippines. Beyond the great and
general suffering which war entails, their interests
and their person — with one exception — had not been
unduly interfered with up to the time when General
Chaffee, according to reliable report, declared his intention
of putting an end to the war within three months " even
if he had to kill everything living and burn everything
standing in Batangas and Samar." The time, so it was
thought, had then arrived for extreme measures. The
resistance to American sovereignty had continued for
nearly three years, notwithstanding frequent reports and
predictions to the contrary. General Otis had failed to
pacify the Islands, although he was supposed, according
to his own and Secretary Root's opinion, to be contend-

* Report of Senate Committee on the Philippines, p. 2604.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 23

ing with only a part of one out of eighty four "tribes."
General MacArthur's chief success was his discovery
that the war was being directed against the inhabitants
uf the "entire archipelago," whose "unique system of
warfare depended upon almost complete unity of action
of the entire native population^ (These arc his own
words, in an official report.) It was therefore necessary
to adopt more rigorous methods of warfare. Accord-
ingly, the so-called " Kitchener methods " were put in
operation by General MacArthur, but without success.
Even the defeat of the Democratic presidential candi-
date, which, according to Governor Taft's prediction,
would put an end to the war within sixty days, produced
only the effect of adding another to the list of unfulfilled
prophecies. The capture of Aguinaldo, from which so
much had been expected, produced no more effect upon
the Filipinos than the fall of Pretoria produced upon
the Boers. The institution of Civil Government, which
Governor Taft believed would give universal satisfaction,
was a disappointment as far as peace was concerned.
The Filipinos still expressed a preference for the Decla-
ration of Independence, and there, on the noble brow of
Mt. Maquiling, within sight of Governor Taft's palace,
were the harried forces of General Malvar.

And so. General Chaffee, fresh from his brilliant suc-
cesses before the walls of Peking, was given command
in the hope that he would be equally successful in Luzon.

But General Chaffee after a time discovered that even
"Kitchener methods" were inadequate to cope with a
people imbued with a passion for independence. "A
nation of men bent on freedom," says Emerson, " can
easily confound the arithmetic of statists, and achieve

24 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

extravagant actions out of all proportion to their means."
Even kind-hearted Governor Taft, though committed to
a policy of peace, seemed to be at his wits' end. His
evil genius, Buencamino, — like " Judas, who also betrayed
him," — then whispered words in his ear,* and Governor
Taft thereupon urged the military to greater severity
in the war, under the euphemism of " pinching " f the
wealthier non-combatants who did not praise or approve
his Civil Government. The military formed their own
interpretation of what " pinching " was to mean, and the
Manila press became quite jubilant, and even jocular,
over the prospect of final triumph by extermination!
Thus, one newspaper opined that " there was likely soon
to be a large decrease 171 the population of Samar!"
Another understood that " Samar was to be made so
that even the birds could not live there," and declared
that "what fire and water h2id done in Panay, ivater dind.
fire would do in Samar." This was the first public
admission that the " water torture " had been practised
in the Philippines ; hitherto the charge had been indig-
nantly denied.

* Buencamino is said to have recommended the arrest of all the
wealthy non-combatants ; and in a letter to Governor Taft he even
approves of the extermination of the entire population of Batangas
province. (See Buencamino's letter to Governor Taft, dated January
8, 1902, and published in Renacimiento, June 28, 1902.)

f'What I said was that, in my judgment, measures which would
bring home to the rich persons, who were responsible for the continu-
ance of the war, a pinching— I think I used the word 'pinching'— a
pinching knowledge of what the war meant, would end it." — Governor
TafV s evidence before Senate Committee: Report, p. 104.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 25

"HnD there was TXleeping In all JuOea."

It was in this spirit, and apparently with permission,
if not instructions, in keeping with General Chaffee's
policy and Governor Taft's recommendation, that General
Bell was given the task of pacifying " Old Batangas "
and the adjoining provinces. To take and hold large
tracts of mountainous country, in many parts inaccessible
to American troops, against a mobile and an illusive foe,
required a much larger force than General Bell had at
his command. The task in the Philippines was as diffi-
cult as was the similar task under similar conditions in
South Africa. Even wholesale burning, and reconcen-
tration with all its horrors, were found to be inadequate
in both countries. Friendly conference and concession
were finally adopted with satisfactory results in South
Africa, but apparently no such humane policy could be
thought of in the Philippines. Consequently, Generals
Smith and Bell were compelled to resort to methods of
warfare not provided for in the Geneva Convention.
Blame, however, must attach not so much to these men
as to the policy that drove them to these extremes.

" A self-deluded man is he who deems the head is inno-
cent that moves the hand."

To drive Malvar's forces from mountain fastness to
swamp and jungle, and thence to final defeat, would have
required a force as large as the army with which Napoleon
entered Russia. It was absurd to expect that the Amer-
ican people would provide General Bell with such a force
in order simply to defeat a few of General Otis's

26 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

" ladrones." Governor Taft's recommendation of " pinch-
ing" the wealthier non-combatants had therefore to be
resorted to. Those in arms were not within reach, and
consequently the natural if doubtful procedure was to
make the sufferings of those within reach so intense as
to appeal to the humane sympathies of Malvar and those
in the field.

It has been pointed out that one of the tests of the
righteousness of a policy is its reasonableness. Another
test is the cleanness and fairness of the methods neces-
sary to its accomplishment. If in the nature of things
there is one certitude it is that a righteous end does not
demand unrighteous means. The theories that it is
right to "do evil that good may come," and that "the
end justifies the means," are now utterly discredited by
common honesty, to say nothing about religion and
higher morality. The apologists of the methods adopted
in the Philippines have therefore been unfortunate, to
say the least, in their plea that the methods were " neces-
sary," for if the methods were necessary the policy stands
condemned. General Weyler also found similar methods
necessary in Cuba, but the plea of necessity did not save
him from the righteous condemnation of the American
people and of the civilized world. The man — whether
it be Weyler or Waller — who pleads the necessity of
wholesale killing in order to inflict what he or his superiors
regard as good government, is in the same category as
the inquisitor who tortured and burned his fellow-man
for the glory of God.

•* God ! — that the worm whom Thou hast made
Should thus his brother-worm invade !

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 27

Count deeds like these good service done.
And deem Thine eye looks smiling on ! "

General Bell, whose conscience is keener apparently
than that of the "seasoned soldier," himself declares
that he considered for a whole month the adoption ot
these methods, and that he finally yielded because of
" necessity." * It is instructive to trace, when he had
thus yielded in spite of the prompting of conscience,
how he reached extremes by what must have been
familiarity with horror. Not only were the ordinary

*In a letter written to a friend in Washington, dated Batangas, April
10, 1902, General Bell says : "The policy which has been pursued here
is absolutely the only one which could have accomplished such results.
Well knowing the views of the American people on the concentration in
Cuba, you can readily believe that it has been a time of great anxiety
to me. However, I thought over the matter for a month. I finally be-
came thoroughly convinced that I could not bring peace to these people
and FULFILL MY OBLIGATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT in any Other Way.
. . . Knowing my disposition and kindly feeling [ ! ] toward the natives
full well, you will have no difficulty in understanding that the necessity
for severe measures has been a source of distress to me." — Army and
Navy Jmirnal.

The "views of the American people on the concentration in Cuba"
are best expressed by President McKinley in his first message to Con-
gress: "This cruel policy of concentration . . . the late cabinet of
Spain justified as a necessary measure of war and as a means of cutting
off supplies from the insurgents. ... It was not civilized w'arfare : it
was extermination. Against this abuse of the right of war I have felt
constrained on repeated occasions to enter the firm and earnest protest
of this government." In a subsequent message President McKinley
wrote : " As I said in my message of last December, it was not civilized
warfare: it was extermination. The oiily peace it could beget was that
of the wilderness and the grave."

Thus, when General Bell speaks of bringing " peace to these people,"
President McKinley prophetically tells what the nature of the peace is
to be : " that of the wilderness and the grave " 1

28 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

people herded like cattle in concentration camps which
have elsewhere been described as " suburbs of hell," but
almost all of the prominent men in Batangas — lawyers,
doctors, merchants — were imprisoned and made to do
hard labor in the streets like common malefactors. And
to sustain these men in this unaccustomed exertion, in
a tropical climate, they were given a diet of rice and
salt!

"Can Ihonor envcV*

It might have been thought, however, that the Lopez
family, on account of their honorable record and in view
of the services they had rendered to the American
authorities, would have received some consideration.
But neither honorable conduct, nor services rendered,
nor hospitality shown, were of any avail in the presence
of a policy dictated by " necessity." Accordingly, three
of the Lopez brothers were arrested, and imprisoned for
a term of five months ; the family house at Balayan, and
the barns and storehouses on their plantations, were
seized, along with the title-deeds of their estates and
other documents and papers ; their steamship, the
"Purisima Concepcion," was confiscated to the use of
the military authorities ; their house at Abra-de-Ilog in
Mindoro, though it had frequently given shelter to
American officers during the stress of the rainy season,
was burned, along with a store of rice ; and, worst of all,
one of their superintendents on the Balayan plantations —
Isabelo Capacia — was tortured to death.*

* The following is an extract from the letter of Senor Ignacio Laines,
of Balayan, Batangas, who, at the request of the Lopez family, made an
inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Isabelo Capacia: —

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 29

At the time of these arrests only three of the family,
Lorenzo, Cipriano, and the eldest daughter, Andrea, were
in Batangas under General Bell's jurisdiction. The
mother, Senora Maria Castelo, with Mariano, Clemencia,
Juliana, and Maria, were in Manila. Manuel, though a
resident of Manila, where he attended to the shipping
business, had gone on the " Purisima " to Boac, in the
island of Marinduque, which was under Civil Government.
General Bell had no jurisdiction in Boac or Manila,
between which ports the " Purisima " was then trading,
and the manner of Manuel's arrest might well form a
subject for future investigation : he was on board the
•'Purisima" at Boac, enjoying "all the privileges and
immunities " of Civil Government, when Lieutenant Allen,
in command of twenty-five soldiers, applied to him to be
taken to Batangas. Now, the ports of Batangas had
been closed ; and Manuel, though he regarded the

"... I will now continue the history of poor Isabelo until his un-
happy death, which was as follows : . . . Isabelo was taken from the
prison and put into a wagon by Inspector Bunzon, with a few soldiers
as a guard ; they then went to the town of Tuy, where a company of
Macaljebe 'scouts' was stationed, under the command of the American
otRcer, Lieutenant Shawski [ ? ]. The next day, Tuesday, Lieutenant
Shawski, Bunzon, and the Macabebe soldiers took Isabelo to the bank
of the river Matauanak, where, after having wrapped him in a Carabao
skin and attached a stone to his belt as a weight, they threw him into
the water, allowing him to be entirely submerged. When the execu-
tioners of this torture saw through the clear water that the victim no
longer moved, and therefore no longer breathed, they took him out on
the bank, where they terminated their torture by jumping on his body,
until blood burst from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears; finally breaking
some of his ribs, and thus they left him unconscious. Having accom-
plished this, Bunzon returned to Balayan, with the tortured man, com-
pletely mangled, stretched out in the wagon; and in this condition he
was returned to the detention room in the convent. . . . The American
physician of this detachment, Mr. Cheedester [ ?], applied all the con-
venient remedies to save the tortured man, but it was all useless, for in
a little while he died." [See complete letter hereinafter printed.]

30 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

request as in reality an order, hesitated to comply, in the
absence of higher authority. Lieutenant Allen there-
upon took matters into his own hands, commanding that
the vessel be put to sea for Batangas, and giving orders
that no one be permitted to leave the boat. Upon his
arrival at Batangas Manuel was formally placed under
arrest and the steamer was seized to the use of the
United States government.

Lorenzo, the delicate one of the family, had suffered
for years from a chest disorder. He required special
attention as to food and clothing, and, indeed, had never,
since his first seizure with the disease, slept out of his
own specially prepared bed. Yet, when he was arrested
with Cipriano and Manuel, he was compelled to sleep on
bare stone floors, and to eat "wretched food" during
his imprisonment in Batangas. Apparently, he and
they would have suffered from starvation had it
not been for the kindness of their fellow-prisoners, to
whom outside relatives supplied food. " We were thus
able," says Manuel, in a recent account, "to eke out
our fare from their provisions, and did not, therefore,
become ill."

Continuing, Manuel thus tells of their treatment
during the first month of their imprisonment : " From
l^atangas they took us to [ the Bay of Manila, en route
to] the Island of Malagi, Laguna de Bay, as exiles ; and
you cannot imagine the kind of treatment we were all
subjected to. They put us in the bottom of the hold of
the steamer ' Legaspi,' and I doubt if they would have
treated animals so inhumanly. We were kept there for
four days, and if we had been thus kept much longer,
half of the hundred men would have died ; as it was.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 31

many of them became ill." One can imagine what this
modification of the Black Hole of Calcutta must have
meant in the no less tropical climate of Manila. One
hundred prisoners for four days in the bottom of the
hold of a small steamer without port-holes ! " After-
wards," proceeds Manuel, " we were transferred to the
steamer ' Liscum,' where we were somewhat better off
as regards space during the following fourteen days.
There also we were put in the hold, but with the advan-
tage that this boat had port-holes through which the air
entered. They gave us the best place, which was the
space provided for the transportation of horses. On the
14th of January . . . they took us off in small boats,
towed by a little tug, and transported us to Malagi, an
island that had never been inhabited, where they kept us
for three months and six days."

"... ^bat is the Question.**

Now, the reader may very naturally ask : For what
reason and on what grounds was all this done ? That is
the question to which no one has yet been able to obtain
a satisfactory reply. Was it that the Lopez family had
abandoned their former attitude toward the American
authorities .? Or, had they violated any of the common
rules of neutrality ? They are conscious of no such
abandonment or violation. No charge of the kind has
been brought against them, and they have sought in vain
for an explanation of the unjust treatment to which they
have been subjected. There was no formal indictment
at the time of the arrest of the three brothers, nor at
any subsequent period. It is true that an informal

32 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

charge was made against Cipriano, to the effect that he
had failed to give up certain rifles at the time of his
surrender to Major Bullard ten months previously. But
after what appears to have been an equally informal
inquiry, undertaken in the leisurely manner of Spanish
times, the charge was abandoned, and Cipriano, though
still a prisoner, was made to accept a position of some
responsibility under the military government of the
province.

As to the other two brothers, the only reason assigned
for their arrest appears to have been that they were
brothers of Cipriano and Sixto. This would indeed be
humorous were the circumstances less serious, for at the
time when they assumed this relation to Sixto, or he to
them, they were too young to know better and too feeble
to raise successful objection !

During the imprisonment of all three brothers, the
family made repeated representations to the military
authorities in Manila, but all without avail. In this they
had the able and kindly assistance of Captain George
Curry, the Chief of the Manila Police, and formerly an
officer in " Roosevelt's Rough Riders," who communicated
also with General Bell. In reply, General Bell stated
that "he would keep Cipriano in prison until his hair
turned gray," unless he delivered up the above-mentioned
rifles (this was before the inquiry had been held) ; and
that as to Lorenzo and Manuel, " for the good of the
government they had better remain to keep Cipriano
company ; besides, as they were brothers of Sixto Lopez,
who was a great enemy of the government, they were
justly imprisoned " !

A personal application, by two of the sisters, to General

Josh Ri/.\i. and ^>i\i<) i.oi'KZ

From a photograph taken in Hong-Kong in iS<)I

[ See note in Hit of illustrations ]

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY

33

Bell elicited only insult* and the information that the
intention and purpose was " to humiliate the Filipinos."
So also, when Mariano Lopez personally applied to
Captain Bash, to whom he had been referred by higher
authority, he was met with the impolite question : " Why
are fou not a prisoner?" Indeed, why not? He too
was "a brother of Sixto Lopez," and was as much under
the jurisdiction of General Bell as had been Manuel.
" I do not know," said Mariano ; and his reply was
suggestive of a deeper meaning than at first appears !

''Bppeal tbou to QxesivV*

From the first it was apparent that justice would not
be obtainable in the Philippines. The military were the
sole judges of their own acts, and were subject to all the
unconscious bias that comes from looking only at one
side of the shield. The Civil Government was civil only
in name, and was unable or unwilling, or both, even to
protest against the arrest, by the military, of Manuel
who, at the time, was under the jurisdiction of the civil
authorities and not under that of General Bell. For
these and other reasons, one of the Lopez sisters deter-
mined to seek justice by an appeal to the highest authority.
Accordingly, within twenty-four hours after receiving the
news of her brothers' arrest, — which reached her in
Hong-Kong, whither she and her youngest sister, all
tmaware of the calamity that had befallen the family in
Batangas, had gone to visit their exiled brother, Sixto, —

* It is only fair to state that General Bell has since apologized for his
rudeness, stating, in explanation, that he was out of temper at the time.

34 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Clemencia Lopez, with characteristic courage, without
relative to protect or experience to guide, a stranger to
the outer world, started on her long journey to the
United States.

Her kindly reception in Boston by relatives and friends
of Mr. and Mrs. Fiske Warren ; the assistance they
gave her in her unusual mission ; and the nature of her
audience with the President in March, are more or less
known to American readers. It may be said that the
President showed a more than ordinary interest in her
case, and, as was to have been expected, referred her
petition to the Secretary of War, with instructions that
it was to have early attention.

After some delay, in reply to an inquiry by Mrs.
Sam.uel D. W^arren, who, with friendly interest, had
accompanied Miss Lopez to Washington and introduced
her to the President, the following letter was received
from Mr. Secretary Cortelyou :

"White House, Washington, April 23, 1902.
" Dear Madam :

" The President has received your note of the 22nd
instant, and requests me to say in reply that he has gone
carefully over with the War Department the matter of
which you write, having been in correspondence with the
authorities at Manila and in consultation with Governor
Taft here, and that he does not think anything can
properly be done. He will see Secretary Root on his
return from Cuba, but there appears to be a consensus
of opinion that no injustice was done.
" Very truly, yours,

"George R. Cortelyou,

" Secretaiy to the President.
" Mrs. Mabel Bayard Warren,
" Boston, Mass."

SrORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 35

Naturally, nothing was to have been expected from
"the authorities at Manila," who had inflicted the injus-
tice, nor from "Governor Taft," who practically had
recommended it. When William II., of Germany, dis-
missed his aged Chancellor there was a certain admira-
tion for the young Emperor, provoked by his determina-
tion to be Emperor in fact as well as in name. However,
it was, of course, difficult for the President to interfere
with the acts of generals in the field, athough, if abso-
lutely no supervision is to be exercised and no interfer-
ence tolerated, then the military become complete masters
of any situation, and can conduct matters according to
their own sweet will. But proper respect demands that
criticism in this connection shall be confined to the
merest generalities.

Not so with the wording of Mr. Cortelyou's reply,
which must be regarded as somewhat unfortunate. Here
was a petitioner who had come from a people repeatedly
alleged to be in ignorance of " the beneficent purposes
of the United States" ; who believed that a great injus-
tice had been done her and her family ; who was con-
scious of the futility of seeking justice from those who
had inflicted the injury ; and who had come all the way
to America filled with hope and in the belief that those
who had wrongfully imprisoned her brothers were not rep-
resentative of the justness and kindness of the American
people. Now, if Mr. Cortelyou's reply had admitted the
hardship of the case ; if it had pleaded temporary mili-
tary necessity, a plea so frequently made use of in other
directions ; if it had counseled patience and given assur-
ance of final justice. Miss Lopez and her fellow-country-
men would have felt that there were essential justice and

.36 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

good will at the centre of authority. But the effect
upon Miss Lopez, of the inconclusive reply that "there
appears to be a consensus of opinion that no injjLStice
was done," must be left to the imagination of those who
have the sympathetic power of placing themselves in
her position. Fortunately, she was in the hands of her
kindly hostess. Miss Cornelia Warren, whose sympathy
and counsel were all that Mr. Cortelyou's reply was not.
There still remained one faint possibility : the Presi-
dent " will see Secretary Root on his return from Cuba."
Perhaps the phrase was a mere formality, but, to one
who pondered in the silent watches of the night on the
sufferings of dear ones in a distant land, here was some-
thing which hope might cling to and love interpret in its
own way.

**^be XaWs Delays/'

If, however, a decision was arrived at by seeing Sec-
retary Root, only those then present, and perhaps the
angels in heaven, know of its nature. Up to the pres-
ent time no intimation of it has reached Miss Lopez.
But in a printed document issued by the Senate Com-
mittee on the Philippines there is a deliverance by Mr.
Charles E. Magoon, " Law Officer, Division of Insular
Affairs," dated i ith of April, in which it is recommended
that "the application to the President by Clemencia
Lopez for the release from arrest and detention of her
three brothers, Lorenzo, Cipriano, and Manuel ... be
denied." Whether this recommendation, addressed to
the Secretary of War, was adopted by the President is
not known. The Lopez brothers have since been re-
leased along with, or shortly after the release of, their

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 37

fellow-prisoners, but the mystery of their imprisonment
remains a mystery still. Indeed, the statement of Mr.
Magoon only serves to intensify the mystery. For if his
theory as to the powers of a commanding general be
correct, — if, as he claims, the immunity from interfer-
ence enjoyed by non-combatants is due entirely "to the
grace of the conqueror," and if General Bell therefore
had the right to arrest and imprison those within his
jurisdiction to whom even " suspicion " attached, there
might have been some shadow of justification for the
imprisonment of Cipriano Lopez, against whom there
was at least an unfounded charge. But how does the
theory apply to Lorenzo, who had always lived at peace
with all men, never even, as far as is known, expressing
an opinion for or against American rule, and to whom
no suspicion could conceivably attach ? If General Bell
really had the right to arrest such men as Lorenzo, he
must indeed have had the right to arrest any one within
his jurisdiction. This is certainly an extraordinary de-
cision, which, it is hoped, will not be accepted as a
precedent in military jurisprudence. But, admitting for
the moment its correctness, where did General Bell obtain
the right, and whence the legal authority, to arrest and
imprison Manuel, who was in a part of the archipelago
then under civil rule and not within General Bell's juris-
diction } These are points not touched upon in Mr.
Magoon's hasty deliverance.

"THaben Boctots Differ/*

But Mr. Magoon, apparently unintentionally, removes
the last remaining shred of suspicion against the Lopez

38 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

family, thus leaving General Bell, whom he is endeavor-
ing to support, without the shadow of a pretext for the
actions complained of. The Lopez family have been
informed, by several military officers in the Philippines
with whom they were on friendly terms, that the arrest
of their brothers was in order to secure the " submission
of Sixto Lopez," and that the seizure of their property
was in order to prevent their giving him pecuniary sup-
port in his work in America. This would almost seem
incredible were it not that incredible things are forever
occurring in the Philippines. The confiscating of their
steamer, at that time their only means of livelihood, and
the seizure of the title-deeds of their estates, which
would prevent the securing of advances, seem to lend
countenance to the theory. Captain Curry takes a sim-
ilar view : " These harsh measures," he writes to Mr.
Warren, " were believed by General Bell to be necessary ;
and whereas I differ with him as to the guilt of the
Lopez brothers, they are undoubtedly suffering largely
on account of their brother, Sixto Lopez," The "guilt
of the Lopez brothers " refers to the above-mentioned
charge against Cipriano, which, upon inquiry, was aban-
doned by General Bell, thus confirming Captain Curry's
opinion as to the innocence of the brothers, in spite of
Mr. Magoon's contention that the General was a better
judge than the Captain. But General Bell himself prac-
tically admits that these arrests and seizures were for
the purpose of securing the acquiescence of Sixto Lopez
in American rule ; for, in a letter to General Wheaton,
written only fourteen days after the arrests, General
Bell says : "These people need a thrashing to teach them
some common sense [!], and they should have it for the

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 39

good of all concerned. Sixto Lopez is now interested
in peace because I have in jail all the male members of
his family found in my jurisdiction [and one v\o\. found
in his jurisdiction !], and have seized his houses and palay
(rice) and his steamer, the ' Purisima Concepcion,' for the
use of the Government." The fact that Sixto Lopez
had always been " interested in peace," and that he had
urged his own countrymen as well as those in America
to adopt peaceable means, does not seem to have been
known to General Bell. So too, the General assumes
that Sixto Lopez was a member of the Hong-Kong Junta
— an assumption which is not sustained by fact. On the
contrary, Sixto Lopez has never belonged to any Junta,
and has always had serious differences with the Junta at
Hong-Kong as to its war-policy. Nevertheless, on the
document of release of the Lopez brothers there is this
endorsement on the upper margin of the paper : "Brother
of Sixto Lopez, member of the Hong-Kong Junta."
This is the only indictment against them ; it provides
strong confirmation of the theory of Captain Curry
and other officers that the Lopez brothers " are undoubt-
edly suffering largely on account of their brother, Sixto
Lopez."

Now, if General Bell construed the relationship of the
Lopez brothers to Sixto as a ground of suspicion or a
cause of complaint,. he must have done so without the
knowledge, sanction, or approval of the Law Officer of
the Department of Insular Affairs. For Mr. Magoon
elaborately denies that Sixto Lopez had or could have
anything to do with the arrest of the Lopez brothers.
"No one," says Mr. Magoon, "has ever considered his
[Sixto Lopez's] presence in the United States, or the

40 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

efforts in which he was engaged, as in any degree jeop-
ardizing the interests or plans of the United States. The
political complications in respect of the Philippines which
have arisen in the United States and the obstacles encount-
ered ill the Philippines would have been the same had
Sixto Lopez never existed. . . . His public utterances
have been advantageous to the Administration rather
than otherwise. ... I am unable to discover, either in
the papers filed with this application or in the records of
the War Department, any evidence that General Bell, in
ordering the action complained of, took thought of its
possible effect upon Sixto Lopez." (The italics are not
Mr. Magoon's.)

Thus the plea put forth, or at any rate implied, by
General Bell and others in the Philippines, is haughtily
repudiated by Mr. Magoon in Washington. This is
interesting, but it does not serve to clear up the mystery
of the arrest of the Lopez brothers. Indeed, the only
gleam of light thrown on the mystery by Mr, Magoon's
prolix deliverance is found in the affront which he offers
Miss Lopez by implying that she was ready to become
the tool of those whom he unwarrantably charges with
seeking to secure " the sympathy Americans naturally
feel for a woman in distress, whatever the cause!' Rud-
yard Kipling tells, in his '* Brushwood Boy," how Cottar
discovers that there are "things no fellow can do" ; that
is to say, there are things which no gentleman must do
— even in an official capacity. The demeanor of Gen-
eral Bell toward two of the Lopez sisters in Manila,
and that of Mr. Magoon toward the other sister in
America, indicate a contempt, born of unconscious race
prejudice, which helps to explain the matter. It is in-

STORY OF THK LOFKZ FAMILY 41

conceivable that cither of these gentlemen would offer
insult under similar circumstances to women of their
own race, or treat those whom they regarded as equals
in the manner they hax'c treated the Lope^ brothers.
But when dealing with a race of people for whom con-
tempt is felt, any reason, or no reason at all, is suffi-
cient excuse for the infliction of a convenient injustice,
Lorenzo and Cipriano and Manuel know this to be true ;
General Bell and Mr. Magoon have simply furnished the
proof.

Miss Lopez will therefore return to her own country
wiser only in experience and in the knowledge that even
good men, who act in violation of fundamental principle,
arc sometimes powerless to rectify an incidental injustice,
however great.

"tTbe ipalm, tor the ©l(vc*:fi5ranch/*

But let honor be given where it is due. It must be
said that the President showed interest in Miss Lopez's
case, and it may be presumed that he felt sympathy for
those in distress. His personal intervention, if it did not
secure or hasten the release of the Lopez brothers, appar-
ently did service in ameliorating their condition during
the remainder of their term of imprisonment. In marked
contrast with their treatment already described is the
account given by Manuel of how they fared later :
"Company H of the 28th Infantry," says Manuel, "who
were our custodians, and especially the officers, behaved
themselves divinely toward the three of us. They were
very gentlemanly in their bearing, gave us whatever we
asked for, and treated us with every consideration."

42 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

To the President's personal intervention may also be
attributed the wonderful manner in which the Lopez
brothers have been restored to American favor since
their release. The whole family have been shown marked
kindness, and Cipriano, who was to have been kept in
prison until time whitened his locks and dimmed his eye,
has received special consideration and praise from General
Bell. Thus, one of the sisters writes : " General Bell,
of whom three provinces had such a horror, has suddenly
assumed very gracious manners and is quite affable
toward the Lopez family, I have good reason to say
so, for the pass which he gave Cipriano, for Abra de Hog
and the whole island of Mindoro, absolutely prohibits all
the chiefs of detachments from interfering with Cipriano
and our interests there, and orders that they shall put
no obstacles in the way of his business transactions,
unless his own actions should give them good cause ;
and that even then no one must arrest him without
previously obtaining the consent of General Chaffee.
You must know that Cipriano is in favor with General
Bell ; the latter can do nothing but praise him, and he
treated him well toward the last. What is more, one
day when the General was in the office of the Provost
of Batangas he ordered Cipriano to be called in order
that he might apologize to him for the manner in which
he had treated Maria and me ; for according to the
General's account, he was in a bad temper at the
time, and said that we should pardon him, for he
was really ashamed. He told Captain Curry the same
thing."

Later, the same sister writes : " Last Sunday we were
obliged to attend a ball, given, according to their [the

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 43

American oflficers'] account, in honor of the ladies of the
Lopez family, which took place in the Commandancia ;
and this, in spite of the objections we made in order to
avoid going. We were there until two o'clock in the
morning, when they at last permitted us to leave. It
was quite gay, for almost all Balayan was there ; and
besides, they had made much preparation, so that they
had everything. At any other time I should have been
somewhat diverted, but at present, far from being so, I
was sad, and the more attention they paid us the more I
wished to cry.

"You cannot imagine, Clemen, how gallant and def-
erential these egregious officers are toward us. Without
going any further for an example, every time they receive
cablegrams with sensational news, or newspapers, the)-
can hardly take time to get them to us. Last night they
brought their large phonograph (I have not seen so large
a one even in Manila), so that we might hear it ; and
other things of the same sort. So that we can do no
less than be grateful to them."

The breath comes quickly and the tear steals down
one's cheek when one thinks of the essential good-
heartedness of these officers in their almost boyish
attempts to make some sort of reparation for the wrong
that has been done. Indeed, there is more than good-
heartedness in all this. General Bell and his officers
have been brought into closer touch with some of the
Filipinos. Is it possible that the great viisii7iderstanding
vanished ? The two contestants stand face to face as
man to man. There is no plea that can justify, no policy
that can shield. Do they now see each other's point of
view, do they know each other's motives and mistakes t

44 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Has resentment turned to sorrow, and has something
been born in each heart which asks : " Was it for this,
my brother, tliat we sought each other's hfe ? "

"IReturn, © Hsrael."

But the wrong has yet to be righted — the wrong not
only to the individual but to the people. The one is the
result of the other, and both are because of a violation
of principle. All of the misunderstanding, all the injus-
tice, all the evil, all the cruelty and horror are due to the
violation of an eternal principle which affirms the right
of every people to govern itself. And all the considera-
tions about "philanthropic intention" and the "white
man's burden " and the " elevation of alien races " and
the " blessings of good government " and the " resplen-
dent world-mission of America" cannot excuse the viola-
tion of that principle or obviate the evils and horrors
that must follow its violation.

Assuredly, America has a resplendent world-mission
to perform — the mission of planting not the fruits but
the principles of liberty in every corner of the earth
where despotism reigns to-day. For wherever the prin-
ciples of liberty are planted, the fruits — light and law
and good government — are sure to follow. No need
for Old World methods, which have done a little good
and an incalculable amount of evil ; the good being
lauded and magnified in order to cover up the evil. No
need of the sword, except to defend. The emblem of
Liberty is the wand, not the sword — the wand to point,
not the sword to kill.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 45

There is a rule that embraces all principles and is the
test of ail policies. It is as old as human sympathy and
known to all, yet acted upon by few. It stands to con-
demn the evil of the past, yet marks a startinr,^-point for
the future. Let America, the God-favored of peoples,
be the first to elevate the Golden Rule to a place in the
conduct of nations.

46 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Letters from the East

THE Bard of Avon, to whose receptive mind every-
thing in Nature had a meaning, could discover
" tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
sermons in stones, and good in every tiling!'
This gem of alhterative wit and philosophy concludes
with a hteral though startling truth ; and this, in spite of
the difficulty of discovering good in some of the darker
pages of this world's history. Certainly, to those who
possess a measure of human sympathy, and a love of
liberty which rises to the giving of equal liberty to others,
it might be beyond reasonable expectation to find even
an incidental good in the merciless phases of the Philip-
pine war. Yet in this, too, Shakespeare stands confirmed.
For, as a result of the imprisonment of the Lopez
brothers, there has been unfolded a series of family
letters of unusual interest and value. Indeed, it is no
exaggeration to say that never before have letters of
such a character been received from the dreamy East.

Devoid of any pretension to literary merit or descrip-
tive art, these letters present in the easy simplicity of
truth a picture of the life and character of an Eastern
people which even a master hand might fail to delineate.
Breathing a spirit of the purest family and filial devotion,
pathetic and unintentionally humorous in turn, merciless
in their scorn of false friend or unworthy foe, frank in
admitting or correcting a former error or false report,
they are full to overflowing of Filipino human nature —
remarkably like human nature the world over. All the
more valuable are they because they were not written
for purposes of display or to obtain notoriety. They are

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 47

simply family letters intended for private perusal only,
and were written solely for the purpose of informing;
those who were absent of the misfortunes that had
befallen the persons and property of the family. Yet
unintentionally they serve a different and an even more
interesting purpose, by giving, as has been said, an other-
wise unobtainable picture of family life in the Philippines,
and an insight into Filipino life and character, entirely
new to the Western world.

Most of these letters are the work of a young Filipina,
suddenly called upon to assume responsibilities beyond
her years. Up to that time the duties and responsibilities
of the Lopez family had been divided among its elder
members according to natural ability and inclination.
Thus, Senora Castelo, with Lorenzo and Cipriano, man-
aged the Balayan estates; Mariano was the politician,
the lawyer, the "gentleman" of the family; Sixto was
its natural-born and paternally appointed patriot ; Manuel
attended to all that went down to the sea in ships ;
Andrea was the domestic " house-body " and second
mother to the family ; Clemencia was the general con-e-
spondent and factotum, and was her mother's right hand ;
while Juliana, Jose, and Maria were still regarded as the
" children of the family," and, as such, were struggling
with arts and accomplishments befitting the present
utilitarian and genteel era! Suddenly, all this was
changed, and in the change Senora Castelo discovered
that there were latent powers in Juliana, the eldest of the
three " children," who was found to be in reality no child
but a second Clemencia. Upon her, therefore, devolved
many duties hitherto performed by other members of
the family, among which was that of family correspond-
ent. In this she was assisted by Mariano and little
Maria, the former giving solidity, the latter quaintness,
to the correspondence.

The letters were, of course, written in Spanish, but
faithful translations have been made by Miss Helen C.
Wilson, a graduate of Radcliffe College, and for some

48 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

time engaged in educational work in Cuba. These trans-
lations retain, in a rather remarkable manner, the simple
character of the originals, upon which no attempt has
been made to improve. Finally, it should be stated that
a few unimportant paragraphs have been omitted from
the translations, chiefly because they were regarded as
wholly uninteresting to the general reader, and with a
view to economy in space.

The Lopez Letters

The first letter is from Juliana [" Ninay "] to her
sisters, Clemencia and Maria, then on a visit to Sixto at
Hong-Kong. Juliana and the rest of the family at
Manila were at the time unaware of the arrest of the
three brothers at Boac and Balayan, which had occurred
three days previously.

For the sake of clearness it should be mentioned that
in this and all future letters the name " Quita " is used
as an abbreviation of Mariquita, the diminutive of Maria.
"Clemen" stands, of course, for Clemencia.

[From Juliana to Clemencia and Maria Lopez, then at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, December 17, 1901.

My Dear Sisters : I suppose that by this time you
can already distinguish from the deck of the steamer the
shores of Hong-Kong, and so, only a few hours will elapse
before you arrive and quickly see Sixto and our friends,
whom also you have not seen for some time, though not
for so long.

I write to tell you that I am delighted because of the
joy it will give you to see at last our dear brother and
never-to-be-forgotten friends, who will be astonished, not
expecting to see you so soon.

Juliana I.oi'kz
fVhose letters form the basis of this book

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 49

Yes, from the time you start' cl until now I have been
counting the hours it will take you to reach them, and
have been making conjectures as to how you have passed
the journey, whether Clemen would be very seasick and
whether Quita would eat as well on board as ashore,
in spite of her promise to me never to lose her liking for
food. I am sure you will be very cold and that the cli-
mate there will affect you in spite of the fact that Clemen
said it would not ; and I say this because for two nights
we have felt it here, and it has indeed troubled us.

Yesterday morning I telegraphed to Lorenzo, through
[Lieutenant] Raymond, telling him of your departure
and of that of your companions, and I also wrote him
by post a long letter, telling him many things. "VVe do
not intend to go back to Balayan this week, but shall go
next week if they give us a pass, for it is said that well-
to-do persons, that is, those who can live comfortably
here in Manila, will not be allowed to return to their
towns. As I am not sure about this information, I shall
try to get permission through our friends, and as soon as
we obtain it we shall make haste to leave here as soon
as possible, lest other laws be passed and Balayan be
completely closed against us so that it would be impos-
sible for us to go there. We know nothing of Balayan
and believe it is quiet, for otherwise they would have
telegraphed us telling us what was happening.

I will not write any more for fear of missing the mail.

Our affectionate regards to all our friends, and in par-
ticular to Messrs. Warren and Patterson, whom I remem-
ber always and shall never forget. Receive an embrace
from your sister, Ninay [Juliana].

[The foregoing letter is interesting only because of
its natural, almost commonplace simplicity. There is not
a striking thought or a noteworthy phrase in its little
summary of little things. It might have been written
by any young girl in America or Europe, fresh from a

50 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

convent school, as, indeed, was the case with its youthful
author.

** Little things minister pleasure.
As ever it fares with the good."

It represents Juliana before she was transformed by trial
and responsibility. Its only value is that it furnishes a
means of comparing Juliana as she was with Juhana as
she now is, as shown in her later letters.

■^9i

The next letter is a hurried announcement of the
trouble that had suddenly befallen the family, Juliana
is still the convent school-girl. There is no expression
of depth of feeling, for there were then no depths into
which feeling could penetrate. A great trouble may
sometimes be known without being realized. It requires
trial and suffering and experience to deepen and broaden
the soul, and give intensity to feeling and feeling to
expression.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia and Maria Lopez, then at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, December 19, 1901.
Dear Sisters : With much sorrow of heart and dis-
tress I write to tell you that Lorenzo, Cipriano, and
Manuel have been arrested, the first two in Balayan
[province of Batangas], and Manuel, I suppose, in Boac ;
and all three are prisoners in the jail at Batangas [the
city]. According to information we received last Friday,
the 1 3th, our house was thoroughly searched, and the
title-deeds and also some money were taken away. On
the night of the same day the " Purisima " went to take
Lorenzo and Cipriano, and Manuel went in the steamer
with the other two to Batangas. It is also said that the

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 51

keys to the rice storehouse are in the hands of the com-
manding officer, so that nothing can be taken out with-
out his pennission. The crew of the " Purisima " are
also prisoners.

This news will surprise you as much as it surprised
me. Mother does not know it yet, and I shall not tell
her, for it would kill her. We are working, and hope
justice will be done them and that they will be set at
liberty.

I inclose a cutting from the Diario de Filipitias. Our
friends who have read it are astonished (if Sixto has
really had interviews with these gentlemen) that he
should have so bound himself ; as it is not in their hands
to secure the fulfillment of the promise. Moreover, the
lawyer with whom Sixto conferred is not to be trusted,
according to those who know him.

I do not know what to do, but through it all I hope
justice will be done, since, as you know, they are inno-
cent.

Good-bye. Consider what you ought to do, whether
you ought to return or not.

Your sister, Ninay.

[A word of explanation is necessary with respect to
the above reference to a cutting from the Diario de
Filipijias.

Sixto Lopez, during his stay in Hong-Kong, had had
several interviews with Judge Ladd of the Supreme
Court of the Philippines, and with Captain Dwyer and
Attorney Tirrell, both of Manila, who were anxious to
secure his services in the cause of peace. Senor Lopez
had, among other things, pointed out that to yield to the
demand that he should take an oath of allegiance to
America would at once destroy whatever influence he
might otherwise have with Malvar. But he assured
these gentlemen that he would give his word of honor
to refrain from inciting or encouraging those in the

52 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

field to further armed resistance. Satisfied with the
reasonableness of this explanation and the sufficiency of
this assurance, Judge Ladd declared that Sixto Lopez
was "the very man required in the present situation,"
and Messrs. Dwyer and Tirrell expressed the belief that
he could be of great service in securing peace. They
therefore undertook to urge both the civil and military
authorities to make use of Sixto Lopez's services, prom-
ising to inform him by cable if their mission proved
successful.

In due course the Diario de Filipinas and other
Manila newspapers published an account of how Messrs.
Dwyer and Tirrell's mission had failed, stating that,
although Vice - Governor Wright had agreed to the
proposal, General Chaffee remained obdurate and would
not accept the offer unless Sixto Lopez first took the
oath.

Juliana and her friends were apparently in doubt as to
the bona fides of Messrs. Dwyer and Tirrell, believing
that they had made promises which they had no power
to fulfill. This, however, was a misapprehension, for
they had simply undertaken to lay the matter before the
Manila authorities, and had neither given nor asked any
pledge as to future action.

The third letter is interesting, yet in no sense remark-
able. It foreshadows a change, an unconscious dawning
in Juliana's development.

** Something hath gleamed upon her, and the spell of her child-
hood is broken.
Hardly she knows, as yet, whether to waken or slumber again."

She is in doubt whether to assume the responsibility
herself, or to ask her elder sister to return. Yet she is

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 53

" heartsick," and heartsickness is the prelude to soul-
expansion. She has, too, to conceal her trouble from
" poor little mother," and thus to assume the weight of
it herself.

Messrs. Dwyer and Tirrell are again referred to in
terms of suspicion, and even General Chaffee is regarded
as untrustworthy. Those who are inclined to regard this
as unwarranted suspicion should remember that the con-
ditions in Manila were and are such as to provoke
universal distrust. The Civil Government was unable
to protect those under its own authority from its all-
powerful military rival. It did indeed make laws, some
of which were in violation of the charter from which it
derived its law-making power, but the military authorities
were complete masters of the situation ; were, in fact, a
law unto themselves, and defied the civil power. No
one knew what would happen next ; there was no
feeling of security, no guarantee of justice. Every
Filipino was under suspicion, and in turn distrusted
every American ; the former were regarded with con-
tempt, the latter held themselves aloof. No one dared
to peep, or to breathe a word of criticism against the
military authorities. It was the era of the sycophant
and the informer. Manila was swarming with secret
police, a goodly number of whom were also to be found
in Hong-Kong, Shanghai, and the southern ports of
Japan. Who could be certain that Messrs. Dwyer and
Tirrell were not of this fraternity ? Even General
Chaffee was distrusted, owing to the treatment accorded

to " Martin C ,"a captured Filipino officer who had

been liberated on taking the oath of allegiance, and then
re-arrested and imprisoned for six months, notwithstand-
ing that he had endeavored, unsuccessfully it is true, to
induce Malvar to surrender. Such were the condi-
tions after three years of American occupation of the
Islands.]

54 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez, then at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, December 21, 1901.

Dearest Clemen : When you receive this you will
already have read mine of the day before yesterday, in
which I told you in detail about how our poor brothers —
Lorenzo, Cipriano, and Manuel — were taken prisoners,
and of the detention of the steamer in Batangas, and the
arrest of all the crew. We do not yet know how they
are treated in the prison of "Batangas, where they now
are, whether well or ill. But I shall soon know, perhaps
this evening or to-morrow, for the "Custer" will then
arrive. I had commissioned a friend of mine to find out
exactly all that is happening in Balayan and Batangas as
regards our brothers, and he said he would do so with
pleasure. Mariano and I do not cease working to obtain
their liberation.

You cannot imagine, Clemen, how heartsick I am, and
all the more because I have to conceal it before our poor
little mother, who has a presentiment that some misfort-
une has befallen us because of the lateness of the
steamer [" Purisima "]. And I, to persuade her that there
was nothing of the sort, told her that the reason was
because the Americans had hired it. I do not know
whether to advise you to come or not. But for the last
two days I have been running here and there and have
gotten nothing but promises. I should therefore like
you to come, for I can do nothing alone.

Yesterday I went twice to see if General Chaffee would
receive me, and failed. They say that he will deal with
nobody ; and yet I cannot decide to go to Batangas, know-
ing what Bell is, without first obtaining a recommenda-
tion from Chaffee. So I do not know what to do. On
the other hand, the Federal party have promised to u^ork,
and I do not know whether they will succeed. We all be-
lieve that they have taken these harsh measures, imprison-
ing the principal men in the province, in order that every
one may work with energy for the surrender of Malvar.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 55

Say to our brother, if you have not received my last
letter, that we have read in the papers of his interview
with Captain Dwyer and with a lawyer whose name I do
not remember [Mr. Tirrell]. None of our friends bcHeve
that he [Dwyer or TirrellJ has the right to promise so
much ; therefore warn Sixto not to fall into the trap. I
should like to send Sixto the clipping, but I do not find
it at hand, and I am sure that you have received my let-
ter with the clipping where it tells of his interview with
the gentleman, and that General Chaffee has refused to
allow him to come unless he takes the oath. Even if he
[General Chaffee] should permit it, I do not need to tell
you what would happen. Remember Martin C.

Good-bye, with remembrances from your sister who
loves you. Ninay.

[A mistranslation in the following letter unfortunately
led Mr. Magoon into the belief that the Lopez sisters had
" conducted a correspondence with Sixto Lopez of such
a kind and character that prudence dictated the adop-
tion of measures calculated to prevent knowledge there-
of from coming to the authorities." The words which
misled Mr. Magoon were : "When you write, direct the

letter to , so that it may not attract attention."

The latter part of the sentence, in italics, is a mistrans-
lation of the original ^^para que no se extravien^' a correct
rendering of which would be : " so that it may not go
astray." Letters had "gone astray" in the Manila post-
office, and some of those written by the Lopez sisters had
been delivered only after a long and inexplicable delay.
Thus, Maria writes : " We are much troubled at your
saying that you have received no letters from us since I
left there, for Ninay [Juliana] has written to you at least
five or six times since I arrived here." Later, Juliana
writes : " We have finally found a friend by whom to
send you this letter, for I am afraid you have not re-

56 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

ceived my previous ones and that they are really lost."
There was undoubtedly a desire to secure safe delivery
of the letters, and there was also an anxiety on the part
of Mariano Lopez that nothing should be said which
an over-suspicious official might construe as against the
government. This was quite natural ; similar anxiety
would have been felt by any one else in similar circum-
stances. But since the letters written by the Lopez
family had been voluntarily placed in the President's
hands, it ought to have been clear that there had been
no attempt to conceal from the authorities the "kind and
character" of the correspondence.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, December 26, 1901.

Dearest Clemen : We did not think it best to answer
your telegram received yesterday morning, because of the
present condition of our family. Up to the present time
our brothers still remain prisoners in Batangas, the
steamer is held like all the rest of the property, and,
what is more, we do not know to whom to apply to free
either our brothers or the property. Everybody with
whom we talk about this tells us to have more patience
and to proceed with calmness, because it is the military
system, and the measure is a general one. The result
is that I am in despair because I can do nothing for them.
Through a friend I have learned that they are well treated
in Batangas, and that they are not made to work as in
Lipa, where all the rest, both great and small, except the
stout brother of your friend, and some others whom I do
not remember, have to work.

The steamer "Purisima" is now an American trans-
port and serves the Government ; it does not come to
Manila, but only makes trips in the provinces. We have
news, also, that they have not changed the crew of the
steamer, but they do not let them land, especially in
Batangas. I have received no letter from Balayan nor

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 57

from our brothers, so I am not certain whether this news
is true. I cannot write to them for fear of making their
situation worse, for you do not know, Clemen, how the
people of Batangas are suffering now, and what they will
suffer, from hunger. On the other hand, I cannot write
to the officers who are our friends ; first, because all those
in Balayan are new and I do not know them, and those
whom I do know I am afraid of compromising. Captain
Cole was removed from Balayan because he did not wish
to take our brothers prisoners, and defended them in
every way. So it was that I could do nothing else but
beg the favor from a friend, known only recently, that
he should go in person and at least find out how they
are ; and the night before last he came and told me that
they were well and well treated.* On this account we
ought not to be so unhappy, for there are others more
unfortunate than our brothers.

Although they say that until Malvar surrenders they
will not give them liberty, yet I have great trust in God
that they will soon be set free, since Balayan is still
peaceful and quiet. I do not know whether you will be
able to understand this letter, for it is like my head,
topsy-turvy. Arrange it so that when you come you
bring nothing, absolutely nothing with you, in order to
avoid even unfounded suspicion. Mariano says that our
brother [Sixto] ought not to come. Many think that
this measure taken against our brothers is on his account
and his friends' who were here. When you write, direct

the letter to , so that it may not go astray [''para

que no se cxtravien "]. Mother does not know it yet, but
suspects, because of the l^ateness of the boat, and I tell
her anything so that she may not be troubled.

Good-bye, with regards to all.

Your sister, Ninay.

-^

* This report was untrue, as is shown in later letters.

58 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[ It is the belief of many persons in the PhiHppines,
both native and foreign, that Mariano Lopez is a lover
of American sovereignty. This belief receives no coun-
tenance from the following letter, for although Mariano
had done everything in his power to secure peace, and
although he was agreeable, tuidcr the cifaimstances, to a
term of American rule, he is anxious that Sixto should
"work in America." For what .? Sixto's work in Amer-
ica, as Mariano well knew, has always been and will
continue to be for independence — until it is achieved.
Mariano's words are therefore significant. His attitude
is typical of that of many other Filipinos who desire
peace — and independence. The desire for peace is not
a negation of independence, nor does it presuppose a
wish for permanent American control]

[From Mariano to Sixto Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, December 26, 1901.
Dear Sixto: On the nth instant the "Purisima"
left here for Boac [Island of Marinduque, under Civil
Government] with Manuel on board, and arrived there
the following day. On the same day Manuel was, by
order of General Bell, arrested and transported to
Batangas [under Military Government], in the " Puris-
ima." On the following day, i.e., the 13th, still by
order of this general, the "Purisima" went to Balayan
with Captain Cole and Lieutenant Allen on board, and
after having occupied our house and confiscated the
papers, title-deeds, and keys, they arrested and took to
Batangas Lorenzo, Cipriano, and Felix [the first Pres-
idente, appointed by the United States authorities],
where they are now held as prisoners, and the steamer
was converted into a Government transport. The motive
for this is not known, but it is all the more extraordinary
because Balayan is the only pacified town in Batangas,
and has supported the Government since the nth of
March of this year until the present date. To such an

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 59

extent was this true that the Military Government allowed
municipal elections there on the 29th of last September,
and good feeling and friendship existed between the
Lopez family and the commanding and other ofificers, so
that almost all of these officers often visited at our
house.

On the loth instant the ports of Batangas and La
Laguna were closed, and to-day the term of reconcentra-
tion-notice ends. Before the close of this period we had
already received here, from a trustworthy source, awful
news from there, that all the people in the towns who
had $4 or upwards were apprehended, and villages were
burned. Now that reconcentration is in full force, what
horrors will these poor people not suffer ?

I will give you some examples, not to mention some
others which happened in Lipa, and which my pen refuses
to describe. AH the municipal officers and respectable
men were imprisoned, and were put to work in the streets.
All the barrios were burned, and that of Balete was
burned in the following manner : the American troops
compelled the householders to walk on foot from the town
to the barrio, each one carrying a can of petroleum, and
when they arrived they were each one obliged to burn
his own country residence.

One day an American soldier knocked at the door of
a half-sister of B. Solis, who sold rice, and demanded
rice for the horse of a lieutenant. He was answered
that at that house rice was not given away, but was sold.
The mistress of the house complained to the colonel,
who promised to do her justice, but after that two
soldiers appeared, and the woman, frightened, yielded,
allowing them to enter and take away, out of a large
basket, the rice which they desired. Later the lieutenant
came with soldiers and searched the house and found
ammunition in the basket [presumably placed there by
the two soldiers]. For that reason the masters of the
house were taken prisoners.

Here nothing can be done for these unhappy provinces,

6o STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

even to soften the harsh measures. The Government is
firm in its decision that until Malvar surrenders there
shall be no change, and when protest is made in favor of
innocent people who are loyal to the Government, —
women, old men, and children, — it is replied that these
are measures of war, and that even in America these
same measures were taken during the civil war.

Even here in Manila no one lives in safety, since the
belief prevails among the military that all the Filipinos are
more or less traitors to the Americans. In this, the civil
authorities allow themselves to be overruled, although
it is clear that the military element desires a contin-
uance of the war and is, with the assistance of the
American press here, doing everything possible to have
all the islands returned to its control, as you may have
already noticed. Therefore, taking note of all that I
have said, I beg you to work in America ; but I hope
that you will do so with great prudence, and in such a
manner as will not in any way make worse the situation
of your unfortunate and destitute brothers and sisters
here. You will pardon me for telling you not to come
now, with or without taking the oath, if you do not wish
to make worse both their situation and your own as
regards the Government, without helping matters. For
the same reason do not write to them except by sure and
certain messenger.

Good-bye. Mariano.

[It has been said that soldiers are bad logicians. Per-
haps this is because the sword has no major premise,
and always reaches the same conclusion ! The following
letter contains a specimen of martial logic which may
yet find a place in a military edition of "Alice in Won-
derland." Captain Taggart is (or was !) a friend of the
Lopez family, having known them in Balayan, where for
a time he held command. Doubtless he was only ex-
pressing a general belief when he declared that the

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 6i

imprisonment of the three brothers was on account of
Sixto ; but his solution of the difficulty, as regards the
confiscated property, is probably his own : Divide the
family property, he says, and then the only part that
would remain in the hands of the military would be Sixto's
share.

Now, if division or separation of the property would ^
thus secure immunity from confiscation, why were the
brothers imprisoned ? Were they not already as sepa-
rate from Sixto as Sixto's property would be from theirs
after the division ? Where is the major premise ? But
wait. The soldier is usually credited with an imperfect
idea of the meaning and application of scripture. Ap-
parently Captain Taggart and others have concluded that
Lorenzo and Cipriano and Manuel were their " brother's
keeper^' using the latter word in a financial sense. Per-
haps this is the reason why Mariano escaped, for he is
only a half-brother to Sixto, and the scriptures are silent
about half-brothers ! But then, what about Lorenzo,
who also is only a half-brother to Sixto .-'

Well, everybody loves the soldier — loves him as the
typical embodiment of bravery and strength, and for his
keen sense of honor, and his boyish good-nature — when
he isn't fighting ; but not for his powers as a logician or
a theologian !]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, December 28, 1901.
Dearest Clemen : Two weeks have passed since you
went away, and yet I have not received any letter from
you up to the present time, and you cannot imagine how
impatient I am to receive one, because in the situation
in which our family at present finds itself I ought to
know your decision, and also what I ought to do on my
part. I have done everything and have got nothing but
promises, and some tell me that when the war is ended
every one will be set at liberty ; from this you can judge

62 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

whether I can do anything more, I have been able to
do almost nothing for their welfare, except to beg recom-
mendations from the friends of Bell that he should treat
our poor brothers with consideration.

Yesterday I saw Captain Taggart, who has just come,
and he told me, among other things, that the imprison-
ment of our brothers was on account of Sixto (whom
our brothers pecuniarily support), he being a great enemy
of the American Government, who will not come to the
Philippines and swear allegiance, which would be the
only way to settle the matter. I answered him that they
were mistaken in thinking this [i. e., that Sixto was an
enemy of the American Government], and that even if
that were the case, if they believe him guilty, as they
say, he is the only person who ought to be involved in this
affair, for he acts according to his own judgment and
does as he thinks best. Finally he advised me that the
only way in which the Government could return to us
the confiscated property would be for us to divide it up,
and in that way we could have ours, and the only part
which would remain in the hands of the Government
would be that belonging to Sixto. . . .

Yesterday, I learned that you had sent some letters
by one who, fearing that they would compromise him,
tore them up, believing them to be something else. In-
deed, it is not surprising, so many incredible and horrible
things have happened. They say that they will devas-
tate all Batangas if it is not pacified at once. All remain
prisoners, and the number increases. Even priests and
curates are suspected. That is why, in view of all these
things, I prefer almost anything rather than to see so
many die of hunger — so many people entirely ignorant
of what is called politics. When I complain of this in-
humanity, they only reply that " such is war," and explain
by this same answer all their inhuman actions. I am
much distressed to see mother so afifiicted by the lateness
of Manuel, and if she knew the truth of what has hap-
pened to Lorenzo and Cipriano also I do not know what

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 63

would become of her. For my part, I wish you would
return, considering the sad condition in which we are ;
and I have to think of Pepe [Jose, the brother in
England].

Good-bye. Regards to everybody, and remember that
you are not forgotten. Ninay.

-»)

[ The following letter contains Mariano's proposal that
Sixto should take the oath of allegiance in order to secure
the release of the three brothers, — a proposal which, it
is believed, did not originate with Mariano. Few persons
will question the propriety of taking oath of allegiance
to the United States if the oath is taken voluntarily and
in sincerity, and presumably Mariano never intended that
Sixto should take it against his inclination or in violation
of conscience. But to take any oath simply as a matter
of expediency, or in bargain for the mitigation of an
injustice, is an act to which no honorable man ought to
consent.

Sixto's reply — which here follows Mariano's letter —
shows the position he has maintained ever since his first
association with Rizal. His attitude toward the American
authorities is the same as was his attitude toward Spain.
Apparently he could have become persona grata to both
by assuming the role of a hypocrite. It was ever thus ;
there is no room for an honest man in any system of
wrong. It is Benedict Arnold that is welcomed by
England, and Buencamino by the Civil Government at
' Manila. A man is known by the company he keeps ; a
policy by those whom it attracts.]

[ From Mariano to Clemencia Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, December 28, 190 1.
Dearest Clemen : I write to tell you that our poor
brothers, Lorenzo, Cipriano, and Manuel, are still prison-
ers, and our steamer and possessions confiscated, and I find

64 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

myself now powerless and unable to remedy matters,
since all my efforts up to the present time have been
useless, and I can think of no other effective remedy but
the following: I believe that if Sixto should offer to
recognize the Government, swearing allegiance to its
sovereignty in these islands, on condition that our
brothers should be set at liberty and our steamer and
goods returned to us, his offer would be accepted.

In Sixto's hands, then, lies the remedy for our troubles
and total ruin, and he must choose one of two things :
Either to sacrifice himself, renouncing his desire to set
free his country at the cost of his life and put in its
place brotherly affection to save us, or, shutting his eyes
to all this, to remain sternly faithful to his aims, sublime
and heroic it is true, but leaving us all to die, some in
captivity and the others destitute. And Sixto must not
think that if he should come and offer to suffer every-
thing in place of his brothers the Government would be
willing and would remedy our situation. Of this, at
least, he must not think, for they might lay hands on
him also if he persists in not taking the oath when he
comes. Our mother begs me earnestly to tell you to
come back by the first boat, and to beg our friends to
write us nothing about politics if they do not wish to
make our condition worse.

Your brother, Mariano Lopez.

[From Sixto to Mariano Lopez.] '"

January I, 1902.
Dear Mariano : While I admire the spirit that has
prompted you in proposing [in your letter to Clemencia]
that I should make a great sacrifice in order to secure
the release of our brothers, I cannot do what you sug-
gest. I believe it to be my duty to make sacrifices for
our country and for those who are near and dear to us,
but I can never agree that it is right to sacrifice principle

View of part ok Majsila, shovx-

View of the Luneta, Manila, v

[& note in li.

SiiiriMNc; ON rill': I<i\i:k I'ask;

^^^W

tr*-'

"•»«^.-^5(,%4HP,»w*"

; X « . - •.

-«■-

.)

^^^^r^

_^-Bff^r^

^^_

» >v^^^

.^^^^^-""■'

^< .

^H

PRii^^^

^«-

:c^

"^

^^Hl

^B|||,y^4^J

^L

-^

fgj^

iemu

Hjj^ll

HH^&i^

7^

^^s

K RiZAi. ^\.\s i:\i c I i i n in iSy6
i//ustrations]

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 6c

or to yield to suffering when we are in the right. You
know as well as I do that Lorenzo and Manuel, and
Cipriano since his surrender, hav^e done nothing to aid or
incite the Filipinos under arms, and that they have done
nothing in opposition to American authority. Conse-
quently their imprisonment is neither legally nor morally
justifiable. Therefore to make any sacrifices in return
for their release would be simply reviving the old system
of bribery which held sway under Spanish rule, and
would practically amount to yielding to blackmail. This
we, of all people, must not countenance. If we cannot
get justice for our brothers and our property, then we
must suffer, and that suffering is the only sacrifice which
it is proper for us to make.

We should remember that our fellow-countrymen have
suffered and are suffering for the sake of right. Even
the poorest and least educated have been prepared to
sacrifice their life for what they believe to be the benefit
of their country. Shall we, then, who have been blessed
with some degree of wealth and education, shall we
flinch and yield at the first stroke of calamity ^ For
myself I answer, "Never." I am prepared to sacrifice
my property and my life for the good of my country
or for the benefit of our family, but the sacrifice which
you suggest I will never, never consent to make. The
American authorities may inflict punishment on our
family that may break my heart or my life, but they
will never be able to break my principle as long as God
Almighty remains on the side of what is right.

But the two courses which you mention in your letter
are not the only alternatives. There is another course
which I believe will secure justice and the release of our
brothers. It may not bring relief as soon as the one
you suggest, but it will be more effective and permanent
in its results. It involves no sacrifice of principle and
no violation of right. It would be improper at this stage
to give you the details, but I intend to pursue it, and we
shall see whether it will prove a success.

66 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Fortunately, if I can obtain no help for my family, I
shall still be able to carry on the work, for every injus-
tice inflicted on us will only bring more aid and sympathy
to our people. Wrong will always turn upon the wrong-
doer, and will finally benefit those who are wronged. It
is therefore for us to do what is right and suffer patiently
any temporary wrong, knowing that right will ultimately
triumph.

But let me make my own position clear. I am en-
tirely in favor of a cessation of all armed resistance to
American authority. I have always believed, with you,
that the war was not necessarily to our people's inter-
ests, and I am of the same opinion still. I am therefore
willing to do whatever lies in my power to bring about
peace. But I utterly despise the policy which inflicts
punishment upon neutral non-combatants in order to
secure the surrender of those in arms. Neither morality
nor the rules of war sanction such a policy. To my
mind it is an unutterably mean and cruel method of
securing victory. It is unworthy of an American sol-
dier and a blot upon the escutcheon of the nation that
went to war to put an end to the methods of General
Weyler. And although under other circumstances I
should counsel surrender by Malvar and his forces, I
cannot urge him to surrender in response to siicJi methods
of warfare.

Better a thousand times for us all to suffer, knowing
that the more we are made to suffer the sooner will come
our final relief. Injustice and wrong will no more bring
victory to America than to General Weyler. We should
remember that there is One who is more powerful than
money and guns, and that One is on our side. We may
have to suffer, for we cannot claim that we are immacu-
late, but the great balance of right is on our side, and
that ought to satisfy us and give us the assurance of
ultimate triumph.

You will, ere this, have received my letter telling of
Clemencia's departure for America, and the reasons

STORY OK THE LOPEZ FAMILY 67

which moved us all to adopt this course. Your and
Juliana's letters only served to confirm me in the belief
that we have adopted the proper course. If necessary,
Clemencia can return within three or four months,
Mariquita is happy and contented, and for the present,
or until I leave Hong-Kong, I should recommend her
to remain. But of course she will do whatever mother
advises.

Ever your affectionate brother, Sixto.

[It is difficult to discover, in the foregoing letter, any-
thing in the form of a threat to the United States. Yet
the following words have been so construed by what
must surely be a forced interpretation : " Although under
other circumstances I should counsel surrender by
Malvar and his forces, I cannot urge him to surrender
in response to such methods of warfare!' In the same
paragraph from which these words are quoted Sixto
Lopez says : " I am entirely in favor of a cessation of all
armed resistance to American authority, ... I am there-
fore willing to do whatever lies in my power to bring
about peace." From this it is abundantly clear that the
supposed "threat" is simply an independent statement
that although Sixto Lopez is in favor of peace he would
not counsel surrender " in response " to certain methods
of warfare. But anything in the form of independence
of mind on the part of those of dark complexion is nat-
urally construed as a "threat" by the Great White
Anglo-Saxon 1

In commenting on the paragraph referred to, Mr,
Magoon says : " Sixto Lopez, however, insists that a bel-
ligerant commander is without authority to punish or even
prevent any and every effort to cause the miscarriage of
the military operations of the United States, excepting the
acts of those persons who are encountered with arms in
their hands, and insists that a person who asserts that he
is a ' non-combatant ' is by such assertion placed outside

68 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

the jurisdiction of the military authority." * This might
well go down in history as another of the " Curiosities of
Literature," — if, indeed, it were literary, — for it would
be hard to find, anywhere in the English language,
a grosser misrepresentation of an opponent's words.
Where does Sixto Lopez " insist " on any of these ab-
surdities ? It will be noted that the only item quoted
from Sixto Lopez's letter is the word "non-combatant ";
the context attributed to him is pure imagination. It is
bad enough to misrepresent, but to attribute foolish
things to an opponent is almost unpardonable. Why
should any such course be adopted ? A good cause and
a good case do not require the aid of misconstruction or
misrepresentation.

In the following letter, Mariano briefly replies to Sixto's
rejoinder in a manner creditable alike to his patriotism and
to his ability as a student of history.

The remainder of his letter is devoted chiefly to Man-
uel Ramirez, who figures in this history, and of whom,
more anon.]

[From Mariano to Sixto Lopez.]

Manila, January 8, 1902.
Dear Sixto : I have received your letter through
Mariquita, who came yesterday, very weak, owing to sea-
sickness during the voyage. In answering it I will only
say that, considering the atmosphere in which you live,
alone, and called to be almost a martyr for your country,
it seems to me excellent and not to be improved. But
as for me and millions of our compatriots in the sur-
roundings in which we live, considering the circumstances
and our respective families, for whom we must have very

* Mr. Magoon, in the Report of the Senate Committee on the Philip-
pines, p. 2605.

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 69

special regard, we cannot follow you on the patriotic road
which you have laid out. But we do not on that account
consider ourselves any less patriotic than you are ; for if
history holds up to you examples of heroism, even to
the point of sacrificing one's life for one's country, it
gives us, on the other hand, examples of even great
nations who have yielded to the superior force of the
enemy, preferring to submit to the conqueror rather
than to continue the struggle at the price of total exter-
mination. I admire and respect your views and convic-
tions ; but try not to compromise any more of us who
are here if you do not wish to force your brothers to
follow in your path.

Our three brothers, with Felix Unzon, are in the Bay
[of Manila], on the transport " Liscum," to be deported,
although it is not yet known where. A military com-
*.mission has been to inspect the island of Tahm, La
Laguna, and some people think that perhaps it will be
that island. I was able to talk with them, and they tell
me that they have been embarked without any formal
writ or notification as to the reasons, and if they know
anything about it it is because a messenger from the
officer who keeps the record of the prisoners has told
them that in those records there is no accusation against
our brothers except that of being suspected of main-
taining the insurrection, and he has offered to endeavor
to liberate them, saying that for a small sum of money
he could accomplish it. Our brothers refused this offer
because of their self-respect and innocence. Several
obtained liberty in Batangas in this way, and it is known
of Mariano Ramos, the son of Juan Ramos, that he was
freed through the influence of the present favorite of
the Americans, Manuel Ramirez.

Let us talk of the latter. Li case you do not remember
his past, I will put it down for you now. You know that
Ramirez started as an office-boy and clerk of the deceased
Don Manuel Araulio. When the latter died, Ramirez
continued in the employ of his son, Don Agustin, now also

70 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

deceased, who, through his wealth and influence, made
Ramirez chief of the town of Balayan. Having once
risen, he showed himself to be capable of anything, since
he soon made himself a landholder at the expense of the
town and of his master, who died poor. From that time
he and the curate (friar) of the town were in league.
Several years passed in this way, until Don Caspar Cas-
tano, then governor of the province, tired of this state
of affairs, held an investigation as to who was responsible
for these intrigues, in order to make a radical reform. It
was then discovered that Manuel Ramirez was the author
of them all, and he was accordingly deported to Mindoro.
There, instead of amending, he became worse, for in a
few years he dominated the courts and the officials, and
all these also were continually intriguing, while, on the
other hand, the governor and the priest (friar) were con-
tinually hostile to one another and involved in lawsuits. -.
The Spanish Government, wishing to put an end to
this state of things in that island, selected Don Rafael
Morales and sent him there as governor, and he quickly
perceived that the disturber was Manuel Ramirez, who
was warned not again to trample under foot either the
courts or the Government, to stop all plots, and to re-
frain from any remonstrance in those provinces, under
pain of being deported to a distant island. In the year
1898, when the island of Mindoro was taken by the
Philippine forces, Ramirez was one of those singled out
by the popular wrath and arrested. But the officer in
command of the forces was governed by the desire to
pardon bad Filipinos and to attract them to the right
course ; and so, taking advantage of the popular delirium
of joy after the triumph over the Spaniards, he gave him
and others their freedom. As soon as Ramirez found
himself free, fearful lest the townspeople, once their
enthusiasm had passed, should kill him, he escaped to
Batangas and went from there to his old home in Balayan.
Here he transformed himself into an ardent patriot,
assisted the presidente as town secretary, and provided all

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 71

supplies for his brother-in-law, the great robber Estaban
Causapin, who also pretended to be a great patriot, and
raised troops. Later Mr. Taggart, major of the Twenty-
eighth Volunteers, stationed in Balayan, ascertained
that he was responsible for robberies and assaults in
Nasugbu and Lian. (This Causapin also now enjoys
the confidence of the Americans, for he is one of their
spies.)

In October, 1900, when the Thirty-ninth Volunteers
came to relieve the Twenty-eighth Regiment, the troops
then stationed at Balayan, the commanding officer of the
former, Mr. Langhorne, was arrested by the command-
ing officer of the latter, Mr. Taggart, before passing over
the command.* Already, in the time of Major Taggart,
Ramirez had secretly denounced many people. Major
Taggart, who does nothing except in accordance with
his favorite phrase, "evidence," and who is keenly observ-
ant, saw through Ramirez immediately, and found no dif-
ficulty in comprehending that he is a man who, although
intelligent, is to be feared because of his evil disposition.
As I told you before, the unfriendliness between Mr.
Taggart and Mr. Langhorne was well improved by
Ramirez, who from that time not only acquired influence
over the latter but also over all his officers, although the
said Mr. Langhorne was a friend and continual visitor
at our house, so that, thanks to him, Ramirez could not
then do us harm. After the forces of Commander
Langhorne had been quartered a few months in Balayan,
the following incident occurred in the house of Nicolas
Ramos :

As he [Ramos] and his family were in the habit of
selling liquors [clandestinely], there came to their house
one night some drunken soldiers of the neighborhood to
buy wine, and, as it was refused them and they demanded

*The command was passed over to Captain Taylor, who retained it
until Major Langhorne was released after about one month's imprison-
ment, decreed from headquarters in Manila.

72 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

it resolutely, they came to blows. There was confusion,
since some cried out that they were being assaulted by
robbers, and others fought desperately until an officer
came and put a stop to it and brought them all before
the chief. Once before Colonel Bullard, at that time in
command, those who had been assaulted insisted that the
intention was to rob them, and they even declared that
money and jewels had been taken from them. One of
the assailants is a cousin of one of the officers, and cer-
tainly found out the truth, for the following night that
officer with some soldiers went to arrest Geronimo Ramos,
the son of Nicolas, who, when he saw them coming,
began to run, and the officer pursued him with a revolver
and wounded him in the hand ; but so great was the ter-
ror of Geronimo that he did not stop until he could hide
himself in the house of Juan Garcia. It is known that
this officer when he overtook and captured him took a
more pacific course, for he agreed to bring him before the
chief, Colonel Bullard, and there, through the prayers of
the Ramos family, the matter was dropped. This family
began to make presents to the chiefs and officers, while
secretly Mario, a brother of Nicolas, became once more,
with all his family, good patriots, forming committees
for contributions to the Philippine forces. Lorenzo and
I, when all this happened, were here in Manila and were
ignorant of it all. Ramirez who had been informed by
his brother-in-law, Causapin, and his brother, Hilarion,
of this contribution denounced all those who did not bow
the head to him, and they were imprisoned, and were
only set at liberty when our brother Cipriano surrendered
with all his forces, March ii, 1901.

From that time until the present there has not been a
single combat or uprising in all the territory of Balayan,
proving that the town is not only peaceful and submis-
sive to the Government of the United States, but that
it is completely separated from the insurrection which
still exists in other towns. On this basis I solicited and
obtained from the military government municipal elections

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 73

in the town on the 29th of September, and at those elec-
tions Ramirez was defeated, he being the candidate sup-
ported by the mihtary, and especially by Captain Cheever
of the Sixth Cavalry, commander of Balayan, and by the
Ramos family, who became partisans of Ramirez through
fear of him, since they had carried off and sold animals
belonging to the friars in Balayan. Ramirez made an
accusation against us, and he and his friends began to
threaten our family.

I protested in writing to the then chief of the De-
partment of the South, General Wade, and to General
Chaffee, whose adjutant assured me that no harm should
come to us through the denunciation of Ramirez.

In a few days some people from Balayan told us that
Ramirez was going about spreading the report that
General Chaffee had refused to see me, and that very
soon the Lopez family would fall, as his friend Cheever
had assured him of this, who, it is said, piqued because
his candidate was not elected, would take every means
to ruin us. The rigorous exactitude with which the
threat against us has been fulfilled leaves no room for
doubt that it was they who ruined us, finding in the
higher military authorities echo of their desires for venge-
ance against us, since these latter imagine that all the
Filipinos are more or less guilty of sympathizing with
the continuation of the war. Now, I have given you all
the facts about my services and those of my family to the
Government, which will fairly justify the statement that
we are simply the victims of the revenge and baseness
of Ramirez. All the commanding and other officers who
were and still are at Balayan, and who visited at our
house and were our friends, will bear witness to this.

I have wished to give you a complete picture of
Ramirez, for I had a notion of attacking him through the
governmental press here, . . . but friends tell me that
it will be better to do it in America.

General Bell was sent to Batangas by his superiors
with absolutely unlimited power, and as he is naturally

74 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

of a very violent temper, and incited by his friends the
friars, and Spaniards, you can imagine what sort of
barbarities will take place there. Poor Cipriano sur-
rendered with all his forces, trusting in the honor of the
American representatives in the Philippines. He has
given absolutely no cause for suspicion ; Balayan was
absolutely peaceful, pacified, and submissive to the Gov-
ernment of the United States after his surrender ; he
was chosen electoral judge in the municipal elections of
the 29th of last September and named councilor by
popular vote, defeating Ramirez. Do you suppose this
adversary of ours would have kept silent if there had
been any fault which would have disqualified him for
these positions ?

Moreover, Cipriano's arrest on the 1 3th of last Decem-
ber happened in the following way : That evening he
was going on horseback with Lieutenant Raymond, of
the Sixth Cavalry, to look over and mark out territory
within which the reconcentrados would have to remain,
and when they returned to the town and were opposite
the barracks, another officer appeared and arrested him
by order of General Bell. . . .

Now, the American friends who helped us as far as
they could are the chief of police. Captain Curry, and
Lieutenant Pendleton, who was the captain of the port of
Balayan. The former went with me to General Chaffee,
whom we could not see, but we saw the inspector-general,
who, after listening to me with benevolence, advised me to
see the adjutant-general of the north. Colonel Wagner.
I could not see him, but Adjutant -General Wheaton
received me and agreed to present a memorandum of my
services to the Government.

Take care in writing to us, now that you know how
closely watched we are. Mariano.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 75

[When Manuel Ramirez was defeated in the election
for Presidente of the town of Balayan, which position he
had previously held by appointment of the American
military commander, he was angry beyond all reason.
He might have comforted himself with the reflection
that he was not the first or the only candidate in this
world that had suffered defeat at the polls. But instead
of thus taking his defeat quietly and with dignity, he
needs must harbor deep-seated ill will toward his oppo-
nents, and especially toward the Lopez family, upon
whom he vowed all kinds of vengeance. Such vows
would have been futile had it not been that he was the
nominee of Captain Cheever, who felt that his own dig-
nity had suffered owing to the refusal of the people of
Balayan to confirm his ill-bestowed choice. For this and
other reasons Manuel Ramirez was given authority, under
the military commander, before which the power of the
elected presidente was insignificant and wholly inoperative.
The smaller the Tsar the greater the tyrant, and so, the
manner in which Ramirez abused his authority may yet
be a matter of investigation.

Among his several attentions to the Lopez family was
the following letter " To the Honorable Committee in
Batangas." It is doubtful whether this letter ought to
find a place in these pages, but in fairness to Ramirez —
since he has been under the lash of Mariano Lopez —
it may be as well to include it, even if it suffers by com-
parison with its surroundings. It would, however, be a
needless tax on time and temper to give what would be
an easy refutation of its numerous mis-statements. Indeed,
Ramirez may yet have to answer for them in a court of
justice, or at any rate, a court of law. For the present
it will be sufficient to say that there is no truth in his
insinuations and charges against the Lopez family.]

76 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[Manuel Ramirez to the Committee in Batangas.]

To THE Honorable Committee in Batangas :

I, Manuel Ramirez, presidente of the town of Balayan,
with all due respect and through the president of the
Board of Organization of this municipality, make the
following declaration :

That at the municipal elections held in the town-hall
the day before yesterday, the 29th of September, Seiior
Julian Afable has been elected presidente. He is the
candidate presented by the potentates of this town, the
Lopez brothers, who had so great an interest in taking
from me my authority in the town and in giving it to
Afable that they even went so far as to have votes
bought for the latter. In the following pages I am going
to state briefly why the Messrs. Lopez did this. Having
an interest in the prompt pacification of these Islands,
I put myself in November of last year on the side of the
American officers stationed in this town, and worked with
them to secure the surrender or capture, as the case might
be, of the insurgents in this territory, including the towns
of Balayan, Tuy, Nasugbu, Looc, Calatagan, and Lian.

Sefior Cipriano Lopez, one of the above-mentioned
brothers, was lieutenant-colonel and chief of this dis-
trict and these towns until we succeeded in discover-
ing on Bancalan, Tuy, the encampment of the insurgent
Major Sefior Ignacio Laines, which belonged to the
above-mentioned lieutenant -colonel's company. The
Americans found in this place a traveling-bag belong-
ing to Laines, which contained money and important
papers, which compromised a number of citizens of
this town, one of them being Seiior Lorenzo Lopez,
brother of Cipriano, and revolutionary ex-presidente of
Balayan. In consequence of the discovery of these
papers the American military commander of this town,
Mr. Langhorne, ordered the arrest of various citizens,
and even that of the before-mentioned Lorenzo, which
was demanded by a telegram to Colonel Bullard, in

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 77

Manila, where the former [Lorenzo] then was, in order
that Colonel Ikillard, when he returned to Balayan, where
the real head of the American detachment was, mi^^ht
bring Lorenzo with him as prisoner, to include him with
the other prisoners who were already in the prison, and
send them all to Guam unless they secured the surrender
of all the insurgents in Balayan, with their arms, num-
bering upward of two hundred.

That when Lorenzo was arrested in Manila, his brother,
Sefior Mariano Lopez, who has just affiliated himself
with the Federal party, went to Colonel Bullard and
begged him not to make his brother, Lorenzo, a prisoner,
and that he would arrange that his other brother, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Cipriano, should present himself within
three days of the arrival of Colonel Bullard and his
brothers, Mariano and Lorenzo, in the town. The sur-
render, then, of Lieutenant-Colonel Cipriano Lopez was
obligatory, through fear that the god of the family,
Lorenzo Lopez, might be sent to Guam. From the fore-
going it is clearly seen that the Lopez brothers, reveng-
ing themselves on me because I was friendly to the
Americans, tried their utmost to take from me my com-
mand of this town, going so far as to buy votes, as the
military commander, Mr. Cheever, can prove, since an
elector has declared before him that he received payment
for his vote to the amount of $3, and produced a witness
who was present when he received this sum from one of
the Lopez agents who was buying votes. [ ! ]

By the subjoined cli])pings from the periodicals Free-
dom and Democracia, the honorable provincial committee
will see that Senor Sixto Lopez, the brother of these
here in Balayan, not only spoke very ill of the Amer-
icans [Ramirez evidently believes everything that he
sees in print, except — when directed against himself!],
but also took the initiative in the formation of a new
Filipino government on foreign soil to continue the
war which had been semi-paralyzed here in the Islands
by the capture of the president, Senor Aguinaldo.

78 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[Ramirez is here creating history !] This fact, and
the tenacious refusal to surrender of General Malvar,
the protector and intimate friend of the Lopez brothers,
are closely related to the elections at Balayan, since
the presidente-elect, Senor Julian Afable, is a brother-
in-law of the secretary of the treasury of the Philippine
government, Seiior Galicano Apacible, and it is not too
much to suspect also that the Messrs. Lopez continue
to work in favor of the insurrection. [ ! ]

That the honorable provincial committee should not
believe that the Messrs. Lopez have tried to take from
me my office of presidente because I governed the town
badly, since I subjoin to this paper copies of the cer-
tificates of my conduct, which have been given to me by
the American military commanders who have been here
and who still are here. In virtue, therefore, of the right
given to me by article 1 3 of the municipal code, I present
this protest, in due time and form, against the election
of Sefior Julian Afable, praying the honorable provincial
committee to declare the elections held here null and
void, and to prohibit the electors from voting for Senor
Afable [There is democracy for you !], since there are
reasonable grounds for suspecting his loyalty, or to take
the most extreme action which justice will allow.

Manuel Ramirez, Presidente.

Balayan, October i, 1901.

[The following proposed reply of Mariano's, though
not intended as a refutation of Ramirez's charges, is here
included because it gives information about the Lopez
family which may interest the reader. It is understood
that Mariano never sent it in, which perhaps was fortu-
nate, for anything in the form of a controversy with
Manuel Ramirez would only have resulted in a loss of
dignity.]

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 79

[Proposed reply of Mariano Lopez to charges of Manuel Ramirez.]

I, a representative of the province of Batangas in the
congress of Malolos, having never been in favor of the
war of my country against America, declared this at
the first outbreak of hostihties between the Americans
and the Filipinos, before General Otis, together with Drs.
Bourne and Pardo de Tavera. Therefore, since I wished
that my province should lay down its arms I offered my
services to the said general, asking for a pass, so that I
might go there and work toward that end. My request
was granted ; but when I arrived in the provinces
I found the military element so preponderant that I could
not immediately further my purpose without danger to
my life, — except gradually when special occasion offered,
as will be seen by my subsequent actions.

At the time of the capture and military occupation of
my town of Balayan, by the Twenty-eighth Volunteers
under the command of Major Taggart, I persuaded the
people who were scattered about through the outlying
districts and the mountains to return to their homes
and recognize American sovereignty. I had already
tried to persuade my brother. Colonel Cipriano, to sur-
render to the American Government with all his forces,
but did not succeed because of his sense of honor.

Some months after that, when good feeling had been
established between the town and the American forces,
I came to Manila to look after my interests, and there,
when the Federal party was formed, afifiliated myself with
it, was nominated a delegate of this party, and organized
committees for it in Balayan and Calaca.

As at this time I was nearing the conclusion of my
work in the towns mentioned, I knew that very soon
General Trias, the superior officer of my brother Cipriano,
would surrender, I urged the latter to do the same, and,
with the aid of my step-mother and brothers, finally
obtained his surrender and that of all his troops, together
with their arms and ammunition. This surrender was

8o STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

made on the i ith of March of this year to Colonel Bullard,
of the Thirty-ninth Volunteers, stationed at Balayan.

On the 2d of April of the same year, at the
request of Colonel Bullard, I was commissioned by the
Military Government to persuade General Malvar to
become loyal, and although I have not accomplished this,
I have in its place succeeded in persuading General
Katigbak and Colonel Calao to surrender with their
forces to the commanding officer in Lipa.

In the same way, to assist Colonel Bullard, I con-
tributed to the surrender of General Cailles.

Since the surrender of my brother with his troops, the
peace in my town of Balayan has not been disturbed in
the least degree, and being desirous to consolidate this
state of affairs, I urged and obtained from the Military
Government the holding of municipal elections on the
29th of last September, basing my action upon the peace
which the town enjoyed.

Being defeated at the election, Senor Manuel Ramirez
laid a written protest before the provincial council of
Batangas, not only questioning the legality of the elec-
tions, but attacking me and my brothers, accusing us of
having close relations with General Malvar because of
our old friendship for him, and because of the acts of our
brother Sixto, who has lived abroad nearly ten years.
As was to be expected, the provincial council has disre-
garded this protest, deciding that the elections were
properly held in accordance with the municipal code.
Nevertheless, in view of this protest, which contained
also false and infamous accusations, I could do no less
than, in return, protest against it in writing to General
Wade and General Chaffee.

In the middle of last October I received word from
Hong-Kong from my brother Sixto that a friend of
his, Mr. Warren, was coming to the Philippines ; and
because of the favors he owed this gentleman and his
family in America, he charged me to receive and enter-
tain him in my house, the invitation having already been

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 8i

given and accepted. As I was pledged to do, I received
this gentleman in my house. While matters stood thus,
and as I and my brothers knew that my brother Sixto
was in Hong-Kong and desirous to return home, we
entered into correspondence with him, telling him of the
actual situation of the country, the necessity for pacify-
ing it, and the bad opinion which the authorities held of
him as an agitator for the war against America. That
this is the truth I can prove by the letter which my
brother Sixto wrote me in answer, and which I keep. In
this letter he assures me he has never been in favor of
the war, and that he would offer himself to the Govern-
ment to aid in pacifying the country, provided they would
not oblige him to take the oath on his arrival, so that
he might not thus lose his influence over Malvar and
Lukban

[Reply unfmished.] [Mariano Lopez.]

[After the foregoing enforced deviation into the realm of
the disagreeable, for Ramirez and all that pertains to him
must be so regarded, it is refreshing to return to the purer
atmosphere of Juliana's letters. The two following were
the first that she wrote after she knew of Clcmencia's
departure for America. The tone of these letters shows a
change in Juliana's character, a strengthening and deep-
ening of her nature. With the knowledge that she must
then and thereafter act upon her own responsibility,
came a corresponding sense of self-reliance ; and just as
" heartsickness " is the prelude to soul-expansion, so self-
reliance is its natural and necessary accompaniment.

Andrea, the eldest daughter, was the only one of the
family then in Balayan. 11 er report of what the Ameri-
can soldiers were doing, under General Bell's new policy,
is in striking contrast with their admirable conduct at an
earlier period. And there had been no " provocation,"
as hg-s been so frequently alleged in other connections.

82 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Balayan was the one " pacified " town in the province.
All this goes to show that it is not the American
soldier, but the policy and methods, that are essentially
at fault.]

[From Juliana to Sixto Lopez.]

Manila, January 8, 1902.

Dear Brother : We have received your letter of the
28th, and indeed we were much displeased that you had
allowed Clemen to go alone without any of the family
with her, for we should have wished you to go with her,
as is natural and the custom of the country. But apart
from that we are consoled by the idea that she is accom-
panied by a friend worthy of all confidence, who will help
her in every way and take great pains that she lacks
for nothing. Mother agrees entirely to what you have
decided, and indeed she was obliged to agree to it, know-
ing as she does our sad situation. When we telegraphed
for Clemen and Mariquita to come it was only so that
Consuelo might not come alone, for we thought at first
that the idea of going to America was only a proposal ;
we did not know that you had already decided and that
she would go without mother's consent. Believe me,
mother, who now knows all that happened here, is willing,
and was only troubled by the expense it would occasion,
but your letter relieved her.

Since the 31st of last month our brothers have been
prisoners in the Bay on board of one of the United
States transports, and in three days they will be taken
to Olongapo. Yesterday we went to visit them, and the
officers of the guard were good enough to let us talk
with them for a long time. . . .

They were imprisoned at Batangas, and were not
allowed to make a declaration or even know of what
they were accused ; but, on the contrary, the transport
" Liscum " took them, after they had been imprisoned
three weeks in the jail, and brought them to Manila on
the way to Olongapo. They are, in a way, resigned

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 83

to their fate and are glad that they are going to
Olongapo, because in Batangas they suffered morally
and physically. They say that they were given
nothing to eat but rice and salt, and that many of the
lawyers and rich men of the town, whose names they
gave, were made to work in the streets Uke the lowest
criminals ; and although it is true that they [the three
brothers] were not obliged to work, they were horrified
at so much injustice, and suffered just as much. All
our affairs are still suspended, and through a letter which
I received from the captain of the " Purisima," who was
in Balayan on the 23d of December, Andrea has sent
word that she has been obliged to leave our house, so
that the soldiers could occupy it, and that she is going
away for fear that they should commit some outrage
upon her person.

Andrea says that the Americans are now doing every-
• thing that the Spaniards did during the war, and I am
very much astonished, for always formerly when we told
them about things done by the Spaniards they were very
indignant, calling the Spaniards barbarous and inhuman
and using the strongest language possible. And what
makes me despair all the more is that they do not allow us
to speak of the injustices which are being committed in
these provinces. No newspaper dares to complain, and
the only one which explains things is El Rcnacimicjito,
but even it does not dare to speak openly, under pain
of law. We are glad you are not coming now.
Good-bye. Remembrances from everybody.

Affectionately, Ninay.

[From Juliana to SLxto Lopez.]

Manila, January 10, 1902.
Dear Brother : I told you briefly in my previous
letter that Mariquita arrived Tuesday at i o'clock in the
morning, but could not land until 8 a, m., when Charing

84 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[wife of Mariano] and I and some other friends went to
meet her on board the " Rosetta." We found the poor
thing very thin, and so weak that she could not stand, so
that for a moment we thought she had been taken ill
before starting ; but she told us that since going aboard
she had eaten nothing, owing to the badness of the
voyage. She had also suffered much when she remem-
bered the few happy days spent with you, wondering
when she would see you again. Indeed, only God knows
when we shall all have that great pleasure, if in a few
days you go far from these Islands, as you think of
doing. Pardon me for saying once more that we are all,
and particularly mother, very willing, and all the more
so, because of Clemen's going ; although, to tell you the
truth, many who call themselves our friends do not
approve, but prophesy that all sorts of horrible things
will happen to our family when it is known that Clemen
has gone to look after our affairs.

Yesterday afternoon Mariquita and I, accompanied by
an American friend, went to visit our brothers on the
" Liscum." According to the officer who has charge
of the prisoners, they are to be taken to a place in the
island of Talim, which is in La Laguna de Bay, and,
as you will understand, we become more and more
despairing, since they are thus to be taken to a place
where we can neither see nor communicate with them.
Nevertheless, I hope that Captain Curry will obtain per-
mission from Chaffee to keep them here in Manila ; for
he has promised to try to arrange that if they are not
set at liberty, they may at least be imprisoned here in
Manila, where we can see them when we wish, and be
treated as their position demands. I have just found out
that the " Oretano " is also seized and the crew arrested.*
I have no news from Balayan ; I only know through the
newspapers that it continues tranquil as ever. I must
close this now, for I have still to write to all the officers

* Only temporarily — see later letters.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 85

in Balayan to beg from them a statement vindicating the
conduct of our brothers.

Good-bye, and keep well. Ninay.

[Juliana's next letter tells, among other things, of the
assistance given her and her family by Captain Curry,
one of the kindest of friends and best of men. Unfort-
unately for the Filipinos, but fortunately for himself, he has
since resigned the position of chief of the Manila police,
which he had accepted only upon the urgent and repeated
request of Governor Taft. "I have no heart for such
work," he was often heard to say. Besides requiring
hardness of heart in its performance, the work, in its
less objectionable phases, was essentially inequitable.
The Civil Commission were making laws at the rate of
about one a day, "and frequently," said Captain Curry,
"on my tour of inspection I find Filipinos in prison for
breaking laws that / didn't know existed."

Captain Curry was one of the few men in the Philij>
pines who endeavored to look at things from the Filipino
point of view. When fighting with the Filipinos he
'< fought hard," to use his own words, but he was also
severe in the discipline of his own men, and rigorous in
the punishment and prevention of abuses. The result
was that he won the respect and admiration of his foes ;
he could go, and did go, absolutely unprotected within
their lines and camped for several days at their head-
quarters, treating with their leaders. He finally pacified
the entire province of which he had command, and of
which he ultimately became governor. As governor, he
lived in the house of a wealthy Filipino, and thus made
himself one of the people. When he provided entertain-
ment, as was customary with governors of provinces, it
was at his own private expense, and the Filipinos were
invited. Though a loyal Roman Catholic he was opposed
to many of the acts of friars, and, much to their dis-

86 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

pleasure, when he attended church he went as a private
citizen, without pomp or ceremony.

His policy was to avoid the sycophant who made elab-
orate protestations of "loyalty" to America ; he had no
use for the Buencaminos, the Taveras, the Legardas of
his province. On the contrary, he held that the men
best fitted to take part in the government were those
who had fought honestly for their ideals. Thus, on one
occasion, he took a captured " insurgent " officer out of
prison and gave him the important office of Fiscal Pro-
vincial— an act which he never had occasion to regret.
His province was one of the best governed in the Islands,
and Captain Curry himself declares that he could travel
from end to end of it without a guard or protection of
any kind.

All this is in striking contrast to the methods pursued
in other provinces, where the native is often despised as
a "nigger " ; where thrice-renegade sycophants are given
responsible positions; and where honest opponents are
treated too frequently with contempt and " marked
severity," to use no stronger term.

Furthermore, Captain Curry's methods and success
are a significant refutation of the contention that the
abuses of the American soldiers were " provoked " by
the Filipinos themselves. There were no cases of " water
cure," or wholesale slaughter, or torture, or burning
within Captain Curry's jurisdiction. " Military necessity,"
in his case, did not demand any such methods, yet his
success in pacification has never been equaled, or even
approached, in any other province.]

[From Juliana to Sixto Lopez.]

Manila, January 14, 1902.

Dear Brother : Two days ago Mariquita and I went

to see Captain Curry to beg him that he, in his turn,

should ask the other authorities that our brothers should

not be taken to the island of Talim as proposed, but that

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 87

he might be answerable for them, keeping them as pris-
oners here in Manila. As they are both delicate in
health, especially Lorenzo, we should like to have them
here near us, so that we can see them and help them
when they need our care. This good friend i)romised
that he would speak to Chaffee about all this, and what
is more, he told us that if he succeeded he would keep
our brothers in his house, where they would be much
better off. But this afternoon we learned from him that
this would not be granted us, and that he had received a
telegram from Bell saying that Cipriano would not be set
at hberty until his hair turned gray, since there were fifty
guns which he had not given up on the day of his surrender ;
but that he would be freed the moment that he gave them
up ; that as for the other two, according to his notion
and for the good of the Government they had better
remain as they were to keep Cipriano company ; and
finally, that because they had a brother, Sixto Lopez,
who was a great enemy of the Government, they were
justly imprisoned. [ ! ]

This, as you will understand, distresses us very much,
because it makes us realize more and more that we can
have no hope for justice from these gentlemen, who
boast of doing everything according to the law and for
the good of the Government, although they sacrifice
those who hav^e not deserved such punishment. Never-
theless, it consoles us much to have some friends who
help us and who do what they can to have our brothers
well treated and well fed ; and we ought not to forget
that although some desire our misfortune others of that
same race are working for our happiness. . . .

Good-bye until next time, with many regards for your-
self and for Mr. Patterson.

Affectionately, Ninay.

\

P. S. — This morning at 6 o'clock they took our

brothers to the island of TaUm, where they say there
are no houses, so that they will have to live in field-tents.

88 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

I have not written about it to Clemen, because I did not
know her present address.

[Courtesy to Filipino opponents has not been a con-
spicuous characteristic during the war. Yet courtesy
costs little and means much ; and, so far from its being
incompatible with the duty or instincts of a true soldier,
it has frequently been the one redeeming feature of war.
The chivalrous feeling that has prompted the soldier to
treat his captured, helpless foe with courtesy, even kind-
ness, has sometimes raided war from the realm of vulgar
quarrel to that of an honorable contest for what each
opponent, rightly or wrongly, believed to be the right.

It is therefore surprising that the following respect-
ful request of Senor Lopez's, based " on grounds of hu-
manity alone," should have met with no response ; more
especially as he is a man of good personal repute, and,
although an opponent, is not an " enemy " of the United
States. It may be urged, however, that Senor Lopez
was, in General Chaffee's belief, if not in fact, an enemy
of the United States, and, as such, was not entitled to
consideration. But may not General Chaffee have owed
it to himself, if not to Senor Lopez, to show courtesy
even to an enemy ? Assuming, however, that the reason
is legitimate, it fails entirely to cover the case of Seiior
Agoncillo, chief of the Filipino Commission to Wash-
ington, who, prior to the outbreak of hostilities, wrote
several respectful communications to the Secretary of
State, to which he received no reply whatever. Those
who incline to the theory that the Filipinos were the first
aggressors ought to know that twenty-four days before
the outbreak of hostilities Senor Agoncillo, zv/io coiild
not then be regarded as in any sense an " eiiemy " of the
United States, appealed to the Secretary of State, in
what has since proved to have been prophetic language,
for a frank communication of America's intentions with

]()si'; Makia Basa
[See note in list of illustrations]

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 89

regard to the Philippines : " Permit me," wrote Agoncillo
on the iith of January, 1899, "to express my sincere
regret that up to the present time I have not been favored
with a reply to or an acknowledgment of the [previous]
letter submitted. ... In view of the present status of
affairs in the Philippine Islands, and of the fact that, in
the present strained position, the impetuous action of a
Filipino or the over-zeal of an American soldier — acts
based upon the impulse of a moment — may create a
condition resulting in grievous loss of life, as well as in
a memory that both nations might carry with them for
years, I again urge upon you the necessity of an early
and frank communication between the representatives of
the countries in question." On the 24th of January —
eleven days before the " over-zeal "of the Nebraska sen-
try precipitated the conflict — Agoncillo again appeals
on behalf of the Filipinos for an assurance that the
troops then being sent to the Philippines were not in-
tended as a menace to his government or his country-
men — appeals to the Secretary of State and to " a
Republic whose name they [the Filipinos] have always
believed was associated with freedom and to which they
have come first applying for recognition among the
nations of the earth."

Not a word of reply, not even an acknowledgment
of receipt, was ever given to these respectful, almost
pathetic, appeals. Had some form of friendly reply been
made, had the sought-for assurance been given, — the
history of the Philippines might have been very differ-
ent from what it has been during recent years. Neglect
such as this is liable to inflict a wound upon legitimate
pride which time alone can heal.

The cause of Sixto Lopez's anxiety, and the reason
of his writing the following letter, were reports which
reached him to the effect that Lorenzo, who had always
been delicate, was seriously ill.]

90 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[From Sixto Lopez to General Chaffee.]

Hong-Kong, January 15, 1902.
Maj.-Gen. Adna R. Chaffee,

Military Commander of the Philippine Islands, Manila.

General : I have heard from private sources of the
arrest and imprisonment of my three brothers, Lorenzo,
Cipriano, and Manuel Lopez, and I am naturally anxious
on their behalf. But from various reports which have
reached me, I am specially anxious about Lorenzo, who
has always been very delicate, and who, I fear, will suffer
seriously if subjected to even the ordinary hardships of
prison discipline. I should therefore be much indebted
to you if you would, on grounds of humanity alone,
kindly instruct one of your staff to give me any infor-
mation available in reference to Lorenzo's health, and the
conditions under which he will be compelled to remain.

If not inconsistent with your authority and duty I
should be glad to know, also, the reason of my brothers'
arrest and of the seizure of our family's property.

In the event of your finding it impossible to convey
any or all of this information to me direct, perhaps you
would be good enough to furnish it to the American con-
sul here in Hong-Kong, who would, no doubt, inform me
unofficially of its nature.

I have the honor to be. General, your obedient serv-
ant, Sixto Lopez.

[The following letter is from the youngest sister,
Maria, aged seventeen. It tells, among other things, of
brotherly kindness which, it is said by the mother, has
" not changed " with the lapse of years. This is hardly
a fair specimen of Maria's letters ; later on it will be
found that, young as she is, she has ideas of her own
and is not afraid to express them.]

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 91

[From Maria (aged seventeen) to Sixto Lopez.]

Manila, January 15, rgo2.

Dear Brother : I have not been able to write you
these last few days, because, as Ninay will have written
you, I felt so ill after so bad a voyage, and so she had
to write for me. I found them all very well, but very
unhappy, especially mother, who wept when she saw me,
and immediately asked me about you. When I told her
you were sorry to have me leave so soon she was even more
troubled, for she wanted me to be with you all the time
that you were in Hong-Kong so that you should not think
of coming — although she wants to see you very much.
But she was obliged to telegraph for me to come with
Consuleo, because it would not do for mother, having
assumed responsibility to Consuelo's parents, to allow
her to come alone. For my part I am sorry for having
left Hong-Kong while you are still there, and I cannot
help crying when I remember the days I passed with
you. . . . I have told them all how good you were to me —
how you were always taking me out to walk, and giving
me all sorts of pleasure; and mother was very happy
about this, for she says you have not changed, and are
good to your sisters, as you always were.

I suppose you already know from Ninay 's letter that
our brothers have been deported to the island of Talim.
We were very sorry we could do nothing for them. The
day before yesterday Ninay and I went to the office
of General Chaffee to beg him to let them remain as
prisoners here in Manila ; but we could only see the
adjutant, who told us that the general did not wish to
interfere in any way with what General Bell was doing
in Batangas. So we went away in despair, not know-
ing what to do. I feel especially for Lorenzo, who is not
accustomed to these privations, for it is said they have
nothing but tents there. I am sorry also for mother,
who is always unhappy since she has known of the arrest
of our brothers, in spite of the fact that I am always

92 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

telling her that we ought to be resigned ; that we are
not the only ones who are unfortunate, but that there are
many others. I tell her, too, that you think that Clemen
can do much toward getting liberty for our brothers,
which indeed is our only hope. . . .

Good-bye. Regards to everybody, especially to the
Basa family, and you know that I love you and do not
forget you. Maria.

-»)

[Juliana, no longer of the convent school, may be al-
lowed to continue the story in the following letter.]

[From Juliana to Sixto Lopez.]

Manila, January 17, 1902.

Dear Brother : Yesterday I received two letters
from Andrea, in which she says that she is doing well in
Balayan and is not afraid the Americans will insult her,
so that we have not insisted that she should come to
Manila, for if she did come no one would look after what
we have there. They told her to leave the house, but at
her request they gave her the entresol, and there she has
resigned herself to live. They have let her have our
room also, because there were so many things in it that
belong only to women, and so they respected it. Pardon
me for saying that our enemies and those who are jealous
of us are glad of all that is happening to us ; and not
content with that, are improving the opportunity to accuse
us of all sorts of things which are false, so that we may
be ruined, and our poor people with us, who have com-
mitted no other fault than that of being loyal to us.

In order that you may see the baseness with which we
are treated, I will tell you that three of our superintend-
ents, in whom Lorenzo had absolute confidence, and to
whom we owe favors that grateful hearts can never forget,
are imprisoned in Balayan because they are, as those who

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 93

denounced them say, the keepers of the fifty guns to
which General BcW referred in his telegram to Captain
Curry, and which I told you about in my previous letter.
From this telegram we infer, then, that Captain Cheever,
of the Sixth Cavalry, commanding officer in Balayan
for the last ten months, is the author of the arrest of our
brothers, incited by Ramirez and company through their
denunciations, without any proof that would justify their
course. Besides, Andrea says that the report got about
in Balayan that you had come at last, frightened by the
.arrest of our brothers, to take the oath of allegiance.
This story was set rolling, as we are informed, by the
miserable Viving, whom I suppose you will remember as
following his deceased father's footsteps {^rcqiiicscat in
pace). . . .

I will not write any more, for this letter is so full of
blunders that I am afraid you will not understand it.
Good-bye.

Thine to dispose of, Ninay.

[The report, referred to above, that Sixto Lopez,
"frightened by the arrest of his brothers," had come to
take the oath of allegiance, was apparently another
instance where "the wish is parent to the thought " —
a wish shared by others as well as by " the miserable
Viving " ! — as we shall see hereafter.

'^

The following letter contains several items of interest
which will be commented upon later.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, January 21, 1902.
Dear Clemen : You cannot imagine how I felt when
I read your letters written on board a steamer on the
way to Europe. I received them on the 20th in the

94 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

afternoon, and the more I read the more distressed
I was, for I realized that you were very far from us,
alone in a strange country. And so I could not help cry-
ing all the time I was reading your letters. We are just
as unhappy as we were when you left Hong-Kong, for
our poor brothers are still prisoners, and, what is worse,
a week ago they were deported to the island of Talim
(La Laguna de Bay). . . .

The first time that Charing and I went to visit our
brothers we went with Captain Curry (who is as kind as
ever), in the launch of the captain of the port, who is a
friend of Manuel's. When he knew that I was Manuel's
sister he offered us his launch to go out in the bay to
where the " Liscum " was anchored. We have been sev-
eral times, sometimes accompanied by Carlos and at other
times alone or with Mariano. Many other prisoners have
come with them, and among those that we know are
Felix Unzon, Babasa and his son from Batangas, Martin,
Marasigan the lawyer, and the old man from Taal who
came with us when we went to Calapan. My brothers
told me they were better off on board the ship than in
the prison of Batangas, for besides the fact that they
were there given nothing but rice and salt for three
weeks, they had to sleep on the tiles and were given no
beds ; so that when we saw Lorenzo he was very weak
from having been sick with dysentery. He would have
died there if they had not taken him away. Fort-
unately for us, the company which guards the prisoners
on board are humane, from the captain to the last sol-
dier, so that they have no complaint to make of them.
Besides, the captain and the second lieutenant of this
company are friends of Carlos, and our brothers go well
recommended to their care by him.

When we went out there they received us well, espe-
cially the lieutenant, who has been to call upon us here
at the house, offering to do everything in his power to
lessen the sufferings of our brothers and to give them
everything that they need. As you will understand, I

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 95

was very glad, and you would have been, too, if you
could know these gentlemen, who are the ones who go
with them to the island of Talim. The only thing that
troubles me is that in that wild place there is no house,
since it is a very small island. It is said that the
prisoners live in tents, but that nipa-huts are to be built
for them. At present, while we have not yet decided
to go to see them, since many of our friends have ad-
vised us not to go, we send things by the captain of the
steamer which goes to the island three times a week,
and we have included a letter for some one of the offi-
cers there, who, as I told you, have offered to help us.

We tried very hard to have them kept as prisoners
here in Manila, so much so that we begged Captain
Curry to become responsible for them and keep them in
his house, to which he agreed very willingly, and imme-
diately sent a telegram to Bell, who answered that he
could not possibly give them either Uberty or such
privileges ; that, as Cipriano failed to give up the fifty
guns when he surrendered, he would not be set at
liberty until he did give them up; that it seemed to
him a good thing and of great service to the Govern-
ment that Manuel and Lorenzo should also remain pris-
oners to keep Cipriano company, who, according to Bell,
will be a prisoner until his hair turns gray ; and finally,
that he would not give them their liberty until Sixto
should come and take the oath of allegiance and help
the Government of the United States to pacify the
provinces of Batangas and Laguna and the island of
Saraar. How can I say what passed in my mind
when I read the telegram ? I did not really believe that
those who had called themselves our friends in Balayan
had been so false, for you must know that the super-
intendents at Dao, Matayunac, and Toong are also
arrested. . . .

For this reason none of us believe that Captain Cole
has defended us at all, and we expect even less from
Captain Cheevcr. We have suffered much from the

96 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

cowardice of the former. Two days ago [Lieutenant]
Raymond was here. He came to see us the first
day after his arrival, and you who know us so well
can imagine what we said to him. He is very much
ashamed, excusing the others for the arrest of our
brothers, for I told him that if we had for a moment
imagined that the Americans suspected our family, we
should not have continued to live in Balayan during such
a time, receiving them in our house like real friends ;
that we should have gone away from there and been on
our guard ; but that, as they were apparently so kind, we
did not think of any danger while we were doing nothing
against them.

Andrea has written me three letters, which I have
received through some soldiers who have come. She
told me in her letter that they sent for her to leave our
house so that the soldiers could occupy it. At first she
did not want to go, but she understood that she could do
nothing against superior force. Still, when she invoked
the Constitution of America, they gave up to her our
room and the entresol, and there she is now Hving alone
with Emilio. God grant that they may keep well and
not be insulted. I have written her several times to
come here, but she replied that, in the first place, on
account of her health, which suffers in the climate of
Manila, she thinks best not to come ; that she does not
wish to leave our poor people, who are all in the town, and
other affairs that no one else would look after. Your
garden and flowers are well looked after, according to
Raymond. . . .

[Many of our friends] disapprove of your going
[to America], ... for they say that as soon as the
authorities find out that you have gone they will revenge
themselves on us. At first Mariano thought the same,
but seeing his own ill success, he has approved. Mother,
who has been told all, is very willing. Good-bye ;
regards to Mr. Warren and all his family, and I send
you a kiss. Ninay.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 97

[" Still, when she invoked the Constitution of America,
they gave up to her our room and the entresol " ! Was
ever a more unique incident recorded of the American
Constitution ? Did the framers of that great charter
ever dream that it would be invoked in defense of per-
sonal property in a distant Eastern country, and against
those who were pledged to uphold its principles ? Well
might the roughest soldier yield to such an appeal ! An
appeal for so small a thing, backed by an invocation so
mighty, — and the "boys in blue " yielded!

"If heaven smiles, it is because thou ask'st so little."

In the name of " the Constitution of America " Andrea
might, indeed, have denounced those who were attempt-
ing to take from her and her people those *' inalienable
rights " which its framers declared to be the birthright
of "all men." But her plea was only for "our room
and the entresol"! And while she was thus appealing
for permission to occupy her own bedroom, one of the
superintendents on her estates was being tortured to
death in order to make him disclose the imaginary place
of concealment of the fifty phantom guns alleged to be
in the possession of her brother, Cipriano I

Of cotirse, there are those who profess to find excuse
for this Philippine policy, and all that it entails, in the
contention that the Filipinos, of whom Andrea is an ex-
ample, are savages, and as such are not included in the
"all men" of the Declaration. The Declaration itself
does not contain any such limitation, express or implied.
Its very greatness includes all ; and those who would
set limits to its boundless truth are themselves limited
either in capacity or by ignorance of the facts, or else by
some unreasonable desire for power or wealth. Even the
slaves were ultimately set free when Lincoln " invoked "
the Declaration, which is said to be " the soul of the
Constitution." And will any one contend that the slave

98 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

was included in the "all men" and that the Filipino
is not ?

In 1888, Dr. Lyman Abbott preached a sermon in
which he said : " Mankind are not fit for self-govern-
ment. That is true. But mankind are better fitted to
govern themselves than any portion of mankind, however
selected, are fitted to govern any other portion of man-
kind. Democracy rests on the fundamental truth that
man as man — not royal man, nor aristocratic man, nor
priestly man, nor Anglo-Saxon man, but man as man —
was made in the image of God, and to man as man
are given the keys of political, as of natural, dominion.
Whenever, wherever, and howsoever this divine order is
violated, the result is always disastrous." The immut-
able truth of this last sentence has been attested in
blood and fire in the Philippines.

The three following letters contain items of general
interest, and sundry opinions about American officers,
which give an insight into the effect on the mind of the
Filipinos of General Chaffee's policy.]

[From Maria (aged seventeen) to Sixto Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, January 21, 1902.

Dear Brother : To-day we have received your letter
dated the 1 7th, and we are much troubled at your say-
ing you have received no letters from us since I left
there, for Ninay has written to you at least five or six
times since I arrived here, and has sent you ^200 [Mex.] ;
but Ninay will explain to you why you have not received
the letters.

In your letter you advise me to practise on the piano,
and I am sorry I cannot please you, for our piano is in
Balayan, the one we had here being a rented one ; and
as soon as Ninay knew of the arrest of our brothers

STORY OF THE LOPKZ FAMILY 99

and the seizure of our goods, she had it sent back at
once, because she said she was not in the mood for play-
ing, and besides, it was costing us $12 [Mex.] a month,
and that is too much luxury for us in these days.

At last we have received a letter from Clemen written
on board the steamer. She says that she is well and
hardly seasick at all. We were much astonished at
that.

If you still have the pictures of our group, I would like
to have you send me some, for some of our friends
would like to have them ; but do not send them by post.
Mother wants to know why I did not have my picture
taken with you, and in the dress which I wore there, for
many friends have said they would like to see me in
European clothes ; but I told them that I never let my-
self be seen in them, but always wore a cloak.

I inclose in this $5 [Mex.] which I have just remem-
bered to send you, and, if you can, send us fruits, such
as apples, China oranges, and chestnuts, to send our
brothers. Do not send us much.

Thine, Maria.

[From Juliana to Sixto Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, January 21, 1902.

Dear Brother : I am much astonished at what you
say in your letter of the 17th, which I received this
morning, that you have had no news from us, for both
Mariano and I wrote you often, telling you all that
occurred to our family. You should know that we
directed everything that we wrote to Seiior Jose M. Basa,
so that he in turn might give them to Mr. Russell, since
Basa told me that I should send to you in that way, and
that you had agreed to it ; so you can ask Basa about
them, and if they have not gone astray he will give you
at least six of my letters. . . .

[Repetition of facts stated in above-mentioned letters.]

loo STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

We have done and are doing everything possible
so that our brothers shall not suffer much, but, as
you will understand, we are very much afflicted by
these false accusations, for if Bell really believes this,
what shall we do and how shall we get so many guns,
seeing that we have already given them all up ? Believe
me, we are in despair, because they will pay no attention
to the explanations we make, but on the contrary they
Hsten to and believe our enemies, who do not weary of
making false accusations, so that only God knows where
these calamities will end.

We all believe that Bell was influenced, as Colonel
Bullard was not, by a copy of a biography of Cipriano
captured from a Nationalist officer, in which it was stated
that Cipriano had a well-organized battalion with 400
guns, and that he had been raised to the rank of
lieutenant-colonel because of the services which he had
rendered, and because his family had lost $600,000 in
the insurrection of 1896. This capture was before the
surrender of Cipriano. General Malvar sent this biog-
raphy to Cipriano to flatter him, for it exaggerated in
saying that Cipriano had so many guns and other sup-
pHes. Therefore, when he surrendered, although these
guns were demanded of him, Bullard had to be satisfied
with this explanation, that Malvar exaggerated, because
this biography was to have been published in Filipmas
Ante Eiiropa. Besides, when Cipriano surrendered, he
did not wish to answer for the surrender of his compan-
ions, but only for himself, and notwithstanding, as
Bullard and Gale of the Fourth Cavalry begged his help
and influence in overcoming those who still remained in
the field, he agreed to help them and succeeded in
pacifying all the territory which was under his com-
mand.

According to letters from Andrea, she is still in good
health and complains of no discourtesy on the part of the
Americans. For about a week, since the surrender of
the Taals, the reconcentrados in our town have been

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY loi

allowed to go out of the village to work and to harvest
the rice in the lowlands, which, as you will remember, is
cut at this season ; the crushing of the sugar has also
begun in Ilimalas and Caybunga, where there is a good
deal of cane. I do not know whether this is true, as
stated by an official who has just come from there, but
as Andrea tells me the same thing in her letters, I
believe it to be a fact.

We are not at all displeased, least of all mother, by
Clemen's departure. On the contrary, the idea that she
can accomplish there what we cannot here consoles us
much ; therefore do not be disturbed about it, . . .

The steamer voyages only between the ports of
Batangas, and I was mistaken when I told you that the
crew had been taken prisoners, for they go with the boat
and receive the same wages. That is not so bad. Forgive
me for writing to you in this way, but I have such a
headache that I cannot see clearly what I am writing,
and I only do it so that you shall not accuse me of
indolence.

Your most affectionate Ninay.

[From Juliana to SLxto Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, January 23, 1902.
Dear Brother : This is the seventh letter which I
have written you, and when you receive this I suppose
you will have received my previous ones. Our situation
remains the same ; our brothers deported to the island
of Talim and our goods confiscated. We have just come
from the headquarters of the Department of the North,
where we went to see General Wheaton and ask for a
pass to visit the prisoners ; but unfortunately he was
not there, nor his adjutant either, and his interpreter
told us that he doubted whether a pass would be granted
us, for General Wheaton does not wish to interfere in
questions which refer to Batangas; and that the only

I02 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

person with whom to deal was Bell. But, on the other
hand, we did not wish to deal with this gentleman, be-
cause, from what we had been told, we were afraid to go
to Batangas and expose ourselves to his treatment.

From the statement which I inclose you will see that
Bell has a good opinion of Mariano, for the inclosed is
the answer to the statement which the latter sent him
recounting his services to the United States, with the
aid of Lorenzo and Cipriano, when he succeeded in
pacifying the western towns of Laguna de Taal, bring-
ing about the surrender of many who were in the field.

We do not know what to do ; neither do we know
about our brothers who were taken away nine days
ago. Good news from Andrea. As you will learn from
this statement. Bell did not clear up the question of
our brothers, although Mariano had stated that except
through their influence nothing would have been accom-
plished. Everything is quiet in Balayan and there have
been no combats nor any other trouble.

Thine, Ninay.

[Of all the documents accompanying Miss Lopez's
petition for the release of her brothers, the following
letter from Captain Curry was the one that arrested the
President's attention and interest. " George Curry ! "
said the President, on noting the signature ; " why, he
was one of my officers in the Rough Riders. Anything
that George Curry has to say is deserving of attention."

With such high and deserved commendation. Captain
Curry's opinions are of special interest, and this is what
he has to say of the Lopez family : " Manuel Lopez, who
lives here in Manila with Mariano, I am satisfied has
done nothing disloyal, and I am very fond of Mariano
Lopez and his family. I have done what I could to
secure the release of their brothers." He states his
belief in the innocence of the brothers, and of the

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 103

charge against Cipriano he says : " From all the circum-
stances connected with the case, I believe the charge to
be a mistake, and so informed General Bell." This be-
lief has received full contirmation from several sources,
and indeed, from General Bell himself. Nor is it a mat-
ter of wonder that Captain Curry's opinions should prove
to be correct, notwithstanding what Mr. Magoon had to
say to the contrary. Caj)tain Curry probably knows
more about the Filipinos than any other American in
the Philippines ; he has fought with them, Uved with
them, studied tnem, governed them, and won their re-
spect and admiration. It is therefore regrettable that
Mr. Magoon did not allow himself to be guided by
Captain Curry's evidence. It is true that General Bell
was, as Mr. Magoon points out, nearer the scene of oper-
ations as regards two of the brothers, but General Bell
was a principal and not a witness, — the issue being
between him and Miss Lopez, who had appealed against
his acts to the highest ofificial authority. Captain Curry,
on the other hand, was an impartial witness between the
two, and his position, experience, and reputation ought
to have turned the scales in Miss Lopez's favor. Yet
while Captain Curry, satisfied of the innocence of the
Lopez brothers, was doing what he could to secure their
release, Mr. Magoon, who — to use his own words when
speaking of an opponent — " had persisted in keeping a
large segment of the earth's circumference between him-
self and actual hostilities," was preparing a recommend-
ation that the plea for their release be denied !

Such is, and ever will be, the essential character of
government by a foreign and distant power. It was so
during American colonial days, when such decisions were
given, not in accordance with fact or merit, but in the
interests of some home policy before which everything
else had to yield. It confirms the wisdom of Natalio
Lopez in teaching his children that "they could not live
an honest life and escape tribulation as long as the
source of authority was in a foreign land." It also con-

104 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

firms the truth of Dr. Lyman Abbott's dictum that
" Whenever, wherever, and howsoever this divine order
[the right of man as man to govern himself] is violated,
the result is always disastrous."

But Captain Curry's letter deals with a question of
wider importance : " All the trouble in Manila," he says,
"is in that part of the city where the saloons flourish
and the American element live, as the natives who live
in the barrios give very little trouble and are easy to
control." Captain Curry has frequently said that with
two hundred out of the one thousand police under his
charge he would undertake to keep order among the
entire native population of Manila, if any one else would
undertake, with the remaining eight hundred police, to
keep order among the foreign population.* This state-
ment has a two-fold significance : first, it confirms Presi-
dent Schurman's declaration that the Filipinos "are
naturally and normally peaceful, docile, and deferential
to constituted authority," and that " they possess admi-
rable domestic and personal virtues" ; and secondly, it
shows, as has frequently been predicted, that those at-
tracted to the Philippines for adventure or exploitation
are generally of an undesirable class. Further confir-
mation of this is furnished by a recent dispatch from
Manila which tells how, when Governor Taft convened

* In an interview published in the Boston Evening Transcript, May
13, 1903, the Hon. Henry C. Ide, of the present Philippine Commission,
says : " I ought to say here that Manila has a record for less crimes of
violence than any American city of the same size can show. It is an
orderly and well-governed city. One of the latest copies of the Manila
Times which has reached me in this country noted the fact that there
was not a prisoner in the city awaiting trial ; the courts were disgusted
because they had nothing to do. Do you know of any other city of
300,000 inhabitants that could show the same clean page ? Most of the
credit for this condition is due to the character of the Filipino himself.
Taking him by and large, he makes an excellent citizen. He is peaceful
and law abiding, not quarrelsome of disposition, but regardful of the
rights of others, mindful of his own business, and inclined to be on
pleasant terms with his neighbors. An assault by a Filipino upon an
American is almost unknown." [W^ould that the converse also could
be said.]

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 105

a conference of the prcsidentes of twenty-two towns in
the province of Cavite, to urge them to work for the
supi^ression of the ladrones, he was met with the counter
request of the prcsidentes that they be given " a va-
grancy law that would reach dissolute American advent-
urers and discharged soldiers, whose influence was very
bad."

Few persons realize how great are the evils which
always accompany attempts to spread our particular
form of civilization among what we proudly regard as
inferior races. The vices which the dregs of our own
civilization carry to such peoples have, without excep-
tion, annulled whatever good the philanthropist may
have accomplished. Yet we persist in these attempts,
and are ever ready to repeat the same disastrous experi-
ments. F'ortunately, the Filipinos, though they may
have vices of their own, do not take kindly to those of
the white man. In this they stand in marked contrast
to other alien races. Thus, says President Schurman :
" I have never seen a Filipino drunkard. They will take
a small wine-glass of liquor, and be content with that ;
and this temperance in drink is characteristic of their
moderation in many other things. Probably no one
thing has damaged the American people in the eyes of
the natives more than this great vice of ours of indulg-
ing too freely in drink." Commissioner Ide adds his
testimony, in the following words : " The Filipino is
always polite and always temperate. This seems like a
sweeping statement, but it is a fact that in the three
years that I have spent in the Islands I have seen only
two drunken natives. I do not see the natives going
into or coming out of the saloons, so I do not believe
they patronize them. The Filipino drinks his vino,
which you have doubtless heard described as a very
deadly beverage. But vino is a cordial or liqueur, and
is drunk by the Filipinos as our people drink liqueurs —
that is, in tiny glasses, and very little at a time. It is
a stimulant, and supplies that want for the Filipino in

io6 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

the moderate degree that suits his taste. It got its bad
name from the way our soldiers fell to drinking it.
They took it as they would take whiskey. They found
it a cheap drink, and exhilarating, and drinking it in the
quantities that they did they suffered serious injuries
from its effect upon the brain. Many of them have
been made insane and sent back to asylums in this
country. Many others are in our hospitals in the Islands
— victims, not so much of the vino habit, as of the
immoderate use of a stimulant intended to be taken
by the thimbleful. I have attended dinners and other
social festivities given by Filipinos, and have been struck
by their marked temperance. They serve wine .of the
kinds and in the quantities to which other nationalities
are accustomed, out of hospitality to their guests, but
they drink almost none themselves. It is a sign of their
extraordinary conservatism that, in spite of all that the
Filipinos have seen going on about them since the Ameri-
cans came into the Islands, they do not seem to be
acquiring our whiskey - drinking habit." {Transcript,
Boston, May 13, 1903.) "A sign of conservatism" ! Is
it conservatism to avoid falling into the bad habits of
others .? Is the Filipino never to be given credit for
personal virtue ? — But, to return to Captain Curry's
letter: — ]

Department of Police, Central Office,

Manila, P. I., January 25, 1902.
Mr. FisKE Warren,

Boston, Mass.
My Dear Sir : Yours of recent date at hand and
contents noted. In reply, will say that the three Lopez
brothers are still under arrest. They are confined, to-
gether with a large number of other military prisoners,
on an island in the Laguna de Bay. I, of course, do
not know just what the military have against the Lopez
brothers who live in Batangas, but Manuel Lopez, who

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 107

lives in Manila with Mariano, I am satisfied has done
nothing disloyal, and I am very fond of Mariano Lopez
and his family. I have done what I could to secure the
release of their brothers, and I feel satisfied that as soon
as peace is established in Batangas, which now appears
to be a question of a few weeks, as the insurgents are
fast surrendering, they will be liberated and their prop-
erty restored to them. These harsh measures were
believed by General Bell to be necessary ; and whereas
I differ with him as to the guilt of the Lopez brothers,
they are undoubtedly suffering largely on account of
their brother, Sixto Lopez. As you realize the situation
yourself very fully, you can understand.

The Lopez girls have been up to see me frequently,
and I have treated them with the utmost courtesy, as
I really feel very much attached to them. They, like
other Filipino families that I have gotten very well ac-
quainted with, improve on acquaintance. They are very
loyal to their friends, and I have only regretted that I
could do so little to assist them. But, as I stated before,
I feel satisfied from what General Wheaton tells me
that these parties will all soon be released.

Cipriano Lopez, the eldest brother, is accused by Gen-
eral Bell of having knowledge of a large number of arms,
which, from all the circumstances connected with the
case, I believe to be a mistake, and so informed General
Bell ; but General Bell differs with me and appears sin-
cerely to believe that Lopez is doing all he can to under-
mine the Government.*

Conditions in Manila are steadily improving. My
native police are all being taught English and are learn-
ing very fast. The city limits have been extended to
take in some of the smaller towns, and I am now organ-
izing police in those places, but anticipate very little

* This belief, which doubtless was based on the reports of Manuel
Ramirez and Captain Cheever, was finally abandoned by General Bell —
as is evidenced by his subsequent treatment of Cipriano.

io8 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

trouble. In fact, all the trouble in Manila is in the part
of the city where the saloons flourish and the American
element live, as the natives who live in the barrios give
very little trouble and are easy to control.

I feel confident that Governor Taft will present mat-
ters in such a way at Washington as will secure some
necessary legislation and a permanent peace for these
people, whom I really like, and would like to do some-
thing to better their condition.

I would be pleased to hear from you at any time. I
sincerely hope that if you visit Washington you will
consult with Governor Taft ; I know, if you meet once
and talk with him, you will be convinced of his sincerity
and kind feeling toward the Filipino people.

With kindest regards, I remain, yours, very truly,

George Curry.

[The two following letters from Juliana tell of many
things which do not require comment or explanation ;
but one sentence of hers gives a clue to what may have
contributed to the unfounded suspicion as to the "kind
and character " of her correspondence with her brother.
In the second of these letters Juliana says to Sixto:
"The truth is, I do not know under what address to
write you, for if I use your own name ... I am afraid
that it would be sufficient reason for arresting me, be-
cause of being in communication with an ' insurgent,' as
they call you ! " Such was the suspicion then existing in
Manila that if Juliana had sent a copy of the Lord's prayer
addressed to Sixto Lopez, one of the secret-service
police would have reported the fact at headquarters.
It was not that Juliana had anything to communicate to
Sixto Lopez, or he to her, of a seditious or compromis-
ing nature ; it was the mere fact of communicating with
her brother that was the ground of suspicion. Even Vice-
Governor Wright, whom many regard as a fair-minded

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 109

man, is reported to have said that Mariano Lopez had
" lost the good opinion that the authorities had had of
him, on account of Sixto Lopez and his friends."]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, January 29, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : This is the second letter which
I have written you in answer to the two you sent me
from Singapore and Penang, and which I received a little
while ago, together with a letter from our very dear
friend. We are very happy over the news and the
impressions of your journey which you sent us, and are
grateful to the passengers who went with you for the
kindness which they showed you. It has lessened the
sadness with which we are all weighed down to know
that you are well and resigned. As for us, thank God,
we all continue in good health, including mother, who,
in spite of the gravity of our situation, is resigned, as
are our three imprisoned brothers. They were deported
to the island of Talim with a number of others from the
province of Batangas. You can see how changed the
Americans are toward our family by the following inci-
dent : The other day we went to ask for a pass to visit
our brothers. The island where they now are is not
more than five or at least six hours' journey from Manila,
but they would not grant us the pass, giving as an
excuse that they could not interfere in matters concern-
ing which only Bell could decide.

We go continually from bad to worse. We get news
from Balayan that, in spite of its tranquillity and peace-
ful attitude, they continue to arrest all those whom they
believe have guns. In my previous letter I told you
that several of our superintendents were imprisoned, as
they were believed to be the guardians of the fifty guns
which it was supposed Cipriano failed to present when
he surrendered. As you know, there are not and cannot
be any proofs of these accusations. Simply because of

no STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

denunciations they have been imprisoned up to the pres-
ent time and will continue so. At the same time, not
only are they imprisoned, but they are subjected to all
kinds of torture, so that finally one of them, poor Isabelo
(may his soul rest in peace), the superintendent of Calan,
succumbed and died from the effect of all the blows and
beatings which were given him to make him produce the
guns.

Seeing this, Emiliana, wife of Gregorio (who denied
the existence of these guns), managed in some way, I
know not how, to get hold of three guns, which she
surrendered to obtain the liberation of her husband.
Indeed, we were utterly puzzled as to where this woman
could have obtained them,* and instead of bettering her
unhappy condition she has only made it worse.

As for Andrea, she is well and occupies the entresol
of the house, as the upper rooms are occupied by the
soldiers. They have offered to give her a pass to come
to Manila, but she will not do so, as she does not wish
to leave everything in the hands of others. They have
also asked her about the guns, and finally they asked
her to help to find them. You can imagine how she
would answer them !

You ask me about our supposed friends in Balayan.
What a disillusion ! It seems that they only called
themselves friends so that they might injure us after-
wards. Here in Manila astonishment is expressed that
they have not been able to defend us, for if they had
done so our brothers would not be where they are. The
only one who seems really to be our friend and who is
sorry for what has happened is Lieutenant Raymond,
but the others, up to the present time, still continue the
work of injuring us. For my part I feel a great deal of
resentment toward them, and I do not believe that any

* Sixto Lopez is of opinion that this unfortunate woman was supplied
with these guns by Manuel Ramirez, in order to give color to the accu-
sation about the fifty guns alleged to have been held back by Cipriano.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY iii

reconciliation will be possible between them and us.
Believe me, Clemen, if we did not hope for good re-
sults from your efforts in America, we should die of
sorrow. Therefore, in spite of the fact that many dis-
approve of your going, I am convinced that you will
accomplish there what we have not been able to accom-
plish here.

I beg of you, do not show this letter to any one, even
to our friend, for its appearance is disgraceful. I send
it to you by a friend of Macaria's, who belongs in
Boston, and who starts to-morrow for the United States ;
therefore I write you in haste. Tell our friend that
some other day I will write, telling him many things.

Regards from everybody, and a kiss from

NiNAY.

[From Juliana to Sixto Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, January 30, 1902.

Dear Brother : We have finally found a friend by

whom to send you this letter, for I am afraid you have

not received my previous ones and that they are really

lost. Some of these letters I sent you under the name

of in the house of , and the last two

to to give to Clemen and Mariquita. You would

understand that they were mine to you, as it would be
absurd to suppose that they were for those to whom
they were addressed, seeing that I know perfectly well
that the former has gone far away and that the latter has
been here for weeks. The truth is, I do not know under
what address to write you, for if I use your own name,
which is as well known here as mine in Balayan, I am
afraid that it would be sufficient reason for arresting me,
because of being in communication with an "insurgent,"
as they call you ! Since Mariquita arrived I have received
no letter from you except one dated the 17th, and, as
you will understand, I am impatient to know some things
about which I asked you. . . .

112 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

From the last news from Balayan I know that the
town continues tranquil, as always; nevertheless, they
are continuing to arrest our superintendents to force them
to produce the imaginary guns which they say are being
kept back. As is natural, the poor things deny every-
thing, for, indeed, they do not know what guns are spoken
of, and for this reason they (the Americans) are torturing
them, giving them thousands of blows, whipping and
beating them, so that finally one of them died — the
Americans and Macabebes beat him so much. He was
called Isabelo, and was the superintendent at Calan.
It has amazed me that they should have taken such
measures, considering that they are so civilized a nation
and boast all over the world wherever they go of their
humane acts.

The death of our superintendent has saddened us very
much, all the more because he was one of those in whom
our brothers had confidence, and we all liked him. When
I heard this news I could not sleep all night for thinking
that perhaps this unfortunate man was martyred because
he would not say anything against us, and so they killed
him. On the other hand, the wife of the superintendent
at Dao, whose husband was imprisoned, sought some way
of liberating him, and, nobody knows how, got hold of
three guns with which to buy the freedom of her hus-
band, and surrendered them, but they would not give
him his freedom for that, but, on the contrary, demanded
more and more, and his situation was all the worse. I
cannot tell you about this in detail as I have not yet
received a letter from Andrea, The prisoners continue
in good health, as well as the rest of us here. Good-bye.

NiNAY.

[" It has amazed me that they should have taken such
measures, considering that they are so civilized a nation."
Has it come to this at last ? Civilization rebuked for its
barbarity, — and by those whom it would civilize!

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 113

'• Do the dead know and weep o'er the acts of the living ?"
Then must Washington be shedding tears in heaven.

In the three following letters Maria's youth proclaims
itself in its quaintness and directness : " They have
arrested 4 of our most trusted superintendents," who
were tortured, "so much so that i of them has died."
The use of the numerals, in such a connection, reminds
one of Artemus Ward.

Maria apparently does not approve of those who are
entrusted with the task of benevolent assimilation :
" What vile men ! I never want to see them again ; I
hate them all ! " Youth has a habit of setting forth its
opinions without any qualification. But perhaps Maria
says plainly what many an older head may think but dare
not express. Sometimes, however, Maria speaks in the
language of the " older head " : " It is evident," she says,
"that we shall not be safe while there is one Filipino
struggling for independence." This is the language of the
Russian or of the Polish patriot despairing of the liberty
of his fatherland. And that this should be said of any
spot of earth over which " Old Glor)^ " flaps in the morn-
ing breeze ! — No safety while there is one struggling
for independence !]

[From Maria to SLxto Lopez, at Hong-Kong.]

Manila, January 30, 1902.

Dear Brother : We have received only one letter

from you since I arrived here, — dated the 17th; and

we are much puzzled at not receiving another telling

us whether you have yet received all our letters. The

last one we wrote you was directed to Don

to be given to the Seiioritas Clemencia and Maria, and
I don't know whether he has given it to you. This

114 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

address occurred to us because we did not know to
whom else to direct it so that you might receive it
promptly. We directed the others to the house of
Don , with the name of .

Concerning our brothers, I can tell you nothing more
than that they are well, and I believe that, as time
passes, the authorities have less and less any idea of
giving them their liberty ; for they say that Cipriano
failed to surrender 50 guns. They have arrested 4 of
our most trusted superintendents, demanding from them
the 50 guns. These superintendents do not possess the
guns, yet they are being tortured — so much so that i
of them has died.

Mariano continues working for our brothers, but he
accomplishes nothing, for they tell him that everything
depends upon General Bell. I am sorry for all this on
mother's account, for you cannot imagine how it makes
me despair to see her weep. I fear everything for her,
for she spends whole days weeping, thinking of our
brothers, and that, as you know, may do her much harm
at her age. We thought of asking for a pass this week
so that we could visit them in the island of Talim, only
that mother might be convinced that they are well, and
be more contented, but friends have advised us that we
ought not to go there, seeing that there are no houses,
and the boat only goes once a week.

I do not know whether I can send you this letter by

Dr. . They say that he is the doctor of the

steamer. We ourselves will go to his house and beg
him to deliver this letter, and at the same time ask how
you are. His wife is a friend of ours, and it may com-
promise him to take you this letter. I am not telling
you about things, because Ninay is writing to you also,
and she can do it much better than I ; at the last
moment she decided to write to you, for she had been
writing to Clemen.

A soldier from Balayan, a friend of Macaria's, who
goes back to America to-morrow, offered to take her

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 115

letter to Clemen ; he says he lives in Boston. Ninay
accepted his offer with pleasure, for she fears that
Clemen does not receive her letters by post. We have
now received letters from her, one from Singapore and
another from Penang. She tells us how delightful it is
to travel, and that if she were not always thinking of
her brothers she would consider herself very happy. I
do hope that when you receive this you will be in good
health, as we all are, thank God. Regards to everybody,
and remember that you are loved and not forgotten by
Your sister, Maria.

[From Maria to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, February 6, 1902.

Dear Clemen : Forgive me that I have not written
to you until now, but you know how hard it is for me to
write and how idle I am; all the more because I have
no good news to tell you, for our brothers are still pris-
oners. We realize more and more the gravity of our
situation. All those to whom we apply for help in
obtaining the liberation of our brothers make us prom-
ises at first, but afterwards tell us that they can do
nothing ; and this has just happened to us once more.
The private secretary of General Chaffee, who promised
us so much, and even set the day when our brothers
should be freed, has also lost heart now that he has
talked with General Bell.

Mr. Curry, our best friend, also talked with him, but
without result, since he demands an impossibility — that
the 50 guns which Cipriano is charged with having failed
to present when he surrendered should first be given
up. We are in despair. Yesterday we received a
letter from our brothers, and they say they are very
badly off, for they spend the day in the sun, acting as
overseers to the other prisoners, and they are given very
bad food and little of it. They are treated as if they

ii6 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

were criminals. The man wlio brought us the letter had
to talk with them sub rosa, for they say that they are
very closely watched. Poor Lorenzo ! I feel the worst
on his account, and we do not know what to do. When
we went to the offices of Generals Chaffee and Wheaton,
where we only succeeded in speaking with the adjutants,
we always got the same answer — that these generals
did not wish to interfere with the affairs of Bell in
Batangas. What vile men ! I never want to see them
again ; I hate them all !

Four days ago we sent our brothers canned food
and some other things which they needed, such as beds
to sleep in, — thanks to a soldier who promised to take
them. We do not send them money, for they are not
allowed to have any. What they had with them when
they were arrested was taken from them. Now more
than ever we are glad that you went to America, for
we have seen that indeed there is no justice here. God
grant that you obtain it there, for you are our only hope.
What evil days, Clemen, we have passed and are passing
through now ; and how much we think of you.

I suppose you are still thinking that I am in Hong-
Kong, where you left me, but I have been here a
month, having returned with Consuelo. ... I was very
sorry to leave Hong-Kong while Sixto was still there.
If you could have seen how I cried ! — and he was sorry
too and did not want to let me go. . . . The days there
were delightful, because Sixto was very kind and good
to me. Almost every day after dinner Sixto took me to
walk to places which I had not yet seen, at the same
time making me tell him about things that happened ten
years ago.

We also went to the house of Agoncillo and Marti,
who were most kind to me, especially Dona Marcela
[wife of Agoncillo], who was very anxious that I should
stay at her house. Of the Basa family I have nothing
but praise, for they have been very good to me, especially
Inez, who was like a sister to me. She helped me to

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 117

get ready, and the family accompanied me to the steamer
with our Philippine friends and acquaintances. We
arrived here in the "Kosctta" on the 7th, after a very
bad voyage, much worse than we had going, and so ill
that I could hardly stand. But we were fortunate in
having as fellow-voyagers two Spaniards, who were very
good and looked after us in every way. One of them is
named Ramon Lopez. He says he was the Government
physician in Katangas and knows our family, as he has
been in Balayan and has stopped at our house.

The ship's doctor, who is a Japanese, also looked after
us, and was very thoughtful, continually asking us what
we wished to eat. I believe he was sorry for us, seeing
us travel alone, or perhaps Sixto recommended us to his
care. Many friends came out to the boat to meet us,
almost all of those who came to see us off.

We all continue well, including mother, although she
is very unhappy, even in spite of the fact that we do
not tell her more than half of what happens to us, and
tiy to console her. Give our regards to Mr, Warren
and his wife, and kisses to the children ; and receive a
warm embrace from your sister. Quita.

[From Maria to Sixto Lopez.]

Manila, February 12, 1902.
Dear Brother : We received your letters of the 26th
of last month and the 7th of this with the inclosed copy.
Ninay has not yet written to the superintendent of tel-
egraphs, as he is sick with measles ; but as soon as he
recovers she will do so. As to the telegram stating that
one of our brothers was executed, which you say alarmed
Clemen so much when she read it in the papers, one of
our friends also told us that the American newspapers
referred to it. We have learned that the authorities
here have received a letter from a personage in America,
and this letter only asked the motive for the imprison-

ii8 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

ment of our brothers. We do not know the name of the
writer. We all believe that Bell's visit to our brothers
was due to your letter to Chaffee, for now, according to
letters which we receive from Manuel, they are much
more considerately treated, particularly Lorenzo, in whose
condition they took a great deal of interest, sending two
American physicians, who pay more attention to him than
to any one else.

Are you really persistent in coming ? Don't do it if
you do not wish to make our situation worse. Besides,
mother sends you word that if you still wish to see her
you are not to come on this occasion, and that she has
decided to live anywhere except here in the Philippines,
for it is now evident that we shall not be safe while there
is one Filipino still struggling for independence. There-
fore we are only waiting until they set our brothers free
in order that we may go to Hong-Kong or some other
place where nobody will interfere with us and abuse
our confidence. We attribute the imprisonment of our
brothers to the fact that you will not come and take the
oath of allegiance ; and so they are imprisoned to make
you come.

When the authorities speak to us about this, although
they do not do so directly, we close their mouths by tell-
ing them that Cipriano laid down his arms, trusting in
the promise of the Government that they would never
trouble nor molest him so long as no clear proof against
him existed, and also that our family should enjoy the
same just immunity because we had worked so hard for
his surrender ; for they declared that the American
people do not intend to oppress us as the Spaniards did,
but that rather we, as well as all others who did not fight
against them treacherously, should have their protection.
Therefore we hope that in view of the way they have
treated Cipriano you will, less than ever, consider taking
the oath of allegiance. Ninay sends word for you to tell
her the date of your departure a week before you leave
for America, so that she can send you the native clothes

STORY OF THi: LOPEZ FAMILY 119

which you are to take to Clemen to use this summer. I
have received the book which Mr. Patterson sent me
and am a thousand times obliged to him. We have not
received the ph()to^ai)hs and the ornament. Good-bye,
many regards, and be sure that you are not forgotten by

Maria.

[** Or, is it that the naked eye of youth

Sees all through glamour ; while, to see the truth
Needs convex lenses ? "

Certainly, it needed calamity and the convex lenses of
age to teach King Lear that protestations of loyalty and
love are frequently vain and worthless. Similarly, to
compare great things with smaller, it required calamity
in order to dissolve Juliana's illusion as to those officers
who had professed friendship when all the world was
smiling, but who forsook her and her family in the hour
of peril. And the dissolving of her illusion,- — what a
change it wrought in Juliana herself! Compare her
first letters with the following one ; passionate, yet
reasonable ; fearless, yet prudent ; withering in its scorn
of false friend, yet mindful of those who had proved
true.

" Before all this happened," writes Juliana, " who could
have believed that they could be so vile as to revenge
themselves on us who had done nothing against them,
and were living in confidence, sure of the friendship
which all the officers professed ? " Who, indeed ? But
friends differ, as do the stars in magnitude ; even Lear's
daughters were not all the same. " I always believed
the American officers to be very just and reasonable,
but now I am convinced that there is a snake in every
bush, as the proverb says. They are reasonable when
it suits them." Or, was it when the policy fcmiittcd
them.? Doubtless the officers would have been just

120 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

and reasonable at all times if the policy behind them
had been just and reasonable. "Oh, what outrage!"
continues Juliana. " If all the Americans are like those
we have here, who heartlessly punish the innocent and
make many families suffer, preserve me from them
and from America, with all its wealth and education

and desire to be our protector in civilization, and ,

But no, I want also to be just ; I do not want you
to say that I have forgotten those who are still our
friends in spite of everything, and who are doing every-
thing in their power for us." How these words bring
the hot blood to one's cheek ! How the very soul rises
against the policy that made it possible for such words
to be uttered ! But there is more, and worse : " When
[Lieutenant] Raymond was here he came to our house
two or three times and denied that any officer in
Balayan [i. e., any officer who formerly professed friend-
ship for the family] had anything to do with the impris-
onment of our brothers. I answered him that it might
be so, but that no officer had taken the least trouble to
defend them." A just reply, for friendship does not
stop at refraining from doing or participating in a wrong ;
it must also put forth its hand in defense. But Juliana's
final reflection gives the climax to it all : " This the
officers should have done, not only as good friends, but
still more because military honor required them to defend
the right." Humiliating, is it not, that a young Filipina
should have to give the Anglo-Saxon a lesson in the
claims of friendship and honor ? Compare all this with
those older conceptions of honor as expressed by Rod-
erick Dhu : —

" It rests with me to wind my horn, —
Thou art with numbers overborne ;
It rests with me, here, brand to brand.
Worn as thou art, to bid thee stand :
But, not for clan, nor kindred's cause.
Will I depart from honor's laws."]

•h|«^|^^^

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 121

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, February 14, 1902.
Dearest Clemen: I am very sorry to tell you that
our brothers are still prisoners, and deported to the little
island of Malagi [Talim], and we have no hope of seeing
them soon free because of the heavy conditions laid
upon them in exchange for their liberty. By letters
which we have received from Manuel we know that they
are not well treated, and that they are made to work in
the strong sun, being set as foremen over the other
prisoners, who work like animals. They do not com-
plain so much of the work as of the food and lodgings,
the latter being, as you know, nothing but field-tents.
The poorest Filipino has his own little house, and never
sleeps on the ground, as the rich men of the capital of
Batangas are doing there. I am thankful that I did not
give any credit to what the officers told me, that our
brothers would have everything, for by way of precau-
tion I sent them immediately cot-beds, mosquito-nets,
and ever)lhing they would really need. I took pains
also to send them food. I got myself introduced to the
man who has charge of all the launches running to that
island, so that he might notify me of their departure,
and in that way my letters and goods might arrive
safely. This American official, who seems to be a good
sort of a man, and who knew me by reputation, received
me very well and offered to do everything he could on
his part. But on the other hand, our brothers, in their
letters, beg me to spare no efforts or money to obtain
their freedom, for they will die if they remain there
much longer. All these letters have made us perfectly
despairing, seeing the impossibility of doing anything
for them. All the valuable information and services
which our brothers have given the Government avail
nothing. What the Americans want at any cost is that
Sixto shall come and take the oath of allegiance, or that
fifty guns shall be presented. The matter of the fifty

122 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

guns is simply an excuse, so that they may appear to
have a just reason for the imprisonment of our brothers ;
what they really want and desire is the person of Sixto,
and they believe that, compassionating the situation of
our family, he will sacrifice his ideals to save us.

They have made a great mistake, for, according to
what we hear, he is very much grieved by it, but not as
much as the authorities believe, — and certain Filipinos
as well, — who think that the only way to force Sixto to
come unconditionally is by the imprisonment of our
brothers and the confiscation of our goods. But what
I cannot understand is why even our poor dependents
should suffer for the fault of our brothers. Being
required to surrender guns which the poor things did
not possess, they also have been imprisoned and are still
so. Isabelo, of Calan, has died. After they had beaten
him and could get no confession from him they took him
to the river Matauanak (Tuy), and there they left him,
drowned in the river. Ramirez told of this here in
Manila. Cheever has fulfilled to the letter all his vows
of vengeance on our family made when his candidate
failed to be elected last September. You do not forget
the details. As little does Bell forget the time when we
won in the matter of the cows last year, when, although
pledged to the friars, he could do no less than recognize
that the cows were ours. With so many great and
powerful enemies, and the situation in Batangas what
it is, you can imagine how the opportunity will be
improved to do us harm.

But before all this happened who could have believed
that they could be so vile as to revenge themselves on
us who had done nothing against them, and who were
living in confidence, sure of the friendship which all
the officers professed ? It is this confidence that has
ruined us. If we had been distrustful, they would not
have caught us so unprepared, for not only should we
have warned our brothers not to stay in Balayan, but
we should have advised them to leave the country, and

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 123

then we should be in peace and should not be spending
such bitter days as we are now. Choleng arrived a week
ago . . . and told me many very sad things about our
province which remind me of the Spanish rule. Mar-
tyrdoms and torture are being renewed in the provinces
where the insurrection still prevails. The father of L.
Luna, after incredible torture, was thrown still alive on
a fire, simply because his son was an insurgent and he
had not been able to bring about his surrender.

All the wealthy men in Lipa have been made to work
in the streets, and if at the present time they are better
treated, it is only because their sons, boys under eighteen
years of age, have volunteered, and go out always as
guides when the American forces rcconnoiter ; and they
go in the vanguard ! In this way they have bargained
so that their fathers shall not again be obliged to work
in the streets, carrying water, etc. Not even in the
time of the Spaniards were the people of Batangas so
badly treated as they are now ; and indeed it sounds
strange to me to hear such horrible news, for even
women are deported simply for being wives or daughters
of insurgents. This is one of the reasons why I de-
cided not to go to Balayan to visit poor Andrea, who is
all alone with Emilio, for I did not wish to be within
reach of Bell, of whom I have a horror, believing him
capable of anything. Before these sad events hap-
pened, I always believed the American officers to be
very just and reasonable, but now I am convinced that
there is a snake in every bush, as the proverb says.
They are reasonable when it suits them ; but when it
is otherwise, even if you shriek and cry to heaven, they
pay no attention, merely saying by way of consolation
that when peace is established in our province every-
thing will be arranged and we shall be content with their
government ; and saying other things as well, all, in
short, having little to do with what you ask. Oh, what
outrage ! If all the Americans are like those we have
here, who heartlessly punish the innocent and make

124 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

many families suffer, preserve me from them and from
America, with all its wealth and education and desire to

to be our protector in civilization, and . But no, I

want also to be just; I do not want you to say that
I have forgotten those who are still our friends in spite
of everything, and who are doing everything in their
power for us. As for the others, I no longer believe in
them ; they are such false friends. We have treated
them so well ever since they took Balayan up to the
present time that they can have nothing against us
except the fact that Sixto is our brother, and in respect
to him they assured us that we had nothing to fear.
Then, why are our brothers now prisoners ?

Two months have passed and God only knows what
we have suffered and what remains for us to suffer in
future, from the terrible and lasting effects. When
Raymond was here he came to the house two or three
times and denied that any officer in Balayan had any-
thing to do with the imprisonment of our brothers. I
answered him that it might be so, but that no officer
had taken the least trouble to defend them. This the
officers should have done, not only as good friends, but
still more because military honor required them to de-
fend the right ; and they did not do it, but kept silent
like cowards lest what happened in Balangiga should
happen in Balayan, for they say that Balayan is no more
peaceful than was Balangiga before the attack. . . .

I finish this, Clemen, by begging you once more to
do everything you can, for our family has been very
much wronged. My head is good for nothing, and so I
beg you to show no one this letter and to pardon me
because it is so full of erasures. You are, I repeat, our
only hope in remedying our dreadful situation.

Tell our friend to forgive me for not writing more
often, but I always have much to do and much to think
about. Good-bye. Give our regards to everybody, and
kiss the children, and remember that you are loved and
not forgotten by your sister, Ninay.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 125

[Yes, there were some true friends among the Amer-
icans. Some ? There are many, if all were only known.
Indeed, there are few enemies, and if the poHcy were
different there would be none. In the following letter
to one of these friends Juliana shows that ingratitude is
not a characteristic of her race.]

[From Juliana Lopez to Fiske Warren.]

Manila, P. I., February 15, 1902.

Distinguished and Dear Friend : First of all I
hope that you will forgive me for not writing to you with
greater frequency, as is my wish ; but the situation in
which my poor brothers find themselves prevents me
from doing anything for good friends like yourself, since
I give all my attention to their affairs, discussing methods
and presenting reasons so that justice may soon be done
them, if indeed there is such a thing. I doubt very
much whether there is here, for it is now two months
since my brothers have been prisoners and deported, and
we do not yet know certainly the motive for it, nor have
they been asked to make any kind of a declaration. You
know very well that my brothers did not contribute to the
insurrection in Batangas, being convinced that such an
unequal war could bring us only ruin and desolation, as
it is actually doing now ; for God only knows how terrible
the consequences will be if the few who remain in the
field still persist in the struggle.

You know also that my brother Cipriano surrendered
with all his guns, convinced of and trusting in the mag-
nanimity of the Government of the United States, and
that this surrender was due to the favorable representa-
tions we made to him about the American people, when
all our family were trying to persuade him to follow the
paths of peace. We lay all this before the authorities,
but they will not hear us. They content themselves with
saying that when the war shall have ended and our prov-

126 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

ince shall have been completely pacified they will give
our brothers their freedom and we shall all be contented
with the Civil Government. As you will understand, we
could wait as long as they pleased if it were only a ques-
tion of confiscated property ; but it concerns the wretched
life which our poor brothers are leading, who, as is nat-
ural, are suffering from the hard prison labor and are
failing in health day by day because they are not accus-
tomed to such a life — especially my brother Lorenzo.
We fear that if his imprisonment lasts many weeks
longer his eyes will trouble him again and his cough
become worse, and the result may be serious.

On the other hand, reading your letter to me of the
4th of January has relieved and consoled me very much
in these days, when my spirit is so depressed; and I
thank you for your letter with all my heart, and also for
the many other favors which you are doing and have
done for my unfortunate family. I can find no words to
express to you our deep gratitude, and all that I can say
to you, of what our hearts feel toward you and your
family, is pale.

As to affairs in Batangas, I will only allow myself to
say that they remind me of the Spanish domination in
the year of '96, the memory of which fills me with
horror.

I should like to tell you about many things which I
know of, but I will leave them all until I have the good
fortune to fulfill my promise to you to visit you in that
city where the sedition law is unknown.

Good-bye for a time. Give my regards to your dear
family, to whom I wish all sorts of happiness, and dispose
of the services of your friend, who does not forget
you. Juliana Lopez

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 127

[" I waited for him. And he came not."

The following letter is full of high hope, due to a
report that the brothers had been released. "All day
to-morrow we shall expect Manuel, and he will dine with
us, as we are assured." But the report, though supported
by much circumstantial evidence, was untrue. The*
brothers were not released, and had to remain in prison
for almost three more months, or, until the loth of
May.

It has been said that a lady never writes a letter with-
out adding a postscript, and that the chief item is gen-
erally contained in the " P. S." It may have been noted
that Juliana is singularly free from this delightful habit,
and although she is the writer of the following letter the
postscript is not hers. The ever quaint Maria is its
author, and whether it be held to contain the chief item
will depend chiefly on the point of view ! Of course
Maria did not want the " big doll " for herself. She has
any number of little nieces and God-children, and the
doll was for one of these — at least so we will assume !]

[From Juliana to Sixto Lopez.]

Manila, February 19, 1902,

Dear Brother : Now that I have completely recov-
ered from the indisposition which for some days has de-
prived me of the desire to do anything, I set myself to
answer your letters of the 31st, 7th, and 1 3th. I will tell
you first of all that the last two were received on time,
but the first, which was brought me by some one, I do
not know by whom, we only received a week ago, and
I was very sorry for the delay. I believe Mariquita
told you what happened as regards the bearer of the
letter.

Two men from Lipa, who arrived to-day from that
town, have just brought us the great news that they have

128 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

seen Lorenzo and Cipriano, who were coming from
Calamba, in the Red Cross ambulance, and going toward
Batangas. One of them came on purpose, at Cipriano's
request, to tell us that our brothers are now at liberty
and that they will go to Balayan. Manuel still remains
at Malagi ; he will come to Manila in a few days. Imag-
ine how delighted we must be since we have known this,
and even more on poor mother's account, for whom
life is again brightening. Poor darling ! All this news
must be true, for some days ago General Chaffee's
private secretary, who for some time has taken Mari-
ano's part, assured him that very soon our brothers
would be set free, for the authorities were convinced
of their innocence. Accordingly, all day to-morrow we
shall expect Manuel, and he will dine with us, as we are
assured.

In regard to the questions which you have asked me
about the reconcentration which is taking place in all the
towns, I do not know what to say to you. I only know
that in Balayan they keep rice for the reconcentrados
and poor people, and the " Purisima," which does nothing
else but this, brings rice from other towns where it is
plentiful, to the towns whose ports are closed, and also
nipa, so that the country people can make themselves
houses in town. In one way, what the Government is
doing — in sending nipa to some of the towns of Batangas,
getting it at Balayan — is a benefit to our people who are
devoting themselves to this industry, for, according to
what I am told, they are well and promptly paid. Accord-
ing to Andrea's last letter, the volunteers no longer occupy
our house, and will not return. As to the superintendents,
they still remain prisoners. Their names are Gregorio
de Guzman (of Dao), Ramon Alimanzor (Matauanak),
Hilario Panaligan (of Toong), and Isabelo Capacia (of
Calan). This last, according to details w^hich we have
received, was denounced in Tuy, to the company of
Macabebes which is stationed in that town, by some one
who, not being able to endure the blows which the

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 129

Macabebes gave him, said anything so that they might
leave him in peace.

After having maltreated poor Isabelo, who confessed
nothing, in spite of the many blows which they gave him,
they took him to the river Matauanak and there drowned
him, leaving his body to the mercy of the current without
giving him any burial. The others were arrested in
Malayan, and there they are to remain until they present
the imaginary fifty guns. . . .

Quita has already written you as to from whom mother
wants you to get the money for your passage and other
expenses, for if you ask a loan from the friend of whom
you speak we all know that he will not refuse you, but
mother prefers that you should obtain it from some
business house, paying interest, and so we should owe
no one a favor.

I send you a box of clothing for Clemen, and six boxes
of cigars ; the other three boxes are for our valued friend
Tom, which you will give him in mother's name.

Tell that person who rejoiced so much at our mis-
fortunes, both openly and secretly, that all the Lipa
people are now free, and our brothers as well ; so that
now he ought to weep. We think we know who this
good fellow-countryman and self-styled patriot is. As
regards Seiior Afable, we all think here that he is con-
ducting himself well in the town, and even that it is due
to him that there have not been so many arrests in
Balayan as in other towns. In Lipa the number of
prisoners went as high as 700 ; but now there are not
more than eighty. As for Dr. Lozada, I believe that
he appreciates very much, as does also his wife, the care
you took of him during his sickness, and they are accord-
ingly grateful. . . .

I should like to send you some of Clemen's jewels ;
but I do not know to whom to trust them so that they
may come safely to your hands. We do not yet know
who will take you Clemen's box and the cigars which we
are sending you. We cannot obtain the five numbers of

I30 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

the Manila Times. They say that there are no more
copies.

Good-bye, and a pleasant voyage.

Thine to dispose of, Ninay.

Postscript : I have received your letter dated the T4th,
but have not the time to write you. When you come
back from America bring me a big doll.*

Thine, Maria.

[The above account of the manner in which poor
Isabelo Capacia was put to death was from current
report and is not correct. A full statement of his
tragic death will be found on a subsequent page.

The splendid letter which follows is, in part, as
despondent as the previous one had been hopeful. In-
stead of the release of the brothers, report said that
Lorenzo and Cipriano had been taken to Batangas to be
tried by court-martial. This report also was untrue, at
least as far as Lorenzo was concerned.

The interview with Captain Taggart, briefly referred
to in a previous letter, is here described more fully. In
Captain Taggart's opinion Mr. Warren is "the worst man
in America." The ill opinion of some men is in itself a
certificate of moral worth and excellence, but this cannot
be said of Captain Taggart, and, furthermore, it is doubt-
ful whether he really means what he says. It is probably
his way of expressing disagreement with one whom he
regards as an opponent. The soldier is almost always
in extremes ; it is his nature, his business, to be so.
Any one who agrees with him he will defend ; any one
who criticises him he will kill. His liberality is no

* A doll of satisfactory dimensions is now on its way to Maria
(November, 1903).

STORY OF THE LOFKZ FAMILY 131

broader than the edge of his sword. "Badness," from
the soldier's point of view, amounts simply to the hold-
ing of an opposite opinion. It is because of this that
the soldier is usually not a conspicuous success when he
attempts to govern a province that he has conquered.
Of course there are exceptions ; there have been great
soldiers, but they were also great men — too great to
remain soldiers to the end of their activity. Such were
Washington and Grant, who were even greater men
than they were soldiers. But Washingtons and Grants
are few ; it is to the average soldier that these opinions
refer. And so, the Filipinos have to suffer, and those
who are old-fashioned enough to believe still in the prin-
ciples for which Washington fought must submit to
being regarded as bad men from the soldier's point of
view. However, Mr. Warren may comfort himself with
the thought that, if he is " the worst man in America,"
he could not always have claimed the distinction ; he
simply upholds the principles, — Washington enunciated
and fought for them !

The spirit of Juliana remains unconquered and un-
conquerable, in spite of this attempt to crush her in-
dependence of mind and that of her brother Sixto :
" Let me tell you," she writes to Clemencia, "that we —
at least I, for my part — will sacrifice my share of the
estate for you and the others who are there." The
"others " refers to Sixto. Can such a one, who is ready
to sacrifice her share of the remnant of a shattered
estate, be conquered or bought by a promise of " greater
prosperity " }

Contrary to her usual custom, Juliana adds a post-
script to this letter, and, when one stops to think, it
does indeed contain the chief item. Notwithstanding
Captain Taggart's opinion of Mr. Warren, Juliana says :
" Give my regards to all of the good family which is
protecting you, and tell Mr. Warren that we thmk of
him a great deal!' In all the circumstances there is a
whole volume in these words.]

132 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, February 25, 1902,
Dearest Clemen : At the moment that I am writing
you we are more afflicted, if such a thing is possible,
than we have been since the arrest of our three brothers,
for we have learned that they took Lorenzo and Cipriano
to Batangas to try them by court-martial. We do not
know whether this information is correct, but it is certain
that they were taken to Batangas, for Pepe Katigbak
assured us that he had seen them pass through Lipa,
although he does not know the reason why they were
called there. We hear various things about them, but
nothing directly from them, which we attribute to the
fact that they are not even allowed to write. Three
days ago we were told that they were being taken to
Batangas to be released, and that Manuel would be
brought here to Manila for the same purpose, for the
latter, as you know, was arrested in Boac, which is
under Civil Government, and accordingly we thought it
natural that he should be brought here.

But yesterday, and again to-day, we were assured that
nothing of the sort was true, and we believe it, for they
have not brought Manuel, as Chaffee's private secretary,
who is doing what he can for our brothers, promised us.
We cannot imagine what the reason is that they are
holding our brothers so closely when all the Lipa people
are now set free, so that, out of 700 prisoners from
that town, there are at present only seventy. You
cannot imagine in what despair we are, and even more
when we see our poor mother weep and do not know
how to console her, but can only begin to weep, too, out
of sheer desperation. But we do not tell her the whole
truth about our situation, for if she knew it all I do not
know what would be the effect. Poor little mother!
We take care not to tell her anything which might
make her more unhappy, and, moreover, we hide our-
selves when we cry, and conceal all that we feel, so that

STORY OF THE LOPKZ FAMILY 133

she may not see us afflicted. I have never missed
you as I do now in these circumstances, for I do not
know whom to consult about what happens and about
what I ought to do. Just think! — as you know, I
have never in my Hfe decided to do anything without
consulting you, and now I am obliged to do what seems
to me best, and I do not yet know what the results will
be. I refer only to the question of our brothers.

I felt very badly when you left us in this situation,
but now I believe that even you could do nothing for
them, for what is demanded is impossible ; that is, that
we should persuade our brother to come and take the
oath. Believe me, Clemen, with all these things which
are happening to us, if I had not been brought up in
religion and believed in it from childhood I should be-
come a heretic from all the sorrow that has come to us.
I am sure that it is the wicked who are protected here
in the Philippines, and it is to them that the authorities
give credit, for they believe them friendly to the Gov-
ernment ; but these gentlemen do not know that this is
only a cover so that these wicked men may revenge
themselves on their enemies, and gain money by making
false denunciations. The authorities do not understand
that in this way they will gain nothing but hatred, in-
stead of being regarded and trusted as the representa-
tives of a liberating nation, as I believed them to be.
It was our confidence in them that ruined us.

Every time that I write to you I forget to tell you
the details about the arrest of our brothers. On the
1 3th of December, in the afternoon, Cipriano went out
on horseback with Raymond to mark out the limits of
the reconcentration, which had not then been deter-
mined in our town. They went over the ground in a
few hours and came back together to the town, and
when they arrived in front of the commander's office,
an officer — I do not know who — made them come in,
and there showed them a telegram from Bell which
ordered that immediately upon receipt of the said tele-

134 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

gram the two Lopez brothers and FeHx Unson should
be arrested, the house seized, and all the papers, docu-
ments, and letters found therein taken, Raymond, who
was then acting as commanding officer, as Cole was in
Batangas, in spite of the fact that this order was given
to him, did not wish to enforce it in person, perhaps
because he remembered the claims of friendship. At
any rate he sent another officer to do it, everything
being carried out as the telegram directed.

I was mistaken in telling you that they also carried
off money, for only the things I have just mentioned
were taken. You will remember that there was in
the box a collection of letters in English from many
of the officers who were in Balayan, They have taken
those, too, and I have since learned that they ascertained
that I could speak and write English fairly well. This

was told me by , who was rather anxious about

his letters, but I told him that those which were not
torn up I had brought with me here.

The " Purisima " was in Balayan that same night with
Manuel, who had been arrested in Boac through the
deceit of Lieutenant Allen, formerly of the Twenty-
eighth Volunteers under Taggart, but now a regular.
He told Manuel that he was obliged to hire the boat, as
he had received an order from Bell to go immediately to
Batangas with his soldiers. Manuel answered that he
could not take them, as he had an agreement to fulfill,
and, besides, the unloading was not finished; but the
lieutenant insisted so strongly that there was nothing
else to do but yield, and they accordingly went on board
the steamer together. Once on board, nobody was
allowed to stir, the soldiers were drawn up in file, and
Allen ordered Numeriano [the captain of the "Pu-
risima"] to give orders to go to Batangas. They arrived
at Batangas, and only remained long enough for Cole,
who immediately ordered the boat to proceed to Balayan,
to come aboard ; and at Balayan he had our brothers,
together with Unzon, brought on board in order to take

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 135

them to Batangas, telling them that I^cll wished to con-
fer with all three on a very important matter. Every-
thing that Cole said was untrue, for they did not even
see Bell's face during the three weeks that they were
imprisoned there. Alter that time they brought them
here to the harbor in the hold of the " Legaspi," with
other companions, of which I think I have told you in
my previous letters ; and they were in the hold for two
days. They told me afterwards, when I went to visit
them, that if they had not been transferred to another
steamer they would have been asphyxiated by the heat
and lack of air, if the confinement had lasted any
longer. They say that our poor Lorenzo had to take
off all his clothes, his condition was so wretched.

On the " Liscum " they were well-treated, better than
anywhere else, and, besides, we could take them anything
they needed. But, unfortunately, after they had been
on board two weeks they took them to Malagi, and there
they still are suffering beyond what you can imagine;
without a house, with poor food, obliged to be in the sun
acting as overseers ; and at night, so cold that they can-
not sleep. Poor brothers 1 I believe that what they
have told is nothing in comparison with what they actu-
ally suffer. What makes me more despairing than ever
is that none of our American friends will show their
faces for them ; they do not dare to speak for fear of
the military, and even the military do not dare.

I will tell you about Taggart, whom I went to see a
few days ago, to inquire about the imprisonment of our
brothers. He told me that the only charge against
them is that of being brothers of the enemy of Amer-
ica,— you know who, but I am afraid to put his name
in black and white [Sixto Lopez]. Besides, he added,
why had we sheltered Fiske, who is the worst man
in America, and who is surely the one who set going
again the almost finished insurrection in Batangas ?

You can imagine what I answered him. As to the
seizure of our property, he says he supposes that the

136 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Government did this because we maintained our brother,
who [it is claimed] does nothing but say bad things of
the Americans ; that accordingly, they do not wish to
protect interests which are being used against them;
and that the best thing we can do is to divide the prop-
erty so that ours will be separate from our brother's.
Finally he consoled me, telling me to have patience ; that
they would soon be set at liberty (this was on the 3d of
January), and that as far as he was concerned he believed
he could not help us or do anything for our brothers,
while the insurrection in Batangas continued, on account
of the strong feeling which the military had against us.
He received me well, as usual, but these words distressed
me very much, for I saw that the military had decided
to injure our family under any pretext. Captain Curry,
who is very sorry for us, can do absolutely nothing for
our brothers. He comes to the house quite often to see
us, for which I am grateful to him. I have the consola-
tion of knowing that out of so many Americans who
have received favors from us there is one who still
remembers to visit us.

I received your letters from Penan g, Colombo, Aden,
Suez, and Naples, which have made us more easy about
your voyage. God grant that you continue well and
have a pleasant voyage to your destination, I cannot
now appreciate nor realize — forgive me for saying so —
all that you tell us in your letters, for my imagination is
wholly taken up by all these unexpected events, and the
only thing that I cannot forget, day and night, is the
imprisonment of our brothers and the fact that we can
do nothing for them. . . .

Let me tell you that we — at least I, for my part —
will sacrifice my share of the estate for you and the
others who are there [in America],

Your sister, Ninay,

Give my regards to all of the good family which is
protecting you, and tell Mr. Warren that we think of

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 137

him a great deal, and that I will write him whenever
I can.
Good-bye.

[The following letter gives some explanation of the
reason of the false report in reference to the release of
the brothers. It also contains two references which
require explanation.

"Your departure," writes Juliana to Sixto, "from the
neighboring colony was a sensational piece of news for
those here, especially for the whites." No doubt ! The
opinion was general in Manila that Sixto Lopez would
come and take the oath of allegiance in order to secure
the release of his brothers ; and apparently some one
was determined that, when he came, as effective a seal
should be placed upon his lips as had been upon
Mabini's. Captain Tait, of the " Rosetta Maru," on
which Sixto was to have gone to Manila, tells that when
he reached Manila Bay, an officer and six detectives
came out to the boat to identify and apprehend Sixto
Lopez, and that the officer "swore horrible" — to use a
Shakespearean phrase — when he found that Sixto Lopez
was not on board. It must indeed have been a " sen-
sational piece of news " that, in spite of the pressure
brought to bear upon Sixto Lopez, he was about to
depart for America !

" The best laid schemes o' mice and men
Gang aft agley."

Senor Arturo Dancel, to whom Juliana refers, came
to Hong-Kong ostensibly to induce the Committee or
Junta to recognize American sovereignty and order the
surrender of Malvar and Lukban. He professed to be
authorized by the Manila authorities to treat with the
Committee, but when he was asked to produce his
credentials he made the lame excuse that he had

138 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

inadvertently left them at home ! The Committee there-
upon refused to treat with him, and so, he turned to
Sixto Lopez, whom he — like Judge Ladd and Dwyer
and Tirrell — found to be a reasonable human being,
in favor of a policy of peace, and in no sense the "red
raw revolutionist " that he had been described.

Sefior Dancel is credited with being a secret agent of
the Manila Government ; at any rate, he is one of the
leaders of the Federal party and is persona grata with
Governor Taft and others. Yet when he returned to
Manila he was compelled, probably on account of his
having had intercourse with Sixto Lopez, to take another
oath of allegiance to America. Still, though Sixto Lopez
was thus the probable cause of this implied aspersion on
Dancel's faith and allegiance, Dancel could not but speak
well of the man who had received him kindly and treated
him with frankness. Thus, Juliana writes to Sixto :
" Dancel speaks very highly of you, praising you to the
skies."]

[From Juliana to Sixto Lopez.]

Manila, P. I., March 3, 1902.
Dear Brother : First of all I beg you to pardon me
for having given you mistaken information about the
liberation of our brothers ; but everybody in the house
was sure of its reasonableness, as I was myself ; and all
the more because Charing and Quita talked with Senor
Lantin, a doctor, who came from Cipriano to tell us
what I wrote you in my last letter. This news was
confirmed by one of the Katigbak family, who also has
just arrived from Lipa, and who said that he had really
seen Cipriano; but, as he could not speak with him,
he did not know the reason for Cipriano's going to
Batangas. But as Senor Lantin assured them, according
to Quita, that Cipriano told him that it was in order to
liberate them, I was convinced also, only I was surprised
that they were not freed here in Manila. Believe me,
we held this belief for two days, until Mariano went to

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 139

talk with Lantiii, who denied everything that he was
understood to have said to the two girls. You can
imagine how surprised they were at not having correctly
understood what Lantin told them about Cipriano.

Since this is explained, then, I will go on and tell you
that your departure from the neighboring colony was a
sensational piece of news for those here, especially for
the whites, who believed that you were almost decided
to come and save us, as that is the only reason why
Lorenzo and Manuel were imprisoned. Captain Cole
was here at the house to visit us, as friendly as ever, and
told us that he is the examining judge of Batangas, and
promised us that he would do everything he could for the
welfare of Cipriano. Mariano showed him all the docu-
ments referring to the guns presented by Cipriano at his
surrender, which numbered more than i 50. The docu-
ments are signed by Captain Gale, according to whom a
certain Bias Noble and another, whose name I do not
remember, are those who have denounced Cipriano as
being still the possessor of fifty guns. . . .

Dancel has brought us everything you sent us, and
speaks very highly of you, praising you to the skies. I
will close now, only telling you that everybody, even the
prisoners, remain in good health, and we wish the same
for you.

Your sister, Ninay.

-♦i

[In order to appreciate the nature of the "peace"
brought about by methods which produce hatred, it is
only necessary to read the following letter from Juliana.
The peace which rests upon the point of a sword, and
not upon the recognized rights of a people, is unstable
enough, without question. But what shall be said of
that " peace " which has come about by methods differing
only in circumstance from those which send an endless

I40 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

human procession across Siberian snows ? " If you could
see our family," writes Juliana, "and hear us talk about
these invaders of our land, it would astonish you ; for
our attitude has radically changed, seeing so much injus-
tice and outrage. . . . We are undeceived, and filled
with resentment toward this Government, which will go
to any length to bring about peace, sacrificing many
innocent people and committing abuses. It will not,
however, be possible for them to bring about moral peace,
only physical ; and I for my part will never forget these
offenses."

But Nature sometimes produces strange anomalies:
"There was," says Juliana, "even one. Dr. Vadua, who
spoke of these events with loud congratulations [literally,
" wagging his jawbones in the air "], praising these
measures." These letters will become historical. And
it will be amusing as well as instructive to the future
historian to find how Juliana has sent this Dr. Vadua
down through history "wagging his jawbones in the
air " ! He will take his place with Samson, for apparently
he has been wielding a similar weapon, and future genera-
tions of Filipinos, reading their Bible and their history,
will marvel at the uses to which the jawbones of this
homely creature have been put. To slay five thousand
Philistines with the jawbone of an ass was, in itself, a
questionable achievement ; but to wag the jawbones of an
ass as an encouragement to those who were slaying one's
own countrymen is a display of perverted enthusiasm
upon which Dr. Vadua cannot be congratulated. Or —
do we wrong Dr. Vadua, and are his real opinions differ-
ent from those which he expresses .''

The historian may also note another item of a very
different and delightful character : " Give many kisses to
cunning little Marjorie, who, you tell me, is very sweet
and not at all shy." When Marjorie, Mr. Warren's
younger daughter, grows to womanhood, or perhaps,
when the snows of years to come change her golden
glory into gray, she may perchance come upon this

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 141

beautiful reference to her childhood's days, and will
know that her infant sweetness was a cordial to those
in deep distress. It was ever thus : a star shines through
the darkest night ; a ray of hope pierces down into the
depths of despair ; and sweetjiess often mingles with the
tragedy of man's inhumanity to man.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, March 7, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : I received your letters from Paris,
and we were delighted that you arrived safely and found
all the family of our good friend well and happy. Truly,
they are very fortunate people. We, on the other hand,
continue in the same situation, our brothers deported,
and, in spite of the promises made us by influential per-
sons, we have no hope of seeing them free. I say this
to you, for it is almost a month now since their lib-
eration was promised, — the day being even set for
them to start home, but they have not yet started.
We are more convinced than ever that the imprison-
ment of the three was really due to Sixto's tenacious
attitude. That about the guns is only an excuse, so
that they may have some good reason for acting in
this manner, and so that it may not be believed that it
is really on Sixto's account, for I do not believe that
they could legally punish the three for another's fault,
but only on some charge made against them directly, as
was done.

All those who are prisoners (I refer only to the influ-
ential men) are accused of nothing against the Govern-
ment, only of being friendly to some insurgent — al-
though it is perfectly well known that they do not share
the ideas of the insurgents ; but the Americans suppose
that the prisoners will do a great deal for the pacifica-
tion of the country when they find themselves treated
like criminals and oppressed by injustice ! M.Cabrera
made great sacrifices to secure the surrender of his fel-

142 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

low citizens of Taal, and now there is not one of the
leading men of that town in the field. But as he did not
succeed in bringing about the surrender of Malvar, all
these services have availed him nothing ; on the con-
trary, he was taken to Malagi. M. Marasigan, a lawyer,
because he had a nephew, B. Laki, in the field, was sent
there also. P. Hilario, who is sixty years old, was kept
two weeks in the stocks in the prison of Batangas,
because they supposed him to be a sympathizer with the
insurgents and to have some influence over an insurgent
officer of Batangas ; and he, too, is now among the
prisoners in Malagi because he could not bring about
the surrender of this man.

All the Lipa men are free because they presented
many guns which they bought from those in the field ;
and they had no trouble in finding men who would sell,
I said to the authorities that, since they require fifty
guns of our brothers, they ought to authorize Mariano
to buy abroad the guns which they wish, as it will be im-
possible to get them in Balayan ; and that we would go
to this expense simply that our brothers might be set free.
Some of them looked very serious when I told them that,
but as it is the truth I don't care what they think.

We finally went to call on Captain Cole and his wife ;
mother insisted that we should pay him this attention
because he is to be the presiding judge at Cipriano's
trial. As you will understand, it was an effort for me,
and it made me very sad that we should go to renew our
Balayan acquaintance, after Cipriano had assured me
that this man had contributed much to our difficulties
through his cowardice ; for he was afraid that if the
American force in Balayan was attacked, our brothers
would be the first to join the revolutionary forces.

When I went to visit the Coles I had no intention of
asking any favor, but simply wished to show them the
documents concerning the guns surrendered by Cipri-
ano, which numbered 192, the papers being signed by
Captain Gale. I also went to find out the real reason

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 143

for the imprisonment of Lorenzo and Manuel, and he
told me that he believed it was a general measure,
and above all to oblige our brother Sixto to come. And
when I told him that, according to the newspapers, Sixto
had already gone away, he seemed startled and told me
that it was a mistake on the part of his countrymen
to proceed against our brothers in this way ; that they
ought to have realized that Sixto has his own ideas, and
thinks as a man who has lived many years abroad, and
would on no account sacrifice his ideals for the good of
his family, since he had no more to do with our actions
than we had with his. Elias Agoncillo is also impris-
oned on account of his brother [Felipe, — Aguinaldo's
former representative at Washington], and it is said that
he will remain a prisoner as long as his brother does not
surrender. All these deeds and many others which horrify
me are daily food in our poor province. If you could see
our family and hear us talk about these invaders of our
land it would astonish you, for our attitude has radically
changed, seeing so much injustice and outrage. We do
not now believe in any of them ; they are all false ;
friendship means nothing to them ; all they care for is
to win glory and laurels in the end. According to their
nature they have treated us. It has been hardly four
months since your departure, and we are undeceived and
filled with resentment toward this Government, which
will go to any length to bring about peace, sacrificing
many innocent people and committing abuses. It will
not, however, be possible for them to bring about moral
peace, only physical ; and I for my part will never forget
these offenses. Nevertheless, many Manila Filipinos
approve this course of action, for otherwise these don-
keys think there would never be an end ; and there was
even one, Dr. Vadua, who spoke of these events with
loud congratulations [literally, " wagging his jawbones
in the air "], praising these measures, and declaring that
this is what ought to have been done from the begin-
ning. . . .

144 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Say for us to that very kind family that we are most
grateful for all that they are doing for you, and give
many kisses to cunning little Marjorie, who, you tell
me, is very sweet and not at all shy. I do not always
have time to write you, and you will pardon me and be
satisfied with once a week. This morning I received a
letter from the captain at Malagi, who tells me that
Lorenzo and Manuel are well. For a week now we
have heard nothing of Andrea and Cipriano.

Mother sends you word to study French, too, so that
when you come back you will know both French and
English.

Good-bye. With love, Ninay,

[The following letter tells of the interview with Gen-
eral Bell, to which reference has already been made, and
of its most discouraging outcome — to put it thus
mildly. Here were two young girls in circumstances of
peculiar helplessness : without a father's protection, their
brothers in prison, their property seized, and themselves
at the mercy of a powerful military authority. Under
such circumstances, honor and gallantry would at least
have dictated the extension of common courtesy, to say
nothing of kindness or sympathy. But what has been
said of Captain Taggart applies with even greater force
to General Bell ; though perhaps enough has already been
said of this incident, especially since General Bell has
made the amende honorable.

The description of the despondent condition of Lorenzo,
whose life had theretofore been made up of labor and
sacrifice for the younger members of the family, is
pathetic ; and what is to be said of Juliana's closing
words } " I am now very sleepy. I am writing you at
night, because the only time when we leave mother is
when she goes to sleep. We are always at her side,
entertaining her with stories." Imperialism, these are
your "savages" !]

Maria Lopez

The youngest of t/if Lopez sisters

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 145

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, March 14, 1902.

Dear Sister Clemen : More and more every day I
lose hope of obtaining, at present, the liberation of our
poor prisoners ; at least until our province is pacified, for
Bell told us so when at last we had an opportunity to
talk with him here in Manila, imploring him to liberate
our brothers. He refused us roundly, saying that these
imprisonments are the only efficacious method of promptly
pacifying the country, and that the Government, which
has given him full power to do whatever seems to him
best, is now tired of treating us kindly and of giving us
good reasons, to which we pay no attention. Therefore,
without investigation or consideration, he will treat every
one alike until Malvar surrenders. When I told him
that it would be an act of justice if he were first to
ascertain the facts concerning the previous conduct of
the three prisoners, from the Americans who are and
have been stationed at Balayan, — and I assured him
they could give no information concerning any act worthy
of the punishment which our brothers have been suffer-
ing for three months, — do you know what he answered
me.? Well, in the first place, that he does not require
information from anybody, and that he knows what he is
doing, and, moreover, that those to whom I referred as
our friends are candid and good like all Americans, and
believe us to be the same, never dreaming that we are
Filipinos who, educated by the Spaniards, are deceiving
them by our false protestations of friendship ; in a word,
he said a number of things which showed his hatred of
the Filipinos, l^elieve me, Clemen, in different circum-
stances I should not have kept silent under such insults
as he offered us, no matter who he was ; but I was
prudent because I remembered the three who are in his
power.

What a cruel disillusion we are suffering through these
people ! Quita says that I went too far in giving him

146 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

the reasons that I did, which, she thinks, hardened him
against granting what we asked, and she even beUeves
that he may revenge himself more than ever on our
prisoners, maltreating them. I do not yet know the
reason why Bell has shown himself so harsh toward us,
and I believe if God does not come to our aid our situa-
tion may become worse yet, tor poor mother now does
not pass a single minute without thinking of our brothers,
and we no longer know how to console her, so that she
may not be so unhappy. . . .

The greater part of the prisoners from Lipa are now
free, but our brothers not yet. Lorenzo is the one who
is the most depressed by it, according to one of his
fellow-sufferers, who yesterday was set at liberty. He
says that during the whole time that they were together
he never saw Lorenzo even smile, except when, hearing
of his liberation, Lorenzo congratulated him. You can
imagine, then, what it must have been for him all these
three months, separated from us, and in such a way.

Sometimes I imagine that all the authorities here
refuse us on account of your departure for America. If
this is not so, why should Bell tell me that he would
humiliate all those of our class who had such pride .■*
This is a poor supposition, and so I hope you will not
tell anybody of it. We are all in good health, and hope
the same for them.

Good-bye. I am now very sleepy. I am writing you
at night, because the only time when we leave mother is
when she goes to sleep. We are always at her side,
entertaining her with stories.

Good-bye. Your sister who loves you,

NiNAY.

[In the following letter will be found an exceedingly
frank admission by General Bell himself of the spirit
in which he undertook the conquest of Batangas prov-

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 147

ince, " All consideration and regard," he says, "for the
inhabitants of this place cease from the day that I be-
come commander. ... I have the force and the author-
ity to do whatever seems to me good, and especially
to humiliate all those in this province who have any
pride. ... I will see to it that their mocking laughter,
when they hear of the death of any of our men, shall
be quickly turned into tears of blood, which the measures
I shall enforce will make them shed." This is the spirit
of vengeance. Was General Bell forgetful of the truth
that the man who assumes the prerogative of a higher
Power may have a heavy account to meet when the eter-
nal books are opened ? *

But the most remarkable part of General Bell's admis-
sion is that, unlike his predecessors, he is not going to be
"deceived" by the Filipinos when they say that "they
are satisfied with the Government." If this means any-
thing it means that when the Filipinos declare their sat-
isfaction with American rule they are deceiving the
authorities. What, then, is the value of the oft -repeated
assertion, made by Governor Taft and others, that the
Filipinos are satisfied with American rule ? Does Gov-
ernor Taft know more of the mind of the Filipinos than
they themselves ? Here is clearly a dilemma from which
there is no apparent escape. Either General Bell has
inflicted a great and cruel injustice upon the Filipinos,
or Governor Taft and others are being "deceived."
Governor Taft accepts these assurances of being " satis-
fied with the Government " as a tribute to his methods
of civil rule ; General Bell declares these assurances to
be a deceit, for which he will make the deceivers shed
" tears of blood " ! Both conclusions may be false, but
both cannot be true.

There is another dilemma in this connection. Two
reasons have been given for the " marked severity " of

* Since the above was written, a letter has come from Juliana which
states that General Bell is reported to be "suffering from remorse."

148 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

the war in the Philippines : one is that the methods pur-
sued were simply methods of war, common to all civil-
ized conflicts, including the civil war in America ; the
other is that the methods were a response — not exactly
in the form of vengeance or reprisal, but as a necessity
— to the treachery and cruelty of the Filipinos. Now,
if both these statements are true, — and they are sup-
ported by equal authority, — how is one to avoid the
conclusion, either that the soldiers of the Confederate
army were as treacherous and cruel as the Filipinos are
alleged to be, or that unnecessary severity and cruelty
were practised by the soldiers of the Union ?

But why force the argument ? Is it not the soldier's
business to kill, to be victorious ? Does any one fondly
imagine that the soldier — carrying his life in his hand,
daily acquainted with death and destruction, suffering
hardship and privation, and far from all gentle and
restraining influences — will always abide by the carpet
niceties of the Geneva Convention ? Men are men, not
angels. The responsibility for it all rests upon him who
lets loose the dogs of war.

Does this mean that war ought never to be under-
taken .-* No, but it means that wherever there is war
there will be its attendant horrors, and that therefore
war ought only to be engaged in under righteous neces-
sity, such as national self-defense or the giving of assist-
ance to a weaker people against cruel despotism.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, P. I., March 23, 1902.
Dearest Clemen : I have nothing new to tell you
about our wretched situation here in Manila, for we do
not go anywhere unless we have some hope of obtaining
a grain of justice for our brothers, who are still deported.
We are convinced that, alone, I can do nothing to better
our situation, and on this account, although they tell me
that it makes no difference, I regret your absence under
these conditions much more than I otherwise should, for

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 149

I keep thinking that if you had been here they would
have paid more attention to you than they have paid to
me. I can hardly believe, in short, that our brothers,
innocent as they are of what they have been accused of,
should actually have been so long imprisoned and should
have been made to suffer such punishment, — all this
under a Government whose representatives boast of being
just and liberal, especially toward those who are upright
and of good position. And for this reason, if the people
in America do not quickly remedy this evil, we shall
become more and more convinced that all foreign gov-
ernments, civilized or barbarous, are alike so far as we are
concerned. We now see that always, when it is a ques-
tion of winning glory, and it suits their convenience,
there is no justice which can restrain them, but that they
will go to any length, even though many lives be sacri-
ficed. General Bell, when he trampled Batangas under
foot, said : " All consideration and regard for the inhabi-
tants of this place cease from the day that I become
commander. It has been said that my predecessors were
too weak when they treated these people differently from
the manner in which I now propose to treat them. Even
though they call me a brute, as I know they do, it
does not disturb me ; I shall follow out the course I
have planned, for I am not weak ; I have the force and
the authority to do whatever seems to me good, and
especially to humiliate all those in this province who
have any pride. They have deceived my predecessors
too much, with their false friendship for them, to go on
and deceive me also by saying that they are satisfied
with the Gov^ernmcnt. Therefore I will see to it that
their mocking laughter, when they hear of the death of any
of our men, shall be quickly turned into tears of blood,
which the measures I shall enforce will make them shed."
As you will see, all that he has promised he has carried
out, and he will keep on until he succeeds in pacifying
the province, which they say he will do with the capture
or surrender of General Malvar. But meanwhile thev

I50 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

will keep imprisoned all those whom they believe to have
influence over the minds of Malvar or Sixto.

As I told you in my previous letter, they took Cipri-
ano to Batangas. We have just heard, from a reliable
source, that they have taken his declaration concerning
the guns, and that he, as is natural, has denied the
existence of the guns, and said that, if there were still
any guns in Balayan which have not been surrendered,
they must be those of some of his soldiers who had
deserted during his illness while he held command in
Balayan, and that accordingly he had nothing to do with
them. Since that day Bell, as well as the provost, who
are worthy one of the other, have treated him well,
allowing him to go about the town without a guard and
to sleep in a private house. They are employing him
and E. Marasigan, who was also imprisoned and treated
worse than our brothers, as interpreters for the prisoners
who do not speak Spanish and for the paymasters who
receive surrendered guns. Accordingly we are not so
much troubled about Cipriano, who can adapt himself to
any situation, and even if conditions were worse it would
be nothing new to him. The one we think of most is
poor Lorenzo, who is still in Malagi with Manuel and
Felix, and none of them knows yet of what he is ac-
cused. Nevertheless it is easier for us to communicate
with them than with those who are in Batangas, as we
can send them everything we wish and write to them
without fear that the letters will not all be given to
them, for they have had the good fortune to fall into
the hands of very good men ; from the captain in com-
mand to the last soldier, they are all generous. Those
who come from there say that Lorenzo is in good health,
as well as Manuel ; that they are well, and that the lat-
ter has become Spanish teacher to the two ladies who
are there. One of the ladies is the wife of the first
lieutenant, and the other of the doctor. Everybody is
kind to them and pities them, hoping that they will soon
be set at liberty.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 151

Last night Charles came and told me, among other
things, that Captain Langhorne is here ; he has just
arrived, and it is supposed that he is going to Batangas.
I leave comment to you !

One of the things that is troubling Ouita and me is
the existence of cholera, for since the day before yester-
day, according to the newspapers, several have died of
this disease, which is attacking chiefly the Chinese and
the soldiers. We ought not to have allowed ourselves to
be caught here in Manila, where we are shut up without
being allowed to leave the city unless we submit to the
precautions which the board of health is taking. You
know that every steamer or boat that leaves here for
any other province will be quarantined four days before
the passengers are allowed to disembark at any port. It
is now a month since we have been trying to persuade
mother to go to Balayan, because we saw that here she
was always grieving, and had nothing to do to occupy
her ; but after a while I was convinced that she would
be worse off there, where she could not communicate so
easily with you and Sixto, and that she had better stay
here until our brothers are liberated, or until news comes
that you have arrived at your destination. When she
sees us so troubled about the cholera she scolds us ;
and, believe me, we really are troubled ; but, according
to Charles, they are taking so many precautions that it
will not increase. We often ask ourselves which is pref-
erable, the persecution of Bell or the cholera ! We are
afraid of going where we shall be under his power, and
we do not know what we shall decide to do.

Tell our friend that I do not forget him and his favor-
ite phrase, which I imagine I can still hear him saying;
and give him and his dear family our most affectionate
regards. . . .

Your sister who loves you, Ninay,

-»>

152 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

['' I went to talk with General Bell," writes Juliana in
the following letter, " and implored from him the libera-
tion of our brothers, showing him that all the denuncia-
tions against them were false ; and he refused me, saying
that he had positive proof."

A palpable error of judgment on the part of those in
authority is destructive of the confidence and respect of the
people. So too, if a person, conscious of his own innocence,
is told that there is " positive proof " of his guilt, his faith
in the judge is liable to be impaired ! Cipriano was
innocent of the charge informally made against him ;
General Bell has admitted as much, not only by abandon-
ing the charge, but by a series of acts of courtesy incon-
sistent with a belief in Cipriano's guilt. What, then, has
become of the " positive proof " ?]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, March 27, 1902.

DEAREST Clemen : We have received all your letters
from Paris, and last of all your letter of the 14th from
London, and we are very happy to learn from them that
you remain in good health and have pleasant impressions
of the places where you have been. We were also very
much pleased that you found Pepe in good health, well
advanced in his studies, and so transformed in his
ways of acting and thinking. He has not written to
us for some time, so that we know nothing of him
directly.

I understand your impatience and uncertainty when
you get no letter from us, knowing in what situation you
left us, but I hope now that you will receive our news
regularly, for I have not failed to write you since your
departure, addressing you in America, and I have always
written you at least twice a week, giving you all the
details.

As you will understand, our situation has changed in

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 153

nothing ; days and days go by and still they do not grant
the liberty of our brothers. Since I went to talk with
General Bell, and implored from him the liberation of
our brothers, showing him that all the denunciations
against them were false, and he refused me, saying that
he had positive proof, — since then, I have decided not
to speak to any authority here concerning the matter,
for it is only too evident that they all agree to these
measures and have no desire to protect anybody, least
of all our family.

The one thing I do, and never fail to do, is always to
send our brothers everything they need, and to console
our mother when she is unhappy ; the rest I leave in
God's hands, for he alone can help us. To-day is Holy
Thursday, and for us it is like any other day ! How
different from other years, when our brothers came home
for their vacations and the whole family was united ! On
the other hand, the change in our family is not so notable
as the change in the customs which our countrymen are
acquiring in regard to days like these, which formerly
have always been respected by everybody, so that no-
body went out during these two days except on foot ;
but now many go out in their carriages as they would
at any other time, and there are not so many who visit
the churches as there were in other years. Indeed, it
appears very strange to me ; I do not mean to criticize,
but it seems to me they should not have done this, being
Filipinos.

This morning, and indeed all day, Quita and I were
very sad, for we missed you all, and were homesick for
Balayan. As for our imprisoned brothers, I hope that
it has not been the same with them, and that they have
not noticed that this is Holy Week ; it would be better so,
and they would not despair so much. This week I have
not been able to send them anything, as it is forbidden
for persons or goods to leave the capital since cholera
morbus has been declared to exist here in Manila and
they do not wish it to spread to the provinces. Up to

154 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

the present, only twenty cases have been heard of, and
some six of these have died. You must not trouble
yourself about this, although, indeed, I am myself rather
anxious ; for they are taking every precaution and it will
soon disappear like the bubonic plague. The authorities
here are doing everything possible to effect this.

I have learned from Balayan that they are crushing
[the sugar-cane] now ; that the country people can work
as they used to do ; and that they allow those, who so de-
sire, to go from one town to another, — except the people
in Tuy, where, up to the time that Andrea wrote me, the
people still remained reconcentrated in the town, not
even being allowed to go out for necessities. As for our
superintendents of Dao, Toong, and Matauanak, they
have been liberated. They are now in Tuy, and are
not allowed to go to Balayan or to order the crushing
in Dao. They say that the corn and rice from our
fields near that town have been taken to feed the horses.
I cannot tell you what troops are there now, but formerly
there was a company of Macabebes.

As I told you in my previous letter, Cipriano is
employed as interpreter for cases in the provost's office
in Batangas, and is almost as though free. I am more
troubled about the two who are in Malagi, especially
Lorenzo. I do not know what Lorenzo will say about
us ; I think he believes that we are doing nothing for his
liberation. I want to tell you that one of Bell's orders
was to make all the prisoners work, including the polit-
ical prisoners ; but he excluded our brothers from this
order, I do not know why. Nevertheless, they say that
by mistake Cipriano was made to work in the streets of
Batangas for three days.

I will end now because I am sleepy. Do not forget
to send pictures of Mrs. Warren, Miss Osgood, the two
children, and yourself. The box of clothes which we
sent to Hong-Kong for Sixto to take to you we know
now, through Inez, did not reach him. Aticlaiz, who
was too slow, is to blame for this. We wrote to Don

STORY OF THE LOPKZ FAMILY 155

Pepe to send it back, and when it comes we will try-
to send it by some friend. I also sent our brother
some boxes of cigars, as well as some to Tom. from our
mother, and I am more sorry than ever when I think
that these did not go.

Good-bye. Do not forget about the pictures.

Your sister, Ninay.

[There is food for thought in what Juliana says about
the growing indifference of the people to the strict
observance of holy days. The danger to the Catholic
Church in the Philippines does not rest in the retention
or the expulsion of the friars ; it lies in the natural
tendency of a conquered people gradually to adopt the
religion of their rulers. The example of the conqueror
has much to do with it ; as also the desire of the people
to please and be like those in authority. Failure to
observe the outward forms of religion is the first evi-
dence of the change, — the thin end of an insidious
wedge. Protestants may derive satisfaction from all
this ; and the Catholics in America who have supported
the policy of material conquest ought not to complain
if there is a religious conquest as well. The chief hope
of the Church in the Philippines lies in the strength and
maintenance of the aspiration for independence ; for as
long as this aspiration remains, the American rulers will
not be looked upon as examples for the people to follow,
and their religion will not find special favor with those
who are opposed to them politically.

The following letter to Mr. Warren is, among other
things, a complete antithesis to Captain Taggart's opin-
ion, formerly referred to. " Perhaps," writes Juliana,
" this is because you are, in truth, one of the few Ameri-

156 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

cans who, coming to our unfortunate country, have, on
their departure, left an imperishable and pleasant memory
with those who had the honor of knowing them well."
Attention is drawn to this, not with the petty idea of
making personal comparisons, but in order to show what
might have been, had a policy of kindness and good will
been adopted from the first. There would then have
been no necessity for war or for "tears of blood." Yet
America would have been able to accomplish everything
that she has accomplished, nay, much more than she will
ever accomplish by means of war, — in civilization, in
education, in philanthropy, in liberty, and in commerce
and natural expansion. Her civilization would have
been an acknowledged fact, not a boast ; her educators
would have been welcomed with open gratitude, not
simply suffered in sullen ill will ; her philanthropy would
have been free from the suspicion of self-seeking or per-
sonal gain ; her work for the liberation of the world
would have been projected into another hemisphere; and
her commercial enterprise would have been welcomed by
all the nations of the East without that justifiable sus-
picion which attaches to the land-thieves of the Old
World, — and all this without the loss of a life or the
wasting of a dollar ! The truth of this has been proved
in the case of Cuba, where, after the summary defeat
of Spain, neither life nor treasure was sacrificed. But
then — Cuba was promised independence from the first.
If George III. and the British parliament had declared
that the American colonists " are and of a right ought
to be free and independent," there would have been no
bloodshed nor revolution in i 'j'j6. But history repeats
itself !]

[From Juliana Lopez to Fiske Warren.]

Manila, P. I., March 27, 1902.
My very dear Friend, Mr. Warren : How are you,
and how have you been during the journey which you
have made .-* As for us, we are all the same as regards

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 157

health, and as for our situation, it has not changed in
any way, — my brothers are prisoners and the ports of
Batangas are still closed. Since you left here, where so
much that was unfortunate has occurred, not a single
day passes that we do not think of you. Perhaps this
is because you are, in truth, one of the few Americans
who, coming to our unfortunate country, have, on their
departure, left an imperishable and pleasant memory
with those who had the honor of knowing them well.
For this reason you are not forgotten.

I have not yet any positive knowledge as to when
that great day for all my family will come when we shall
see our brothers free and with us once more. It appears
to me that, up to the present time, General Bell still
maintains the idea, in spite of the time that has passed,
that by the imprisonment of my brothers he will bring
about the surrender of Malvar. It lies in his hands,
then, whether we shall once more be fortunate and happy.
He may give our brothers their freedom, convinced that
they can do nothing toward the presentation of Malvar,
and thus we should escape passing more wretched days
and shedding more tears. What we have already suf-
fered ought to be more than enough to convince him
and soften his hard heart.

When Mariquita and I had an opportunity to speak
with him here in Manila, interceding for the liberty of
my brothers, he showed himself very hard toward us,
manifesting, by his words and bearing, the hatred which
he feels toward the Filipinos and toward our family in
particular ; and all because we have as one member of
the family my brother Sixto, for whom, no matter what
he may think and do, my other brothers are not respon-
sible. Allow me to say that, since I reached the age of
reason, I do not remember ever having dealt with so
rude a man as General Bell ; for, not content with re-
fusing us what we desired, he had the ill breeding to
take advantage of the circumstances to tell us that all
Filipinos are false, and many other things little favor-

158 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

able to the Filipinos, which we should have felt very
deeply if they had been said by any other man than
General Bell.

As you see, we can accomplish nothing satisfactory
here, so that we are hoping that the liberty of our
brothers may come from America.

Clemencia tells me in her letters of your great good-
ness, and of that of your family toward her, for which
we are most grateful.

Receive our affectionate regards, and dispose of your
humble friend, Juliana Lopez.

[The broadly applicable advice to "say less, — or
nothing at all ! " should not be disregarded by the pres-
ent commentator. At any rate, it is as unwise for him
to say too much as to say too little. Adopting Huxley's
fine simile when commenting on Hume, — it is as well
not to have too frequent a display of the thread on which
the beads are strung.

Therefore, since the dramatis personce have now all
been introduced, it will be well hereafter to let them
perform their parts with only 'such help as may be
necessary from the humble though perhaps useful
prompter. There is another reason for this : The
letters have assumed a more definite character, and
form an almost continuous record, owing to there being
later and more reliable information at the command of
the writers.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, P. L, April 7, 1902.
Dearest Clemen : We received your letters written
on board the " Ivernia," and are greatly delighted that
at last you have arrived at the end of your trip, and

STORY OF THE LOPKZ FAMILY 159

without any accident to deplore. Since we have known
that you are in America, and working for the liberty of
our brothers, we have not despaired so much, for we feel
almost sure that you will obtain everything from the
authorities, and without very much trouble.

It is now evident that we can do nothing here; all our
prayers and efforts are in vain. Accordingly, since that
day when I had the displeasure of talking with Bell and
he received us in such a way, we have decided not to ask
anything of anybody, for we should only be indebted for
more and more favors, and there would be no result. It
has been nearly two weeks since we received a letter
from our brothers or from Andrea, but I suppose they

are all well, Last night came and showed me a

letter which he had just received from one of the prison
officials, in which he speaks of the condition of our
brothers, saying that they are well and happy. I write
to them often, and I am astonished that I do not hear
from them.

Thank God, we are all well here in Manila, in spite of
the great fear we have of the cholera, and the even
greater fear of the board of health, which is overdoing
the precautions it is taking to avoid any increase of the
epidemic. In a way, what it is doing is good ; for if it
did not take these precautions there would be many more
cases of the disease, and, thank God, there are only four
or five cases a day. . . . We are very particular about
our food, especially Quita, who deprives herself of every-
thing she is fond of, so you do not need to worry about
that ! God will not permit us to suffer this, because
we have already suffered so much else these last four
months. . . .

Good-bye. Many regards to everybody. You are
not forgotten by Ninay,

i6o STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[From Maria to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, April ii, 1902

Dearest Clemen : I have received all your letters,
besides those which you wrote to Ninay, and we are very
happy that you continue in good health and that you
have passed all your voyages so well. The last letter
we received from you was dated February 27th, written
on board the steamer for Boston ; and therefore we know
that you have now been there more than a month. This
makes us very miserable, for up to the present time the
situation of our brothers has not changed at all. We
become more and more discouraged as day after day
passes, and we have still no hope of seeing them soon
liberated. We feel much worse about Lorenzo, for, as
you know, he is never well when he is away from home ;
much less in a prison as he is now. Moreover, we feel
distressed, especially mother, because they say it is on
Sixto's account that they are imprisoned. There are
some days when I cry with despair, when I think of
them and of our helplessness, and of how far away you
are from us, because we need you very much indeed. I
am sure that if you had been here you would have been
able to do something, even if not much, for no one coitld
do much. Nevertheless, many people say you have done
well to go ; that nothing can be done here ; but as the
days of your stay in America go by, we become very un-
happy, fearing that they have paid no attention to you,
either. In spite of this, we have great hopes of your
success, and God grant that it may be so, for I believe we
have suffered enough from this and other misfortunes,
so that God might take pity on us now.

I am very grateful for your letters. All that you tell
us delights us, and I hope you will always write, for it is
our only consolation. We here have nothing to tell you,
for we do not go out of the house for anything, and we
see no one, so that we may not compromise anybody.
We are all well, including mother, who is somewhat

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY i6i

better than for months past, in spite of her troubles ;
but she is always sighing for the freedom of our poor
brothers.

Good - bye. Give our affectionate regards to Mr.
Warren and his family, and receive a big hug from
your sister, who does not forget you, Quita.

Teresa received all your letters, but cannot answer
them because she is taking her examinations.

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, April 13, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : It is now two weeks since we
have received a letter from you, and you can understand
that we are impatient to know how you are and what
you are doing for our brothers. I was so much pre-
occupied by this that I dreamed one night that at last,
after hoping so much, I received a letter from you, tell-
ing what you had attempted, and saying that you could
do absolutely nothing there for the good of the family,
because the persons to whom you applied agreed to
everything that had been done here; and finally, that
they did not wish to interfere with the measures adopted
by Bell. Imagine how miserable I have been since that
night. It is true that one ought not to believe in
dreams, but, as day after day passes, and it becomes
clear that we can do nothing here, it also seems as though
you could obtain nothing from the authorities there.
Truly, the situation is desperate, and if it lasts longer I
pray God to give me some other thing to suffer, for
which I shall not have to blame other people,

I am in no mood to do anything, and I only write you
this so that you shall see that I do not forget you ;
besides, it is eleven o'clock at night, and I am very
sleepy.

i62 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

We are all in good health. Tell us all about Sixto ;
we have heard nothing from him. Mother tells me to
charge you to take note of all you have seen, so that you
will not forget it.

With love, NiNAY.

[After the foregoing letter, it is hardly a wonder that
some persons do believe in dreams. Juliana's dream
was true in every detail, yet it needs no ultra- super-
preter-natural explanation. Her own waking thoughts
had probably divined that relief was to be had neither
"here" nor "there," and the dream simply made the
thought real — in appearance, as it was in fact. But
how is it that " The Authorities," at all times and in
every nation, are so impervious .? Is it that the elec-
tric current of justice becomes impeded by the non-
conducting nature of red tape } Here was as clear and
simple a case as was ever presented to higher authority, —
a charge unfounded and unsupported by evidence; an
injustice not even dictated by policy, as far as the Lopez
family were concerned ; nothing gained, and nothing
served, by the detention in prison of the brothers Lopez.
A o;entle reminder that the President was President
would have acted as a mild yet wholesome restraint upon
conscientious but perhaps over-zealous officers in the
field. Indeed, the President was "almost persuaded,"
not to become a Christian, but to do an act of Christian
justice, when he saw Captain Curry's letter ; yet when
the case was surrendered to official circumlocution, —
well, Juliana might indeed be troubled with dreams of
ill omen !

The four following letters contain the long delayed
but joyful news of the release of the brothers, which
was supposed to have taken place on the 20th of April.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 163

In reality, Lorenzo and Manuel were not released until
the loth of May. The letters tell also of the departure
of the family for their home in Balayan.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, P. I., April 21, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : Since we received your letters
written on board the "Ivernia," we have received no
others, and you cannot imagine how impatient we are
when we do not hear from you. I was even more
astonished when we were in the house of the Losada
family three days ago, and they showed us your letter to
Dofia Germana, dated the 4th of March. I do not
believe that you would stop writing to us and write to
others instead. Therefore I prefer to impute this lack
to those good people who wish to trouble us by detaining
our letters, although we do not know for what purpose
they do this.

You will already know, by the time this reaches you,
that, according to the newspapers here, Malvar has
surrendered unconditionally, and therefore it may be
said that peace in the Philippines is a fact. Last night
I learned from our very good friend, Captain Curry, that
our brothers are now liberated ; Bell sent him a telegram
to this effect. It was about time, wasn't it } But better
late than never. The poor prisoners, in their last letters,
did not complain ; indeed, they told me that the climate
and the life agreed with them, and that they were in good
health, including Lorenzo. You will not believe this, any
more than I did at first, but it is true, for they assure us
it is so. Now at last we shall see them soon, and then I
shall assure myself of the truth. But for this we have
still to wait nine or ten days. At the end of that time
the ports of Batangas will be opened, and we shall imme-
diately go to join them at Balayan. I do not know how
our brothers will take it that you have gone alone, for
they believed that you had gone with our brother Sixto.

i64 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Nevertheless, do not let this trouble you, for when mother
consents to anything it is because it is all right.

You ask me in your letters what they say in Manila
of your going. I can only tell you a few stupid com-
ments made by envious people. Among those who crit-
icize you are the family, — as usual, for they are

very prudish girls in every way. As you can imagine,
we know them too well to pay any attention to what
they say. It is also said that, at a ball given at
the International Club, you were the one topic of con-
versation, because you had gone alone. I will not give
names, for I suppose you know better than I who fre-
quent those Federalist salons. On the other hand, the
Americans who come here and ask for you look upon it
as a very natural thing. Besides, I tell everybody that
it is probable that very soon Mariquita or I shall also
go alone to join you or Pepe, without being accompanied
by one of our brothers ; and you cannot imagine how
some people look when they hear this ! But they will
get accustomed to it.

Mr. Trace arrived this morning, with his wife, and this
afternoon came to call on us. I was very much pleased
by the return of such a good friend as he has always been
to us. In a few days they will go to Balayan to continue
teaching in the school. Although I have not yet had the
pleasure of meeting Mrs. Trace, I suppose that in time
she will be my good friend, as her husband is, and in this
way I shall have much practice in English, I do not
progress at all in my studies, but, on the contrary, like
the crab, I go backward. I am not in the mood for
doing anything, and the only thing I do is to write to
you ; for, as you know, I do write often. I imagine you
have no complaint of me, for not a week passes that I do
not write.

Mother wants you to stay there a year at least, and
not to return until you know French and English. Have
your picture taken in European costume ; we want to see
you in those clothes. I cannot imagine why you and

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 165

Pepc did not have your pictures taken in a group. We
should have been very glad if you had thought of it,
especially on mother's account. She scolded Quita
because she was not photographed with Sixto in Hong-
Kong. . . .

Tell me everything that happens, for now I shall be
interested in how you amuse yourself, admiring the
grandeur and beauty of those cities. Since we received
the news yesterday, my mind is more free.

Good-bye until another day, and remember that you
are loved by your sister, Ninay.

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, P. I., April 24, 1902.
Dearest Clemen : I am improving this opportunity
to write to you, because at this moment I have nothing
else to do nor any one to gossip with, since mother and
Quita have gone to visit the Solis family and to say
good-bye to them. As I told you in my previous letter,
according to Captain Curry, our brothers have been free
since the 2 1 st of this month. We should have liked it
if they had been set free here, so that v^e could have
seen them as soon as possible ; but we suppose they
were taken to Batangas so that our confiscated property
could be returned to them. We have not yet received
any letter from them, but this afternoon Luis Luna was
here, — he is the one who has been working for the sur-
render of General Malvar, — and he assured us that
they were really free. I do not believe this informa-
tion can be false, as the first was, considering that the
surrender of Malvar was the object of imprisoning the
people of Batangas ; and besides, we have more right to
believe it on account of the telegram from General Bell
to Captain Curr>', telling him the details of how Cipri-
ano, less than two weeks ago, went to Abra de Hog
to look after our affairs and to take away some of the

i66 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

cattle to sell. He said, moreover, that Cipriano was
liberated on parole, and was allowed certain privileges.
Believe me, I cannot understand this general's methods,
because, while Cipriano has enjoyed this freedom for
more than a month, Lorenzo and Manuel, who were
imprisoned on his account, remained on the island of
Malagi until the 2ist of this month, as I explained to
you above.

You ought to know that in the month of February I
wrote a letter to General Wheaton, asking him for a pass
to take cattle from Abra de Hog, so that we might sell
them here, explaining our situation to him, for we were
in such need that we hardly knew what to do; and
besides, we wanted to send our brothers some things.
But this general, instead of deciding the matter, sent
the letter to General Bell, to ask his advice. We re-
ceived, however, no answer from the latter either, and
we only knew that the letter had been sent to him
because he spoke of it when we went to see him about
the liberation of our brothers. He (Bell) told us then
that he had received my letter, and that he was inclined
to do us this favor if we were actually in need. I told
him that we were ; that otherwise I should not have
written to Wheaton. " But it seems to me you are well
off," he said to us, because he saw that we wore jewels
and were well dressed, and he concluded that we did not
really need the money. Finally, he said so much, and
was so suspicious of us, that, to close the subject, I told
him that when I wrote General Wheaton I did not sup-
pose it would cause him much trouble to give us a pass,
for I only asked permission to take from Mindoro what
belonged to us ; and then I got up to go. I did not say
a word more. What I thought and felt I will leave to
your imagination, for you know me very well !

April 27th.
I could not finish this until now, because visitors came,
and afterward I was no longer in the mood for writing.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 167

I cannot tell you certainly what day we go to Balayan,
because, as you will understand, we are not very desirous
of undergoing the five days' quarantine required of all
the boats which leave for the provinces. It is indeed
one of the ways of preventing the spread of the cholera,
but it is very vexatious, especially for people like us,
who wish to arrive as soon as possible at our desti-
nation. Up to the present, thank God, the number
of deaths has not exceeded twenty-five a day, and that
number is rare, it being ordinarily only ten or fifteen.
And you must bear in mind that Manila is overcrowded
with people; the doctors say that if there were fifty
cases it would not be surprising, considering the crowd-
ing there is here at present. In Pampanga, Bataan,
Camarines, and Bulacan there are also cases of cholera
daily, according to the official records, so that all the
precautions of the health departments are not too
much.

Mother says to tell you to see if you can secure com-
pensation from the authorities there for the use of our
boat and our house.

Good-bye. Keep well. Give our affectionate regards
to Mr. Warren and all the family, and remember that
you are loved by your sister, Ninay.

[From Juliana and Maria to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, P. I., May i, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : We are just preparing to start
for Balayan, and are more happy than you can think,
that at last w^e are going without owing any favors to
anybody. Do not direct any more letters to us here. I
will write you more another day.

Our best wishes to Mr. and Miss Warren ; give them
our most affectionate regards ; and remember that you
are loved by Ninay.

i68 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Dear Clemen : At last all our pains and troubles
will end. To-morrow afternoon, at four o'clock, we start
for Balayan, for the ports are now open. You can
imagine how happy we shall be, in spite of the fact that
we shall have to spend iive days' quarantine in the Bay
on account of the epidemic which prevails here ; for
we do not mind anything, now that we shall meet our
brothers in Balayan. I am so sorry that you cannot
share our joy with us.

Your sister, Quita.

•r9i

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila Bay, P. I., May 6, 1902.
Dearest Clemen : To-day is the fifth day that we
have been quarantined on board the steamer " Germana,"
and it is probable that early to-morrow, if no case of
cholera occurs, we shall start for Balayan. Friday, some
hours before leaving the house, we received two letters
from you at the same time, one dated in Washington
and the other in Boston. I was very glad to receive
them so promptly, for now I can give a good account to
our brothers of what you have done for them, and I am
very sure that they will be pleased. We are not yet sure
whether we shall meet them in Balayan, for although
we are told positively that they are really free I cannot
feel sure until I see them. And besides, why has not
the " Purisima " come yet .? It is now more than two
weeks since the newspapers told of the freedom of the
political prisoners, and, if our brothers are free, why has
not the boat been returned > We shall be like the
owner of the "Taaleiio," who, instead of being paid for
the use of his boat, was the one who had to pay the
supposed expenses which they said were spent on re-
pairs ! . . .

'^

^

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 169

Alberto read your letters, and he said it looked
as if the authorities there had fulfilled their promise,
because, besides investigating the case of our brothers,
they are also investigating others. What I do not under-
stand yet is why those here have been so slow in carry-
ing out the orders ; they even waited for the surrender
of Malvar. If the orders came by cable, as they prom-
ised you, what you accomplished there ought to have
taken effect a month ago ; so that, if it were not for
your letters, I should believe that the liberation of our
brothers was entirely due to the surrender of Malvar,
and that we owed the kindness shown our brothers
toward the last entirely to General Bell's generous heart.
But now we are convinced that we have nothing to be
grateful for to him.

When we arrive in Balayan I will write you again, and
I will also write for the first time to Miss Warren. Tell
our brother that I wrote him two letters, which I directed
there, and which 1 suppose he has received by this time.

We are all perfectly well, including mother, and God
grant that you also continue the same. . . .

I will close now. I am perspiring atrociously in this
little stateroom, and I cannot remember the things I
wanted to tell you.

Good-bye ; regards to everybody, and remember that
I really love you. Ninay.

Didn't you write us after your arrival in Boston, be-
sides your letters on board the " Ivernia " .? We only
received the two " Ivernia " letters dated 17th and
22nd.

[The following letter marks a considerable change in
the condition and surroundings of the family, and a
corresponding change in the tone and character of the
letters. The mother and sisters are again in the natural

lyo STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

and pleasant surroundings of home and native town ; the
brothers are on their way from captivity ; and the long
strain and suspense are at an end. The sigh of relief
perpetuates itself even in the translated, printed copy, in
which there is happiness and hope expressed in almost
every line. "To-night, we expect the three." There is
a little world of meaning in these simple words. And
there is time, too, to think of other things, — of little
Emilio, a child of the revolution, who appears to have
characteristics in common with childhood the world over :
" Much fatter, and an atrocious chatterbox " ! That is a
description which is widely applicable.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Balayan, May ii, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : At last we find ourselves in this
dear town, for we arrived at dawn on the 8th, without
any accident to deplore, thank God, and we met Andrea
and Emiling [one of Mariano's children, Jose Emilio —
named after Rizal and Aguinaldo during the insurrection
against Spain], who are enjoying perfect health.

As you will see by the telegram which I inclose, it was
only yesterday that our brothers were liberated, and this
morning we sent the launch to meet them in Taal, where
they have arrived on their way here. I do not understand
yet why the authorities waited so long before definitely
giving them their liberty, for, whereas the other pris-
oners were immediately liberated on the surrender of
Malvar, our brothers were given only provisional liberty
from that time to the present — more than a month.
This is attributed to the fact that Bell is not in Batangas,
and that he gave orders that our brothers should wait
until he returned from Manila, where he now is, on
account of the court-martial of General Smith. Felix
Unzon, who has been here fifteen days, tells me the
same. He says also that when they were first taken
prisoners they were not well treated, but that since Feb-

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 171

ruary they had been better looked after, especially our
brothers.

I must tell you about an officer whose name is Samuel
H. Fisher, second lieutenant of the Twenty-eighth In-
fantry, who, according to Felix, was the one most consid-
erate to our brothers. Several times when he visited
Manila while we were there he came to see us on behalf
of our brothers, and gave us news of their health. I
believe that his kindness was due to his friendship

for , who strongly recommended our brothers to

him.

We find that Emiling has progressed in everything
more than you can imagine, for, besides having grown
and being much fatter, he is an atrocious chatterbox, and
carries on conversations so serious as to be almost unsuit-
able to his age. You would devour him with kisses if
you could see him just now, he is so cunning; much
more so than he used to be.

It is more than a week since the Sixth Cavalry left here
for Los Banos, and the First is here now, commanded by
the well-known Captain Brown, who was in Lipa. The
officer whom we have here at present, until Captain
Brown arrives, came to visit us on Friday evening, and,
believe me, we received him very coldly, for I cannot
help the resentment which only time will efface from
our hearts.

I will close, for visitors are coming ; to-morrow, I will
write you further, if I have time. To-night, we expect
the three.

Keep well, and I hope that Miss Cornelia * and her
brother also are well.

Good-bye, with a warm embrace from

NiNAV.

* Miss Cornelia Warren, whose kindness to Miss Lopez will do more
for the real peace of the Philippines than " Cajsar's legions," and more
to heal the wound than the combined wisdom of statesmen.

172 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[Copy of the telegram :]

Batangas [City], P. I., May lo, 1902.
Miss Juliana Lopez, Balayan, P. I.

We are liberated to-day ; so do not come to this town.

Lorenzo.

[The two following letters are of special interest. The
first, written by Manuel, gives an account of the treat-
ment of the three brothers during their imprisonment ;
the second, from Mariano, tells what he and others
endeavored to do for their release. Both letters are full
of information and throw much light on the whole situa-
tion. They also contain some rather curious items. For
example, Manuel tells how the members of the band of
Tiaong were arrested and deported to Malagi in order
that the soldiers might have music on the island ! Who
shall say that the American soldier does not know how to
do things ? And yet, what is to be said of the item in
Mariano's letter which tells how " our superintendent is
now the local presidente, appointed by the Americans."
This superintendent, or encargado, of the Lopez cattle-
ranch at Abra de Hog, Mindoro, was imprisoned by Major
Pitcher, without known cause or justification, and in spite
of the urgent representations of Captain Shaw, the local
commander. He is now presidente of Abra de Hog !
Such acts as these, which have the appearance of being
dictated solely by caprice, are not calculated to inspire
the Filipinos with confidence in their rulers.]

[From Manuel to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, May 20, 1902.
My dear Sister : I suppose all of you in America
already know the details of our arrest, which was due
solely to our being brothers of Sixto Lopez !

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 173

In reference to the way in which we were treated
during our imprisonment of five months I shall speak
very briefly.

In Batangas we did not expect that an officer of the
Twenty-first Regiment of Infantry, called Conlay, first
lieutenant and provost of the prison, would have obliged
me to take off my hat to him, or that he would call me " a
great insurrecto " ! In view of the fact that we were three
brothers, it seemed to me better not to take this seri-
ously, for I considered that this affront to me was simply
the act of an official who is wholly without breeding. I
believe this has happened not only to me but to many
others, and that almost all of Bell's officers have behaved
in this way. As for us, we are fortunate that nothing
worse happened to us during the twenty days of Decem-
ber that we were in Batangas, — such as happened to
various friends of ours. For instance, Don Vicente
Agregado (the lawyer) and Don Antonio Babasa were,
out of spite, forced to carry stones and sand for three
days, and were compelled to work in the prison besides.
Perhaps they did not treat us as they did the rest, be-
cause it may have occurred to them that knowledge of
these abuses might reach America.

What I regretted the most, during the twenty days
that we were in Batangas, was that they did not take
any declaration from us, and that we did not even know
the reason of our arrest. Moreover, they did not even
allow us to have food brought in to us three brothers,
and the first few days we were obliged to eat wretched
food ; but afterward, thanks to the outside relatives of
our good friends, the Batangas prisoners, we were able
to eke out our own fare from their provisions, and did not
therefore become ill.

From Batangas they took us to [the Bay of Manila,
en route to] the island of Malagi, Laguna de Bay, as
exiles, and you cannot imagine the kind of treatment
we were all subjected to. They put us in the bottom of
the hold of the steamer " Legaspi," and I doubt if they

174 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

would have treated animals so inhumanly. We were
kept there four days, and if we had been thus kept much
longer half of the hundred men would have died ; as it
was, many of them became ill. Afterward we were trans-
ferred to the steamer " Liscum," where we were some-
what better off as regards space during the following
fourteen days. There also we were in the hold, but
with the advantage that this boat had port-holes through
which the air entered. They gave us the best place,
which was the place provided for the transportation of
horses !

The 14th of January, two days after Mariquita's ar-
rival from Hong-Kong, they took us off in small boats
towed by a little tug, and transported us to Malagi, an
island that had never been inhabited, where they kept us
for three months and six days. The other prisoners were
put to forced labor, "and were badly fed, and we all slept
on the ground at night, in field-tents, without any other
protection. Thanks to the palm mats which we brought
from Batangas, and the cot-beds which the family after-
ward sent us from Manila, we did not fare so badly as
the others. In one tent the unsentenced prisoners slept
to the number of more than fifteen persons, and those
who had received sentences, including the greater part
of our companions, were forced to sleep as many as
twenty in a tent.

You will be much astonished to hear that there were
(political) prisoners wJio were also sentenced ; for almost
all of them were " sentenced " at the pleasure of any offi-
cer. I say ^^ any officej','' because, without making an
investigation, without calling a court-martial, the mere
denunciation by some wretch or other was sufficient upon
which to have them deported with a sentence of at least
two years. And these are the men that are made to work
at forced labor like criminals ! The greater part of these
sentenced men are those who have been either unable
or unwilling to suborn a man called Arthur, an Eng-
lish subject, who formerly belonged to the files of Gen-

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 175

eral Trias's column. This Arthur is interpreter, and at
the same time one of the secret pohce of the provost
of Batangas ; and as he was the only trusted person he
could bargain with the prisoners, many of whom -were
low enough not to know hi)w to maintain their owh
dignity.

As for us three brothers, it was only for one week
that they made us follow the laborers, acting as over-
seers. Afterward, General Bell visited the island, and
from that time they did not force us to work, and we
were given liberty to go about the island.

Company II of the Twenty-eighth Infantry, who were
our custodians, especially the officers, behaved themselves
divinely toward the three of us. They were very gen-
tlemanly in their bearing, gave us whatever we asked for,
and treated us with every consideration.

I believe that if they have lacked somewhat in their
treatment of the other prisoners, it was because of orders
from Batangas, from the commanders. For example, in
the matter of food : at first it was given to the prisoners
with much scarcity. We three did not lack, because we
received from Manila several boxes of provisions sent by
the family, and it is due to this that we were not desper-
ately hungry, for what was given to us did not suit our
stomachs.

In Malagi there was one officer, called Kriger, a first
lieutenant, who was very bad. He made the prisoners
work at least eight hours a day, and also on Sundays.
He was very harsh, not only with the prisoners but also
with the soldiers, and was the terror of Malagi.

On the twenty-first of April they took us away from
the island and carried us to Batangas, with four others;
and on the tenth of this month General Bell gave us
liberty, owing to the surrender of Malvar. Cipriano
they took away as early as February, in order to make
an investigation about the guns which he was accused of
not having presented when he surrendered. The first
few days, they made him work in the public square at

176 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

forced labor, by order of the provost, who is called D. N.
Boughton, and who is a captain of the Third Cavalry ;
but after that they took Cipriano out of the prison
and made him a clerk in the office. From that time he
ceased to sleep in the prison, and was allowed to sleep in
a private house.

In Malagi the number of prisoners went above 760
men, and the greater number did not even know the rea-
son why they had been imprisoned. In one way this was
a good thing, because, of those who were questioned by
officials and commanders of detachments, many were
tortured in the manner of Spanish days. Many who
had been tortured arrived at Malagi so sick that they
could hardly walk. This was so with the man who was
presidente of the town of St. Tomas, whose name I
have forgotten at this moment.

Women and children were imprisoned in the provinces
of Batangas and Tayabas to such an extent that the
churches were utilized as prisons for the women. They
also deported to Malagi many boys who were members
of the band of the town of Tiaong, and this solely be-
cause they desired to have music on the island !

We have had General Lukban as a companion in
Malagi ; he was captured with his two adjutants. I
believe that he is one of the generals who have con-
ducted themselves creditably in this campaign ; and it is
said that if they call him to America he will be very
much pleased, because he will then be able to declare
certain things which ought to be known for the good of
the country. In view of this, when they asked him any-
thing, he remained silent, saying that it was useless to
reply, for there was no justice here.

When they gave us our liberty they were going to
pass the steamer "Purisima" over to me, but I would
not receive it, objecting that it was badly damaged.
The quartermaster's department has now undertaken to
repair it, and will turn it over to me later when the
repairs are finished.

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 177

You will remember that since the 1 2th of December
the boat has been in their possession, and is so up to the
present time. If you wish to enter a claim for damage
and loss, it would be better to do it in America, because
nothing can be done here.

Our mother continues in good health, in spite of
having suffered much on account of our imprisonment.
Give a greeting and remembrances from me to Messrs.
Fiske and Thomas ; I am very sorry not to have been
able to say good-bye to them.

Your brother who loves you, Manuel Lopez.

[From Mariano to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, May 22, 1902.
Dear Clemencia : Thanks to your two letters, dated
the 17th and 23d of last March, the high opinion that I
have always held of the free and great Republic of North
America, and of its worthy citizens devoted to the culti-
vation of the fruits of liberty, has been re-born in me.
As you well know, it was due to this opinion that I have
never been in favor of the war of our country against
America, that I have worked for peace, and have induced
the whole family to do the same, for I was firmly con-
vinced that the Americans would be just to us in all
respects. But I confess to you frankly that since our
brothers have been imprisoned, deported without any
process of law, and our property has been confiscated as
if we were great enemies of the American Government
in the Philippines, this high opinion has been grad-
ually dying, owing to the fact that, with the exception of
the three men, Curry, Taggart, and Pendleton, all those to
whom. I have appealed, demanding justice on account of
the deportation of our brothers, have deceived me, — as
you will see by my experiences which I am going to
recount to you.

lyS STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

In the first place, I had recourse to the Federal party,
presenting to the President, Dr. Jose Albert, the notes
and vouchers of my services and those of all the family
in the establishment of peace, and telling him of all that
had occurred in Balayan, — thanks to the infamous in-
trigues and false accusations of Manuel Ramirez, who
was sheltered and protected by Cheever, Captain of the
Sixth Cavalry; commanding officer in the town. (This
has been true especially since he was defeated in the
municipal elections of the 29th of last September.) I
gave Dr. Albert these papers, so that he might confer
with, and show them to, the Acting Civil Governor,
General Wright. Seiior Albert afterward gave me an
account of this interview, in which General Wright said
that, on account of Sixto, and on account of the stay of
Mr. Warren and Mr. Patterson in our house, I have
lost the good opinion which the authorities had held of
me, and that he did not wish a man to serve two
masters !

In the second place, accompanied by Captain Curry,
I went to see General Wright. As he was not able to
receive us, owing to his being very busy, we went to
see General Chaffee. We were not able to speak with
him either, but, instead, spoke with Colonel Sanger,
Inspector General of Arms, who, after listening to us
with kindness, answered that he would direct us to
Colonel Wagner, Adjutant General of the Department
of the North ; that he would agree to whatever that
gentleman should decide, and would recommend my
claim to General Chaffee. In the Department of the
North I was not able to speak to Colonel Wagner,
because he delegated to receive me Captain Bash, Gen-
eral Wheaton's adjutant, who immediately fired the fol-
lowing question at me : " Why are you not a prisoner ? "
My only answer to such an unexpected sally was to
shrug my shoulders and say, "I do not know." In the
voice of the Czar of Russia he proceeded to tell me
that all the Filipinos are more or less double-faced toward

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 179

the Americans. In view of the brutal manner in which
he received me, and in order not to make our situation
any worse, I confined myself to giving him the notes of
my services, and those of the family, to the American
Government in the cause of peace, together with the
vouchers, and then went away. At the end of two weeks
I learned that these notes had been sent to General Bell,
for I v^as so notified by the said Department of the
North with General Bell's answer, the original of which
I inclose for you. This, as you will see, limits itself
entirely to exalting mc, and does not at all decide the
question concerning our brothers, nor does it attempt
any investigation as to whether or not they were enemies
of America. They all say that the measure was a gen-
eral one in the province of Batangas. To this I answer,
Why have they so singled us out, — not being content
with merely arresting and deporting our brothers, but
confiscating our property and, owing to Ramirez's accu-
sations, punishing all our people so atrociously that not
only did it cost poor Isabelo Capacia his life, but actually
caused many of them to deny that they were our people,
in order to escape persecution ?

Besides this, Ramirez, together with V. Ramos and
Hilar ion Ramirez, made themselves masters of all
Balayan, Tuy, Lian, Calatagan, and Nasugbu, in this
manner : They were the only men allowed to trade
between these towns, obtaining also a monopoly in
gambling, and having a gambling outfit and cockpit in
the house and grounds of Ramos. So true is all this
that Ramirez & Co. forced the people to sign the petition
or paper which was presented by the people of Balayan
praying the Military Government to retain Cheevcr and
his company. This petition was signed, in the presence
of Cheever, in the aforesaid cockpit, and many of the
people could not refuse to sign because of the sure
vengeance that would follow.*

* This paragraph has a bearing on the following telegraphic tlis-

i8o STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Since the 1 3th of March Cipriano has had provisional
Hberty, being employed as translator and interpreter into
Spanish. Lorenzo and Manuel were freed only on the
loth of this month. Manuel is now in Manila, and he
tells me that when they were freed on that date General
Bell wished to deliver to him the steamer and our papers ;
but he refused to receive either, because he declares that,
as regards the steamer, it was unserviceable, and as to the
papers, when they were seized by the Government, they
were in a chest with a lock, but at the time of their
proffered delivery the chest was unhinged and the papers
mixed up and thrown into a corner of the office. General
Bell, in regard to the first, ordered an inspection, sending
the steamer to Manila to be repaired ; and as to the
papers, when he knew what had happened, he was furious

patches, which, in 1902, were the subject of a controversy between the
Springfield Republican and the New York Tribune : —

United States Signal Coips, Iloilo, February 11.
Commanding Officer, Pototan : —

Following telegram has been rec'eived and should be circulated among
all officers : —

Manila, February 10.
Commanding General, Fifth Separate Brigade, Iloilo: —

Following cablegram received from Washington : To refute state-
ments of misconduct of troops toward natives in Philippine Islands,
Secretary of War Root directs petition of retention of commanders of
various organizations and any information within the knowledge of any
officer on these islands will be wired here. Any applications that have
not been forwarded will be forwarded at once.

By order of Colonel Snyder : [Signed] Noble,

A djuta Jit- GeneraVs Office.

The question in dispute was as to whether Secretary Root had re-
quested that petitions be secured, or had merely directed that petitions
already in the possession of certain officers in the Philippines should
be sent to Washington.

From the above paragraph in Mariano's letter it would appear that,
whether or not the request came from Washington, the petitions — or
at least one of them — were obtained in a manner which destroys their
value as a refutation of "statements of misconduct of troops toward
natives in Philippine Islands."

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY i8i

and hurled curses at his subordinates. According to
Manuel, General Bell said he was going to Balayan and
the western towns. I suppose he will take our papers
there, and will there deliver them to our brothers ; and I
suppose also that, since the latter have already been
advised by Manuel of his attitude, they will receive them
only after examining them one by one, so that they may
know which are lacking, and protest in the deed of
transfer.

The steamer is now in Manila, and has been examined
by the Government engineer, by whom it will be repaired.
It will very soon be put into the dock, but, according to
Manuel, on account of the great amount of damage to
the engines and hull, the repairing may take a month.

Here, the Filipinos, and some who are not Filipinos,
who have made claims against the Government on account
of damages and injury, have obtained nothing up to the
present time. For this reason I am of the opinion that
you should make a claim in America. You already know
that Lualhati rented the steamer from us at the rate of
$150 (Mex.), per day, exclusive of expenses, and the
Government itself has offered Manuel this price in order
to continue using it.

Our house and storehouses in Balayan have been occu-
pied by the troops, and in Abra de Hog (Mindoro) our
house on the ranch was burned, and some of our best
cattle shot, as a result of a combat there. This, in spite
of the fact that our superintendent, with all our people,
submitted to the American Government, and that it was
one of our herdsmen who gave warning of the presence
of the insurrectionary force at that place to the com-
manding offtcer in Abra de Hog ; where also our super-
intendent is now the local presidente, appointed by the
Americans.

I write you this letter on the steamer, for only at the
last moment I knew that the bearer was going to Paris.
He is a young man approved by the Lyceum, Miguel
Velarde.

i82 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Do me the favor to make my excuses to Mr. Warren
for not yet having written to him. Place me at the feet
of his wife, and give my respects to all his distinguished
family and relatives, and to all those good people who
have entertained and cared for you.

Your affectionate brother, Mariano Lopez.

[In the following letter Juliana continues the story,
and tells how, when Lorenzo and Manuel were being
liberated, General Bell asked them "if they had any
complaint to make of their treatment by the officers of
the detachment 171 Ma/agi.'' There may have been a
desire to avoid troublesome disclosures in thus confining
the inquiry solely to Malagi ; or it may have been that
General Bell knew and disapproved of the treatment of
the brothers during the earlier period, and simply wished
to know if they had any complaint as to the later treat-
ment. If the inquiry had extended to Batangas prison,
and to the journey en route to Manila and Malagi, the
brothers' reply, as shown by Manuel's letter, might have
been different.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Balayan, p. I., May 22d, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : Heaven grant that you continue
well, as we all do here.

Our brothers are now free ; the " Purisima " brought
them here a week ago. We found them in good health,
including Lorenzo. The latter, according to his oivn
account, has hardly suffered at all in the prison, but on
the contrary has learned a great deal and has made many
good friends in the provinces of Tayabas and La Laguna,
so that now he considers himself influential not only
in Batangas but in the former provinces also. They

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 183

tell us many things about that little island, and about
the life they led there. After all, they were not so
badly off, for Lorenzo and Manuel enjoyed certain privi-
leges which were not given to the others, and this was
due to the letter of Sixto to General Chaffee.

When they arrived at Batangas they were not given
their liberty at once, as were others, because Bell was
then in Manila ; and it was he who, later, took their
declaration, but in a very friendly tone which cannot be
compared with that which he almost always uses. He
also asked them if they had any complaint to make of
their treatment by the officers of the detachment in
Malagi, and they replied, "No," for indeed they had not.
The man to whom we are especially indebted is Lieu-
tenant Fisher, because of his humane feelings toward
the poor prisoners, and to him our brothers also owe
many favors.

I told you in my previous letter that Cipriano was
in Abra de Hog before the ports were opened, through a
favor which Bell, without solicitation, chose to confer
upon him, in order that he might take food to our poor
people, for the Americans had burned all their rice, and,
besides, had burned our house in Baluguhan [Abra de
Hog]. Imagine how pleased Cipriano must have been
with this offer, which he at once accepted, being sent in
a Government launch. This happened on the 1 2th of
April, so that we attribute it to your efforts. Cipriano
tells me that it was only last March that the house was
burned, together with 500 " cabanes " of rice. When
Captain Shaw was there he never thought of doing such
a thing ; it was another officer who was in command, and
who had it burned immediately because it was outside the
zone. Just imagine ! — D. Gabino de Jesus [the family's
incargado] is presidente of Abra de Hog ! — appointed by
Captain Shaw. They ought not to have burned our house
in Baluguhan, for the American troops had frequently
made use of it. They stayed in that house when night
overtook them and they could go no farther. Captain

i84 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

Shaw knew all this ; but, as I told you, he was relieved
by another officer, who burned it. Our cattle are well
looked after, and none have been lost. On Sunday
night Cipriano went there again to bring away some
of them.

Up to the present time, neither the steamer nor the
documents have been returned. Lorenzo tells me that
the repairs on the steamer will cost $9000, so that
even if they offer to return it he will not accept it.
Moreover, they make no mention of payment for the
use of it. We believe it will be better to wait until they
offer it, rather than to demand its return. There are
many other things that I should like to say to you, but
I am very, very tired.

The officer who is now in command here, Mr. Charles
J. Thomas, visits us quite often, and seems well bred.
The inspector of the constabulary who has been ap-
pointed here in Balayan is none other than Mr. Pendle-
ton ! — he has just arrived.

The town is very quiet, and the people who used to
say that the imprisonment of our brothers was to be
more than temporary are not opening their lips now ;
they are very much ashamed of some rude things they
said to us.

I close this letter, without forgetting my affectionate
regards to Miss Warren and her brother. Do not for-
get to give them to Sixto and also to your inseparable
companion.

Good-bye, with embraces from all. Ninay.

[The following letter is from Senor Alberto Barretto,
one of the leading lawyers in Manila and the legal
adviser of the Lopez family. Prior to the outbreak of
hostilities with the Filipinos he held the office of Vice-
President of the Assembly at Tarlac, under Aguinaldo's

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 185

Government. Since then, for a time, he occupied a
neutral position, but has recently accepted some such
office as register of deeds under the Civil Government.
His letter contains certain items of interest not found
elsewhere in this correspondence, hence its inclusion in
these pages ; but it is hoped that Senor Barretto will not
be made to suffer on account of this evidence of his pro-
fessional relations with the Lopez family.]

[From Senor Alberto Barretto to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, June 4, 1902.
Sefiorita Clemencia Lopez,

Boston, United States.

Friend Clemencia : Through your letters to your
brothers and sisters, as well as by the papers, I have
learned of the welcome given you in that liberal and
democratic America. I congratulate you cordially on
that account, and especially on the honor of which you
have been the object in being called to testify before the
Senate Committee on Philippine affairs ; a favor which
has only been conferred upon the celebrated Buencamino,
who must, at this time, be in America.

By letters from here you will already have learned
that Cipriano, Lorenzo, and Manuel are free, and that
in a short time the steamer "Purisima" will be trans-
ferred to them, repaired and completely cleaned, but
without indemnification for use since the seizure, which
occurred at the same time as the imprisonment of your
brothers. Cipriano, Lorenzo, and Manuel have been set
at liberty under an oath of allegiance, on which, at least
in Manuel's, could be read on the upper margin of the
paper, '' Brother oi Sixto Lopez, member of the Hong-
Kong Junta." Apparently this has been the one and
only cause of the detention which they have suffered.

You ought to consult there with some lawyer con-
cerning the form in which to petition the army authori-
ties for the payment of damages caused by the taking

i86 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

of the boat, and for the imprisonment ; for, as I under-
stand it, the courts here have no jurisdiction and cannot
recognize claims of this sort. . . .

Do me the favor to ask your brother to pardon me
that I have not yet answered him, for reasons of which,
doubtless, he is not ignorant.

I pray you to present my respects to Mr. Warren,
whom I do not forget, and also to your brother Sixto.
With affectionate regards from Bonifacia, be assured
that you may dispose unconditionally of your friend who
esteems you, and who desires your health and happiness.

Alberto Barretto.

[Perhaps the most beautiful and most interesting of all
Juliana's letters are the two which follow. They breathe
a spirit alternately of forgiveness and resentment ; they
suggest many thoughts and lessons from which those in
authority might profit ; they furnish to the commentator
temptations in almost every line. But — that thread
on which jewels are strung must not obtrude itself
too frequently on mind and eye ! Two references
in the second letter cannot, however, be passed over in
silence.

Juliana herself recognizes the change that has come
over her, even though some in her own household still
regard her as a child: "To our brothers only am I
still a child, for they continue to treat me as such ; but
outside of the house they say that I have changed much,
and they have excellent reason for saying that misfort-
unes transform one."

The second reference has about it the fragrance of
the flowers of which it tells. It will appeal to those
who, amid the heat of contention as to the rights or
the wrongs of the friars, have harbored an unjust suspi-
cion of the religious sincerity of the Filipinos : " Every
afternoon we go out into the garden to see the flowers,

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 187

for it is a pleasure to sec how many there are. If you
saw those that you planted, tears of joy would come to
your eyes to see how flourishing they are ; and, as you
can imagine, the expression that comes oftenest to our
tongue is, * If Clemen could see this, how pleased she
would be ! ' Indeed, all the roses are flourishing. The
last day of May, when it was our turn to offer flowers
to the Virgin, we did not have to send to other towns
for them as in former years, for we had enough, and
there were some magnificent branches among those
which we selected and used."

Are these people irreligious .'' Does all the fault
implied in the friar question rest with the Filipinos .-']

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Balayan, p. I., June 6, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : I take this opportunity, when the
steamer is leaving for Manila, to tell you that we received
your letters dated the i ith and 23d of April, with the
pictures and letters inclosed for Mr. Curry and Mr.
Pendleton, which I shall send to them at once.

Pardon me for telling you how happy we are when we
receive letters from those of our family who are abroad,
especially from you ; and mother weeps and shows very
much emotion when we translate your letters to her.
You cannot imagine how we feci, for we cannot yet
realize that you are so far from us (in that country where
you used to dream of going), and surrounded by such
good people. It seems as if I could still hear you say-
ing, what you said so often to the officers here : that the
day when they did anything to our prejudice, and listened
to the denunciations of our enemies, you would not beg
for justice in the Philippines, but would go in person and
talk to the President himself. Do you rememljer ? And
you have done it. I think Captain Cole will often think
of that.

A few days ago Lieutenant Jones and Mr. Pendleton,

i88 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

inspector of the constabulary, came here, according to
their account, in order to visit us. They have both been
appointed to Batangas. . . . Lieutenant Jones told me
that he had received your letter directed to Philadelphia,
and that he v^ras very sorry that he had not received it
while he w^as still there, for you must know that since
March he has been in Batangas [City]. He said also
that Bell had read your letter, which, according to Jones,
shows how indignant you are with the military, and that
Bell said he was sorry you had such an idea of them.
Moreover, this General Bell, of whom three provinces
had such a horror, has suddenly assumed very gracious
manners and is quite affable toward the Lopez family.
I have good reason to say so, for the pass which he gave
Cipriano for Abra de Hog and for the whole island of
Mindoro absolutely prohibits all the chiefs of detachments
from interfering with Cipriano and our interests there,
and orders that they should put no obstacles in the way
of his business transactions, unless his own actions
should give them good cause ; and that even then no one
must arrest him without previously obtaining the consent
of General Chaffee. You must know that Cipriano is in
favor with Bell ; the latter can do nothing but praise him,
and he treated him well toward the last. What is more,
one day when the general was in the office of the provost
of Batangas, he ordered Cipriano to be called so that he
might apologize to him for the manner in which he had
treated Maria and me, for, according to the general's
account, he was in a bad temper, and said that we should
pardon him, for he was really ashamed. He told Captain
Curry the same thing.

Last week, Memong went to Batangas by Lorenzo's
orders, to get the confiscated papers, with a letter from
Lorenzo to Bell, which certainly was not of a suppli-
catory nature, and which he promptly delivered. This
morning we received a telegram from Bell which said
that they would repair the " Purisima " before turning it
over to us. Manuel says that if we should send it to

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 189

be repaired it would cost at least $8000 [Mex.], it is so
badly damaged.

I am getting together all the details that I can find
about the death of poor Isabelo, and as soon as I get
them all I shall consider what I ought to do to console
his poor widow a little. . . .

I believe I have not yet told you that the grandmother
of Pindong died three months ago, and it would not be
too much to say that it was through fear lest they should
imprison her sons.

Do not be in the least troubled about mother, who,
thanks to God, is better, and does not become ill. We
are all satisfied with your going to America, and agree
that you ought to remain there longer, although in truth
I am sorry with all my heart that you are so far away ;
and besides, I now have to do all the things that you
used to do ! Our only desire is that when you return we
shall see you made into a real Boston American, and a
Parisian who can talk French well ! . . .

Keep well. I send good wishes to you from all friends
here, and from all the family, and to Miss Warren and
to her brother. . . .

Your sister who loves you, Ninay.

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez,]

Balavan, p. I., June 13, 1902.

Mv DEAREST Clemen : I havc received your very short
letter, with some photographs taken by Mr. Warren in
Manila and in Hong-Kong, but I do not know whether
the number of pictures is complete, for they came open.

Lorenzo is not in the least resentful toward our
brother [Sixto], but, on the contrary, now thinks in the
same way that he does, and is proud that he should have
been one of those selected by this unhappy country to
serve her. As to your journey to America, he is also

190 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

satisfied, and, what is more, he has decided to send us
there as soon as the division of the property is con-
cluded.

According to Manuel, the " Purisima" is now in the
dock for repairs, and will not be able to make trips again
for about a month. All the expenses for this will be
paid by the Government.

Beheve me, Clemen, now more than ever I miss you
when I have to do all the things that you used to do ;
and it is very hard for me, so hard that I begin to cry
when I think of you, at the same time calling down
anathemas on Bell, who is the cause of your being so
far from us. I do not mean by this that you should
come back now ; no, for now that you are there and have
taken the first step and have sacrificed yourself by leav-
ing our mother, I, like all the others in the house, want
you to improve the occasion, seeing and studying all the
good things of which we are ignorant in this country.

You charge me to be very judicious and prudent ; that
is the line of conduct I have been observing ever since
your departure. And now, believe me, to our brothers
only am I still a child, for they continue to treat me as
such; but outside of the house they say that I have
changed much, and they have excellent reason for saying
that misfortunes transform one.

As for our amusements, I can only tell you that every
afternoon we go out into the garden to see the flowers,
for it is a pleasure to see how many there are. If you
saw those that you planted, tears of joy would come to
your eyes to see how flourishing they are ; and, as you
can imagine, the expression that comes oftenest to our
tongue is, " If Clemen could see this, how pleased she
would be ! " Indeed, all the roses are flourishing. The
last day of May, when it was our turn to offer flowers
to the Virgin, we did not have to send to other towns for
them as in former years, for we had enough, and there
were some magnificent branches among those which we
selected and used.

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 191

We told you when we were in Manila that we should
have nothing more to do with the American officers
when we returned here. But in view of what all those,
who call themselves our friends, are doing for us we
cannot possibly carry out our resolution. Last Sunday
we were obliged to attend a ball, given, according to
their account, in honor of the ladies of the Lopez fam-
ily, which took place in the Commandancia ; and this, in
spite of the objections we made in order to avoid going.
We were there until two o'clock in the morning, when
they at last permitted us to leave. It was quite gay, for
almost all Balayan was there ; and besides, they had
made much preparation, so that they had everything.
At any other time I should have been somewhat di-
verted, but at present, far from being so, I was sad ; and,
the more attention they paid to us, the more I wished to
cry.

You cannot imagine, Clemen, how gallant and defer-
ential these egregious officers are toward us. Without
going any further for example, every time they receive
cablegrams with sensational news, or newspapers, they
can hardly take time to get them to us. Last night
they brought their large phonograph (I have not seen so
large a one even in Manila), so that we might hear it ;
and other things of the same sort. So that we can do
no less than be grateful to them.

I close this, telling you to keep well, as we all do.

Good-bye ; you are not forgotten by your sister who
loves you. Ninay.

[The three following letters from Manuel and Juliana
tell, among other things, of the wearisome delay in the
fulfillment of General Bell's promise to repair and return
the " Purisima." Indeed, the promise was never com-
pletely fulfilled — as will be seen later.]

192 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[From Manuel to Clemencia Lopez.]

Manila, June 14, 1902,

My dear Sister : We have been expecting letters
from you for some days, but have received nothing
except the newspapers directed to JuHana. We have not
heard from Pepe either, and we are wondering what the
reason can be.

Very likely, if you do not receive this letter by post,
you will receive it from a friend of mine, Don Vicente
Reyes, who is going to America with his wife for the
sake of the trip and also to take some students. This
friend promised me that if his journey goes well he will
arrange to look you up in Boston. You can learn a
great many things about the Philippines from him,
for, although he has never mixed in politics, he will
know about many things that have happened in this
country.

Here we all continue in good health, thank God, as
does mother also, who has not been ill again since we
were liberated. The whole family are still in Balayan,

As for the steamer "Purisima," she still continues in
the hands of the military, for up to date they have not
repaired the injuries caused during the five months' use.
We have not made any claim for indemnity for the use
of the boat, as it is not yet in our hands. Moreover, it
may be useless to make a claim here, for many have
already done so, but without results so far. Therefore, I
believe it would be better, if it is possible, to make the
claim in America, so that our rights may receive more
attention.

It is said that General Bell has been recalled by the
Secretary of War, and I have been assured that on his
return from Samar he will go to the United States, and
there perhaps you will see him. Many have assured me
that General Bell has been recalled because of questions
about Batangas, and that the Government of the United
States has asked of him an account of events in our

►J •§

"^

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 193

province. I have not much faith in this news. You
already know that in our country there are now many
rumors and few truths !

I have not yet been able to send you any money, as
we are only bc.i;inning to sell cattle. The money which
I brought from Balayan, and which I ought t(j have sent
to you, I spent instead on the " Oretano," for otherwise
the boat would have rotted ; in this way I spent more
than $5000 [Mex.]. On my return from Balayan, or
when the " Oretano " arrives with a cargo of sugar, I will
at once send you a draft. I do not dare get credit here
in Manila, for the business is still going badly, and you will
understand also that the little money that I formerly had
is now all spent, and I have no capital with which to start
my business once more. On account of my imprison-
ment I have lost all my customers and commercial
connections, but I believe, if the steamers can make
frequent trips again without being delayed by the quar-
antine, I can start my business once more.

As for the cholera, it has made great ravages in our
province, especially in the capital. I am told that in
Balayan the death-rate went as high as fifteen or twenty
per day during the last two weeks. But now that the
rain has come it is disappearing here in Manila, as well
as in the provinces.

Captain Curry has given up his position as chief of
police, and is now in Camarines.

No more at present. Many regards from all ; we
hope that you are well, and you know that you have a
brother who loves you. Manuel.

P. S. Greet Messrs. Fiske and Thomas for me, and
ask them to pardon me that I could not have the pleasure
of offering them my services on the day of their depart-
ure for America. Manuel.

194 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Balayan, p. I., July 9, 1902.

Dearest Clemen : When you receive this letter, you
will already have learned by the papers that the cholera
has spread all over the province of Batangas. Twenty
deaths a day have been reported here in the town of
Balayan ; but since Sunday the number of those attacked
has diminished very much, and there were only two or
three deaths. This is due to the fact that at last it has
rained, for during the last two months the heat has been
insupportable. We have lost several friends through this
disease. I am sorry to tell you that poor Nieves and
her two children also are victims. Julita and Miling
were buried with her. As for us, thank God, the cholera
has been mild among our serving-people, and we are
hoping that we may not have any deaths among them to
regret, for it is diminishing.

Lorenzo sends word, begging that you will excuse
him because he cannot write to you now, as he is very
much occupied ; and besides, I do not know what the
trouble is, but he is in very delicate health. We have
advised him a thousand and one times to go abroad for
a change of air, which would do him good now that he
does not wish to go to Manila, but he always answers
"No," making a "sea of objections"; and, after all,
perhaps he is right. Cipriano continues in Abra de Hog,
and is looking after the cattle business. Manuel, as I
told you in my previous letter, lives in the house of
[in Manila].

It is now a month and more since we have received a
letter from you, and so, we are troubled ; nor have we
heard from Pepe either.

Quita and I are sending you our pictures in a group,
and I send also mine alone for our friend ; I promised
when he was here to send it to him. They are not very
good, but they seemed to us the best positions among
those we had taken. The pictures of our friends, which

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 195

you request, I have asked for in Manila, telling how much
you want them, and they have promised to send them.
The neckties for Mrs. Smith,* which Pazita must have
long since finished, I have had no opportunity to send
for ; since, as you know, Manuel is useless for things of
that sort ; and besides, now that he is doing everything
in Manila he will not have time.

I must tell you that up to the present time the repairs
on the " Purisima " have not been begun, as Bell prom-
ised our brothers ; and recently he even wished to return
it to us in its damaged condition. If we send to have it
repaired at our own expense it will cost at least $7000
(Mex.). Lorenzo replied to the communication from
Bell that he could not accept the steamer, since it is not
repaired ; that he wished it in as good condition as it
was when they took it from us ; and that as for the time
required for the repairs, that depended entirely upon
Bell. We do not know whether they will pay us for this
delay ; and believe me, this is one of the reasons for
Lorenzo's being so worn and worried. Just imagine ! —
two months have passed in this very grievous delay, and
no interest whatever has been taken in having the steamer
quickly done, when it is known only too well how much
we need it. But let us have patience with these people,
who never weary of grinding us down !

I must stop, for now it is getting very late. Give my
remembrances to our brother and friends.

From your sister who loves you, Ninay.

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Balayan, p. L, August 4, 1902.
Dearest Clemen : ... It has been an immense de-
light to us to hear from you after the two months during

* Mrs. Elbert Ellis Smith, of Chicago, in whose care Clemencia came
from Hong-Kong, and to whom she is indebted for many kindnesses.

196 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

which we have heard nothing of you except by hearsay ;
especially as nothing else is talked of in this town but
the news that you are to appear before the Senate Com-
mittee. This news was known immediately, and I was,
perhaps, one of the first to hear it, for one of the officers
who was here was kind enough to give me a copy of the
cablegram which he had just received, telling me at the
same time that it was a sensational piece of news for
our country. What, then, is the result of it ? Did it
actually take place ? God grant that it may produce a
good effect for the benefit of all, and that in this way we
may at last know whether or not there is any justice.

Some rigorous orders from Bell have been circulated
here, absolutely prohibiting his officers from interfering
in civil matters, or with the civil employees, at least unless
the latter call for assistance. Not so bad.

You will already know that for upwards of a month
we have had Civil Government ; the governor appointed
is Senor Simeon Luz. It is said that Bell will remain a
month longer in Batangas to receive claims for damages
on account of what the military have done in the towns.
Much good it will do to hear these claims for the purpose
of doing justice, if he still holds the idea that in order to
pacify the people it was necessary to adopt the measures
which his policy entailed ! Imagine whether any one
will approach him to claim damages for the cruelties
committed by his own officers ! I am very sure that our
countrymen, whether through fear or through a lack of
confidence as to their obtaining satisfaction, will do noth-
ing of the sort, — especially as it has now become evi-
dent that it is useless, and only wastes one's breath.

As to the " Purisima," up to the present time the
repairs have not been begun, although Bell promised to
send it [to the docks] long ago, in order to return it
to us promptly. Manuel went to Batangas a week ago
to talk with him, but we have not yet heard what reso-
lution Bell has come to. A month ago ... we received
a dispatch from Bell saying that, in view of the time that

STORY OF THK LOPKZ FAMILY 197

has passed by, during which the work on the " Purisima "
had not been begun, did we not now wish that he should
immediately transfer it to us ? To which we answered
that, having once decided to retain the steamer, he could
also decide as to the length of time he would retain it ;
but that he must understand that on no account did we
wish to have the steamer in such a damaged condition
as the " Purisima " is in at present. As he has offered to
send it to be repaired, but offered nothing for the use of
it, it is my opinion that we had better claim compensa-
tion ; that is, assuming that he denies liability, in accord-
ance with the circular which he issued to the effect that
all the houses which his troops have occupied, as well as
other things which they have used, are not to be paid
for if their owners were involved in the insurrection.
But as the steamer is in Jose's name, and as Manuel is
the manager, it would be just [for us to make a claim],
and I do not believe that it will be useless ; but this
will be done after the steamer has been returned to us.
Let us drop this subject, which puts me in a bad humor.

Manuel has been here to spend a few days with us.
He had no alternative but to come by land, via Calamba,
in order not to be quarantined. He is as well as ever, and
told me that he had written to you several times, telling
you of his experiences during his imprisonment. . . .

I will end now, for the transport starts soon, and I am
afraid this will not be in time. . . .

For the present, receive an embrace from your sister,
who loves you. Ninay

[The history of the " Purisima " extends beyond the
limits of this series of letters, and so, a brief account of
what has occurred up to date (November, 1903) may
not be out of place here.

Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities with Amer-
ica,— that is, when the first shipping regulations were

198 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

issued by the American authorities at Manila, — the
" Purisima" was entered under these regulations and has
ever since carried the American flag. For the two and
a half years between that time and the seizure by
General Bell, the *' Purisima " had been trading between
Manila (where Manuel lived and had his shipping office)
and the ports of Batangas, Tayabas, and Marinduque.
No charge was ever made, nor was any suspicion enter-
tained, that the boat was engaged in trade directly, indi-
rectly, or remotely connected with the "insurgents." It
returned to Manila once or twice a fortnight, — accord-
ing to the number or distance of the ports visited, — and
all its movements were known to the Manila authorities,
including Captain Curry, the chief of police, who, in a
letter to Mr. Warren, says : " Manuel Lopez, who lives
in Manila with Mariano, / am satisfied has dotie nothing
disloyal."

The " Purisima " could therefore have been seized or
dealt with at any time by the Manila authorities upon
proof, or even suspicion, of its improper use by the
owner, or by the manager — Manuel, But instead,
Manuel was allowed to go on his usual trip to Boac,
Marinduque, which was under Civil Government ; and,
in order to get him and the " Purisima" under military
jurisdiction. General Bell — or an ofificer under his com-
mand and acting under his instructions — had recourse
to a distinctly illegal proceeding, involving a petty decep-
tion unworthy of a soldier.

In this manner the boat was seized and used by the
military authorities for a period of 157 days ; after which
it was held by them, azvaiting and undergoing repairs,
for a further period of 1 13 days — making a total of 270
days during which Manuel was deprived of its use. It
was then returned in a partly repaired, unsatisfactory
condition, necessitating, before it could be used, an
expenditure by Manuel of ^450 (gold) for additional
repairs.

Manuel therefore sent in a claim for the use of the

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 199

boat for 270 days, at the rate of $50 (gold) per day, plus
the $450 spent on repairs. This rate must be regarded
as exceedingly moderate in view of the fact that Manuel
had previously received $150 (Mex.) per day, for the use
of the boat, and that General Bell himself had offered
the same rate for a continuance of its hire.

In response to Manuel's claim, General Davis offered
to recommend the payment of a part of it, as will be seen
by his letter which follows.]

[From Major-General Davis to Manuel Lopez.]

Headquarters, Division of the Philippines,

Manila, P. I., P"ebruary 25, 1903.
Mr. M. Lopez y Castelo,

36, Regina Regente St., Manila, P. I.

Sir : Referring to the claim made by you under date
of October 14, 1902, as agent for your brother, Jose
Lopez y Castelo, for indemnification on account of the
seizure and use of the Steamer " Purisima Concepcion,"
I have the honor to inform you that under the laws and
regulations of the United States I have not the power
to liquidate such a claim and it will be necessary to
forward the papers to Washington for consideration by
higher authority.

Assuming that the owners of the vessel have been
guilty of no act of disloyalty to the United States since
the ratification of the Treaty of Paris on April i ith,
1899, I am disposed, when forwarding the papers, to
make a recommendation as to the settlement, pro\aded I
know beforehand that such a settlement would be accept-
able to the claimants.

This recommendation would be that the United States
pay the owners of the " Purisima Concepcion " $40,
United States currency, per day, from December 12,
1901 to May 17, 1902, inclusive, — 157 days, — plus
^450, United States currency, claimed for completion of
repairs by owners, making a total of 56730, United

200 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

States currency ; this sum to be in final settlement in
full of all claims growing out of the seizure, use, damage,
and detention of this vessel by the United States.

The period of 157 days covers the time the vessel was
in actual use by the United States, and does not include
the period from May 18 to September 8, 1902, during
which time the vessel was undergoing repairs or awaiting
repairs. These repairs cost the United States $1475.58,
United States currency, but it will be noted that their
cost is not deducted from the amount it is proposed to
pay, viz., $6730.

Please inform me whether such a settlement upon the
conditions named will be accepted by the owners of the
vessel, in order that I may make my recommendation
accordingly.

I desire it to be distinctly understood, however, that
I cannot guarantee that this recommendation will be
adopted by the authorities in Washington, and to further
advise you that, should the terms and conditions of the
settlement to be proposed in said recommendation be
not acceptable to the owners of the vessel, I will forward
the papers without any recommendation.
Very respectfully,

[Signed] George W. Davis,

Major- General,
Command. y U. S. A.

[To this offer of General Davis's, Manuel replied in
the following terms, which, if not expressed in correct
English, are quite clear as to meaning.]

[From Manuel Lopez to Major-General Davis.]

Manila, P. I., March 8, 1903.
[Major-General Davis,

Commander, U. S. A., Manila, P. I.]
General : I have the honor to inform you that your
proposal [dated February 25, 1903] for settlement of my

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 201

claim for the " Purisima Conccpcion," [made] on October
14, 1902, is not acceptable to the owner, as being known
[i. e., as it is known] that General Bell offered to lease it
for one hundred and fifty ($150) dollars, local currency,
per day. The vessel was necessarily under repairs.

The period from May 18 to September 8, 1902 was
occupied in repairing the vessel. This unnecessar[il]y
long time was wasted. It was not in my power to pre-
vent it, [for] it [the steamer] had not been transferred
to me.

Therefore, my claim that the lease should not go below
^50 [per day]. United States currency, is just, and should
cover the above date of repairing.

Hoping that you, with the higher authorities at Wash-
ington, will consider the said above, I am,
Very respectfully,
[Signed] M. Lopez.

[On receipt of this intimation from Manuel, General
Davis apparently sent the papers to Washington without
making any recommendation — in accordance with the
closing paragraph of his letter. And in due course the
following extraordinary reply was received through the
local commander in Batangas.]

Headquarters Third Brigade,

Adjutant-General's Ofifice,
Batangas [City], P. I., August 8th, 1903.
Senor Jose Lopez y Castelo,

Balayan, Batangas, Philippine Islands.
Sir : I am directed by the Brigade Commander to
inform you, with reference to your claim for use of the
steamer " Purisima Conccpcion " by the United States,
from December 13, 1901 to September 8, 1902, that the
papers in this case, having been submitted to the Secre-
tary of W^ar, were returned disallowing the claim and
with the following remarks :

202 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

" The property which is the basis of said claim
was the private property of a public enemy of the
United States, and was seized in time of war for
the benefit of the Army. Such a seizure amounted
to a formal military impressment of this property
and resulted in no legal obligation to make any com-
pensation whatever to the owner or his agent for
any use that was made of it. The owner has
already been treated with extreme liberality in the
return of this property to him in proper state of
repair. It is recommended that the claim be dis-
allowed. It certainly should not be paid unless the
War Department is ready to compensate all of its
late enemies in the Philippine Islands for property
seized during the progress of the Philippine Insur-
rection."

The papers in the case have been retained on file in
the office of the Quartermaster General, War Depart-
ment, Washington.

Very respectfully,
[Signed] Geo. H. Shelton,

Capt. Ilth U. S. Infantry,

A djiLtant-General.

[It will be observed that the " remarks " contained in
the foregoing letter, which were doubtless contributed
by some small red-tape official, and upon which the re-
fusal of the claim is based, describe Manuel — or Jose,
who is legally the owner of the " Purisima " — as " ^
public enemy of the United States " ! It would be in-
teresting to learn what was the evidence or the official
or other record upon which this extraordinary charge is
based. Manuel, as has been shown, had been living
quietly in Manila during the previous two and a half
years, and there is testimony by an official of the United
States Government to the effect that he had " do7ie

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 203

nothing disloyal'' Josd, a youth of twenty-two years,
has spent the last three of them in England ! There is
not a tittle of evidence to show that either of these men
had ever, by act or implication, been "a public enemy
of the United States." The same can be said of all the
remaining members of the Lopez family, with the excep-
tion of Cipriano who, ten months previous to the seizure
of the " Purisima," had honorably surrendered, taken
oath of allegiance to the United States, and was therefore
entitled to immunity and protection. Of Sixto, as has
already been shown, it can truthfully be said that, al-
though he is an opponcjit he is no more an cnc7ny of the
United States than is Senator Hoar, and therefore his
property would rightfully be no more liable to seizure
than would that of the honored Senator.

Unless, therefore, it can be shown that, since the date
of Cipriano's surrender, he or some other member of the
Lopez family has been guilty of an act of disloyalty, or
that Cipriano had previously been guilty of an act not
included in or covered by the terms of his surrender,
the statement as to the owner of the " Purisima " being
"a public enemy of the United States" is a baseless
fiction.

But probably every one has had to suffer at times
from the over-officiousness of the small official, whose
display of authority, whenever he gets an opportunity, is
always imposing and — ridiculous! The Lopez family
may in the meantime rest assured of ultimate justice.
Their claim, in whole or in part, according as it is valid,
will be recognized when the facts of the case are brought
under the notice of the proper authorities, for it must be
assumed that the American Government is prepared to
pay for the use of property, ^ven though it has been
obtained by ^^ formal military impressment."

204 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

The opening sentence of the following letter refers
to the receipt by Juliana of the Report of the Senate
Committee on the Philippines, which contained a less per-
fect translation of some of the letters included in this
book. Juliana thereupon proceeds to correct the reports
previously given of the seizure of the " Oretano " and
of the manner of the death of Isabelo Capacia, Com-
ment is unnecessary on what Juliana has to say of the un-
founded suspicions of some of the people of Balayan.]

[From Juliana to Clemencia Lopez.]

Balayan, P. I., August 5, 1902.

My dearest Clemen : I have read the papers you
sent me, as well as our letters translated into English.
I am sorry to tell you that some of the news which I
have given you was not exact ; but no one ought to be
surprised at that, for the ports were closed. For example,
that about the " Oretano " was not correct. The truth
is that it was detained for some days, not as being con-
fiscated, but because Nasugbu, where the boat put in,
was then closed. Naturally, they [the boatmen] were
detained in order to make a declaration, in which they
stated that Nasugbu was the only port wherein they
could save themselves from the storm ; after which they
were allowed to go. In regard to the death of Isabelo
I also have some corrections to make, but I have left
this to a friend, who will give you all the details.

I have been told that Bell is very well prepared to
defend himself against your demands at Washington,
and, according to the person who told me, has a history
of our family extending over the past ten years. As
the information for this must have been given by our
enemies, I believe that it can hardly be favorable to us,
yet what can they say about the conduct of our brothers ?
In any case they will say that we do not sympathize with
the Americans. That is the only thing there is — except

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 205

that we have a brother, Sixto Lopez. Therefore you
had better prepare yourself, in case General Bell goes to
America armed with lies and calumnies.

Every day the feeling of distrust by the Filipinos
toward the Americans grows stronger, for, when we had
the cholera here, can you credit that the common people
thought and believed — and even some of the better
educated people as well — that the Americans were pay-
ing to have Filipinos poisoned ; and that it is due to this
that there have been so many deaths ? Those were the
comments made during that time, especially in Batangas
and Taal. / cannot believe such infamy on their part,
but I am telling you of it so that you may realize to
what a point the distrust among the people has reached.
They believe the Americans capable of anything. When
the cholera was at the worst in this town, many people
did not go to the American doctor to be treated, for it
was said that there was information that, as soon as the
medicine was taken, the patient died, even although he
had not been fatally ill. Very often, when I see the
interest of Dr. Chidester in the sick, I am filled with
pity on account of the distrust which he inspires. But
there is no foundation for such beliefs, either as to poison
in the wells or the medicine ; they are all lies which are
too big to be swallowed.

But after all due allowance, the Americans are them-
selves to blame for this distrust. The Filipinos have
seen things that they were far from believing the Ameri-
cans capable of doing, v^hich, nevertheless, were being
done while the ports were closed.

The town remains peaceful, and they say that another
company will be posted here, so that we shall soon have
two, as we had formerly. So far, we have not the slight-
est complaint to make of those who are here, and now
they do not mix with the townspeople as they used to.
We have no friend among them, and it would have been
better if it had always been so.

Good-bye until another time. Do not forget to give

2o6 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

our affectionate regards to our friends. You already
know that you are not forgotten by your sister who loves

you, NiNAY,

I am writing to Pepe [Jose, in England] at the same
time, congratulating him on the result of his examina-
tions.

[The following is a condensed translation of a letter
from Seiior Ignacio Laines, a friend of the Lopez family,
who, at their request, undertook to inquire into and re-
port upon the death of Isabelo Capacia. Senor Laines
has shown himself to be a master of detail, and much
of what is contained in his letter, both as to matter and
manner, was necessary to a faithful discharge of his
duty. But, with a view to economy in space, though
his own wording has been retained wherever possible,
many of his phrases and repetitions have been condensed
or omitted from the following translation, which, never-
theless, is a faithful rendering of his account of a wicked
and revolting crime, the perpetrators of which still go
unpunished.]

[From Sefior Ignacio Laines to Clemencia Lopez.]

Balayan, Batangas, P. I., August ist, 1902,
Senorita Clemencia Lopez : Unforgettable and distin-
guished Friend: —
After saluting you and your brother Sixto, I pass
on to say [in response to your request for information
about the death of Isabelo Capacia] that ... on the
25 th of December of last year, as is known, General
Bell issued an order commanding the reconcentration
in the towns of all the inhabitants of the province of
Batangas. Isabelo Capacia, — your superintendent, and
assistant consejal of the municipal district of Calan, —

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 207

in obedience to the orders of the consejal,* Francisco
Macalaguim, urged and encouraged the withdrawal to
the town of all the inhabitants in his district. During
this reconcentration Isabelo took shelter in your house
in Progress Street, opposite mine, and had lived there
quietly with his family for a few days, when Senor
Manuel Ramirez called, and took him into the hall of
the house of Hilarion Ramirez, Manuel's brother. Once
there, Ramirez, in the threatening tone characteristic of
the present secret service, notified Isabelo that the com-
manding ofificer, Captain Cheever, knew that he [Isabelo]
still possessed three guns, and was also cognizant of
the place in which were buried the fifty guns belonging
to Cipriano, and that, if he made any attempt at con-
cealment, he would be subjected to very severe punish-
ment. Isabelo answered that it was indeed true that he
had had a gun, but that it had been taken by the Ameri-
can soldiers when they captured him in April of 1900;
that since he had taken the oath of allegiance at the
time of his liberation he had done nothing disloyal ;
and that as the guns under the control of Cipriano had
been turned over to the American authorities when
Cipriano surrendered on the 12th of March, 1901, he
consequently knew nothing of the fifty guns in question.
Ramirez thereupon took him to the convent where the
military prison was located, and left him in charge of
the guards. Some hours later Ramirez returned to
the prison with Inspector of Insular Police, Agapito
Bunzon, who asked Isabelo why, if he were really igno-
rant of these guns, Ramirez should have inquired of
him about them. [ ! ] The prisoner replied, as he had in
the first place, that he knew nothing of them. He
had not finished speaking when Bunzon began to shower
blows upon him, kicking him in the pit of the stomach
and throwing him to the ground. Then followed a series
of questions, varied by more torture, until finally the two

* Civil head of the barrio or suburb

2o8 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

emissaries of Cheever left Isabelo alone, having, per-
haps, become tired of maltreating him.

Isabelo could not tolerate this treatment, and so,
begged his consejal to accompany him to the military
commander, before whom he declared his innocence,
and demanded satisfaction for the cruelty with which
he had been treated. Cheever, thereupon addressing the
consejal, asked him if he would be responsible for the
conduct of Isabelo. Macalaguim replied that he would,
adding that he himself, as consejal, would be more likely
than any one else to know what happened or was dis-
covered within the limits of his district, since it was his
duty to know. Cheever had therefore no alternative
but to leave Isabelo in peace, although it was against his
will and that of Ramirez.

Now, what would Ramirez be likely to do when he saw
that, notwithstanding his denunciation, this servant of
the Lopez family was still at liberty ? Since his object
was to see this family completely ruined, would he not
find means to prove, even though falsely, that Lopez
and all his superintendents were traitors ? There could
be no doubt as to the sequel.

A week passed by, during which Isabelo remained with
his family, at peace and free. Then Captain Cheever,
v/ith some of the cavalry, came and obliged Isabelo to
follow him outside the town by the Calaca road. In
the afternoon of the same day the party returned, bring-
ing with them a broken and useless Mauser rifle of the
Spanish type.

I was for a time unable to find out how this gun had
been obtained, until, by chance, I met Vivencio Ramos,
who, through fear, allows himself to be influenced by the
lies and threats of vengeance of whoever may be in
power. Vivencio commented on the finding of the gun
in these words :

" This capture is due wholly to the minute investigation of Cap-
tain Manuel [Ramirez], and is almost a providential occurrence."

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 209

Here he stopped speaking a moment, and, touching me on the
shoulder as if to rivet my attention, he said : " Look ! Yesterday
afternoon there presented himself at the house of Captain Manuel
a certain Bartolo, a native of Calaca, who had heard there that a
company of Filipino scouts was being organized here in Balayan.
Wishing to become one he begged Ramirez to aid him, but Ramirez
replied that he was sorry he could not do so, since, in order to
become a scout, it was necessary that a man should deserve well of
the Government by rendering some special service. Bartolo asked
what services were necessary, in order that he might perform
them. Ramirez then explained that one of the services that would
qualify him was the discovery of the fifty guns belonging to Lopez,
which had not yet been presented, — or at any rate, one of
thdm. [!] Bartolo answered that at that very moment he knew
of one of these guns, stating that it belonged to Labelo, assistant
consejal of Calan, and that he knew the place where it was con-
cealed. Thereupon Captain Manuel took him before Captain
Cheever, and caused him to repeat his statement. The result
was that the commander immediately went out with some of his
soldiers to Calan, taking Isabelo. When they arrived, the com-
mander said that if Isabelo did not point out the place where the
gun was concealed he would be shot. Isabelo then confessed, indi-
cating that the gun was in a corner of his house, where it was indeed
found."

So much for Vivencio's story. Those who do not
know Ramirez would doubtless conclude that the account
of the affair as given by Vivencio was a correct state-
ment of the actual facts of the case. But I, who do
know him, thought it wise to make a personal investiga-
tion of the evidence, before accepting his statement.

In the first place, it is to be observed that this
Bartolo was an inhabitant of Calaca, and that at that
time no one was permitted to pass the rcconcentration
lines or go from one town to another, under penalty of
being shot by the soldiers who daily patroled outside the
zone. It is to be observed also that the informer was
Ramirez, a man who cherishes a deadly hatred for your
family and for all your dependents and friends. Finally,
it should be known that Ramirez had under his command

2IO STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

during those days a small flying column composed of
the convicted robbers, Romualdo Tolentino (or Daldoc),
Felipe Garcia, and Melecio. These men had been
granted especial privileges by the commanding officer,
and could pass the lines of reconcentration as secret
explorers, in order to search for guns which had not yet
been surrendered.

Well, then, how did it happen that this Bartolo had
the courage to come to Balayan alone, since he must have
known very well that on the way the patrol might meet
and kill him ? He must have known, too, that if he
attempted to enter any town he could not save himself
from the local volunteers, whose sole duty it was to pre-
vent the entrance and exit of any one from the zone
without a special pass, such as the little "Daldoc" col-
umn possessed. No man with a head on his shoulders
would believe that Bartolo would dare to do this at his
own risk.

In view of all this, would it be too much to deduce
that Ramirez had arranged that "Daldoc" should get
hold of a gun from his friends and companions in rob-
bery, put it in a corner of Isabelo's house, and then have
Isabelo denounced ? Those who know Ramirez well will
have no doubt of this trick, for he is a man capable of
such deception.

Moreover, if Isabelo's guilt had really been clearly
proven, or if he had " confessed " as Vivencio Ramos says
he did, there would have been no occasion for the torture
and death afterward inflicted on him. It would have
been more natural to order a court-martial, convict, and
legally shoot him as a traitor. In this way Ramirez and
Cheever could have attained their object without scandal
or responsibility. These are the conclusions to which
I have come.

I will now continue the history of poor Isabelo until
his unhappy death, which was as follows :

On Monday afternoon, the day after that on which the
gun was captured, Isabelo was taken from the prison and

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 211

put into a wagon by Inspector Runzon, with a few sol-
diers as a guard ; they then went to the town of Tuy,
where a company of Macabebe " scouts " was stationed,
under the command of the American officer, Lieuten-
ant Shawski [?]. The next day, Tuesday, Lieutenant
Shavvski, Bunzon,and the Macabebe soldiers took Isabelo
to the bank of the river Matauanak, where, after having
wrapped him in a carabao skin and attached a stone to
his belt as a weight, they threw him into the water, allow-
ing him to be entirely submerged. When the execution-
ers of this torture saw through the clear water that the
victim no longer moved, and therefore no longer breathed,
they took him out on the bank, where they terminated
their torture by jumping on his body, until blood burst
from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears ; finally breaking
some of his ribs, and thus they left him unconscious.
Having accomplished this, Bunzon returned to Balayan,
with the tortured man, completely mangled, stretched
out in the wagon ; and in this condition he was returned
to the detention room in the convent. When his wife
heard what had happened she begged and obtained per-
mission of the commanding officer to see her husband.
She could do nothing but weep when she saw the evil
plight of Isabelo, who, in the midst of all his suffering,
was able to recognize the voice of his wife. Although
at first he could not speak, yet, when he realized that
she was saying good-bye to him, hQ with a supreme
effort asked her not to go, since he knew by his difficulty
in breathing that he would die that night. But his poor
wife had no choice, for the soldiers of the guard would
not allow her to prolong her stay.

The American physician of this detachment, Mr.
Cheedester [ ? ], applied all the convenient remedies to
save the tortured man, but it was all useless, for in a
little while he died. The body was then transferred
to the military hospital, where it was submitted to ex-
amination.

On the following morning, as soon as Isabelo's vdfc

212 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

knew that her husband had died, she went to the com-
manding officer and begged him to allow her to have
the body, and, having obtained it, transferred it to her
house. Every one who saw the body bore witness to
the evidences of torture. One of the witnesses present
during the act of torture on the banks of the river
Matauanak was the brother of the unfortunate Isabelo.
He also was tortured, but not to the same extent.

Whether Isabelo has or has not been proved to be the
owner of the captured gun is not clear to me ; but it
is certainly proved beyond a doubt that he was killed
inhumanly and illegally.

One of the proofs of Isabelo's violent death is the
record of the formal examination of the body by the
American doctor, Mr. Cheedester, who, as Vivencio
Ramos himself told me, reported that Isabelo had died
a violent death. He made this report in spite of the
fact that he was forewarned by Ramirez that, in the time
of the Spaniards in the Philippines, matters of this sort
could be concealed.

In view of this report, Cheever could do no less than
name an examining judge to take the iirst steps in the
case. This duty fell to the American major who had
been commanding officer in Bauan last year, and who
happened to be here. The judge submitted Ramirez,
Inspector Bunzon, Lieutenant Shawski, and all the sol-
diers under his command, to an interrogation, and after-
ward took the papers to the military headquarters of the
province. This is all that I can say as to the death of
poor Isabelo.

Your affectionate servant, Ignacio Laines.

P. S. They say that Bell has returned to Batangas
solely to hear claims on account of abuses committed
by the military. Apparently, the general has not yet
any knowledge of the death of Isabelo, but in reality
this cannot be so, because of the official report. The
most probable explanation is that the general is keeping

STORY OF THK LOPEZ FAMILY 213

the report in his archives, to look over when the Philip-
pine Islands are no longer subject territory !

[Sefior Laines, doubtless satisfied in his own mind as
to how the ''broken and useless Mauser rifle" came to
be openly concealed in Isabelo's house, has not considered
it worth while to pursue the inquiry further. But there
is one point to which attention may briefly be called. It
may be presumed that Isabelo Capacia was a fairly intel-
ligent man — since he had been promoted from the posi-
tion of a simple farm hand to that of superintendent on
one of the Lopez plantations. Would he, then, be likely
to have committed the supreme folly of attempting to
conceal a rifle in the corner of his own house? He
and most of his fellow-townsmen were under suspicion ;
indeed, he had been openly accused of having three guns
in his possession. The Lopez family — to whom he
owed fidelity and to whom he proved faithful unto death
(for a confession, however false, would have saved him
from further torture) — were also charged with the con-
cealment of arms. Yet we are asked to believe that this
faithful and intelligent soul was both faithless and foolish
enough to leave a rifle — a useless rifle — concealed m
the corner of his house, while he himself took refuge in
that of his employers ! Furthermore, why did Ramirez
not search Isabelo's house at the time when he charged
Isabelo with the possession of three guns — a week pre-
vious to the alleged discovery of the rifle in question }
Why was it necessary to bring a stranger from another
town to make the discovery .-' The reason is obvious to
those who know the Lopez family and the respect in ,
which they are held. It was because no one of the in-
habitants of Balayan, however bad his character, could be
got to do a wicked thing against the children of the
" Defender of the just."

214 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

The following letter is from the aged and honored
mother of the Lopez family, Seiiora Maria Castelo, and
is written to Sixto and Clemencia. It forms a fitting
conclusion to the series, and recalls to one's mind the
marriage-feast of Cana, where the best wine was reserved
till the last.

Senora Castelo is one of the people, unpretentious,
unoffending ; firm in her adherence to truth and prin-
ciple, and full of lovingkindness and sympathy. Her
letter, though brief and couched in the language of pru-
dence and self-restraint, has a fullness of meaning to
those who have ears to hear. It is an unconscious cen-
sure of those who thoughtlessly imagine that the promise
of " good government " and " greacer prosperity," provided
by a foreign hand, will ever satisfy the heart that desires
national freedom ; it is a dignified rebuke to those who,
in ignorance, speak of the Filipinos as "savages" and
"Boxers " and " Apaches " ; it is an argument unanswer-
able by those who — perhaps naturally, in the absence
of actual knowledge — have assumed that opposition to
certain officers of the Catholic Church means opposition
to the Church itself ; it expresses pride in the self-
sacrifice of her children for the welfare of their native
land ; it breathes a spirit of devotion to duty and to fam-
ily honor equal to anything expressed in our own civiliza-
tion ; it displays a refreshing simplicity of devotion to
religion, and to the forms of religion, which ought to
make any church proud of such votaries. Yet this is the
splendid mother, these are the people, who have been
sorely persecuted and deprived of the " inalienable
rights " of man, on the assumption that they are ignorant
'Of man's duties and privileges; these are the people who
have been regarded as irreligious, because they reproved
those who had departed from their original mission of
love and self-sacrifice and had become seized with an
unhallowed spirit of personal gain !

The great value of these letters is that they bring one
in touch with the Filipinos themselves. It ceases to be

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 215

a question of gauging the reliability of report or opinion ;
report is notoriously liable to be false, "and opinion to be
erroneous and contradictory. But in these letters the
Filipinos are brought almost face to face with the reader,
who is thereby enabled to judge for himself or herself.
The fact of Scfiora Castelo's letter is worth more than
volumes of opinion or argument. Read it and judge.]

[From Sefiora Maria Castelo to Sixto and Clemencia Lopez.]

Balayan, p. I., August 27, 1902.

My beloved Children: Although it is true that up
to the present I have not written to you, still not a moment
has passed that I have not thought of you who are far
from me, in a foreign land, and to whom I have no money
to send to enable you to live in reasonable comfort and
to continue to the end that work which you have volun-
tarily taken up. I am rejoiced by all that you do which
contributes toward the welfare of our country, and, as a
mother, I feel proud to have children who sacrifice them-
selves for their native land. I should die of shame if I
knew that my children, instead of honoring the stainless
name which their forefathers have left them, were capable
of bringing reproach upon it by not fulfilling the duties
which every good Christian and good citizen owes to God
and to man. You already know this, but I repeat it to
you once more, so that the knowledge of what a blow it
would be to your mother to receive bad news of you
may be deeply graven on your hearts.

Every day I am recovering the strength which I was
losing little by little in Manila ; counting myself happy
since the liberation of your brothers, and because I have
returned here where I can breathe more freely.

Ninay has translated to me several of your letters in
which you speak of a steam plough. From what you say
it would certainly seem to be productive, and advantageous

2i6 STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY

to us, but in these times I do not wish you to raise a loan
for such a purpose, especially as the property is not yet
divided. In truth, I am afraid of these large loans,
especially when I remember several persons who have
been ruined by such. We ought to wait and allow one
or two of the large capitalists to begin first, for, lacking
animals for the cultivation of their lands, they will doubt-
less avail themselves of this method.

Before closing this letter let me remind you not to
forget your daily prayers, — above all, the rosary, — so
that you may be protected from all perils.

Give my most affectionate regards to Mr. Patterson
and to Mr. Warren and his family, and congratulate them
on their happy arrival in America.

May God bless you, as your mother, who loves you so
much, blesses you. Maria Castelo.

^•i

And thus the sands run out. As the last grain falls
it suggests a thought which neither mind nor conscience
can avoid. It is not that war is cruel and relentless.
No, with all its cruelty, war maybe justifiable in national
self-defense, as homicide is justifiable in personal self-
defense. Neither is it that the American soldier in the
Philippines has pursued a course different from that which
other soldiers would have pursued in similar circum-
stances. No, the policy and the methods go hand in
hand. Besides, the American soldier, when placed side
by side with the soldiers of European nations, as he
was placed in China, shines by comparison — a credit to
his country, to his flag, and to his uniform.

Yet, can it be denied that a tragedy has occurred in
the Philippines ? It may be called by some other name ;
it may be shrouded in the mantle of policy, of necessity,
of philanthropy ; but still, there are the dead hosts, the
charred hamlets, and the graves upon a thousand hills !

STORY OF THE LOPEZ FAMILY 217

Could all this have been avoided ?

Yes. Incontcstably, Yes. It was avoided in Cuba.

How ?

By the substitution of a word.

In the Treaty of Paris, a clause relating to Cuba pro-
vided that Spain hereby " relinquishes " sovereignty over
the Island of Cuba ; another clause, relating to the Philip-
pines, provided that Spain hereby ^Ucdcs" sovereignty
over the Philippines to the United States. When that
word " cedes " was embodied in the Treaty of Paris, the
blood was potentially shed. Around it clustered all the
subsequent wrongs and all the violation of rights.

From the thunders of Sinai comes the mandate of
Law : " Thou shalt not covet . . . anything that is thy
neighbor's " ; from gentler Bethlehem the message of
Love : " Do unto others as ye would that others should
do unto you."

Both Law and Love forbade it. And all the excuses
that reason can frame and philanthropy offer are naked
mockeries in the presence of Sinai and Bethlehem.

" Governments are instituted among men, deriving
their just powers from the consent of the governed."

A truth is never old-fashioned nor a principle out of
date. Righteousness is the same yesterday, to-day, and
forever. No man is wise enough, no nation great enough
to be able to ignore a fundamental principle or to escape
the consequences of a violation of immutable law.

}\

University of California

SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY

305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 • Box 951388

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388

Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed.

U)
JttL,

\^

Form I

3 1 58 00610 2544

DS

676.8

L88E97

;;., ;- "JTY

AA 000 779 099 ^

UUiilUiU!!