Have they express orders from that Government?

“Perhaps these blessed gentlemen—­they are high flyers there is no doubt about that,—­have struck the clever idea of calling themselves generals, governors, etc., in order to enjoy a certain prestige and to give a certain color of legality to their acts—­this, although they don’t know an iota of what they are doing.  But what I am sure of, and many other men also, is that there is no order, that here there is not a single person in authority whom to obey.  This superfluity of rulers will finally lead to strained relations between them and the towns of this province will end by paying the piper.

“But we poor ignorant creatures in so far as the republican form of government is concerned, in order to avoid worse evils took them at their word, obeyed them like automatons, hypnotized by the title of ‘Insurgents’ which they applied to themselves.  But when I had an opportunity to read the said decree, doubts were forced upon me, I began to suspect—­may God and they pardon me—­that they were trying to impose upon us nicely, that, shielded by the motto, ’have faith in and submit to the will of the country’ they came to these towns ‘for business.’

“In order to dissipate this doubt, in order to do away with abuses, if there are abuses, I made up my mind to send you this account of the condition of things here.  I flatter myself that when you learn of the lamentable situation of this province, you will soon deign to take steps to establish order, because thereon depends the tranquillity of Pangasin~n and in the end a strict compliance with your superior orders.

“There will be no limit to the thanks of the people of this province if their petitions secure favourable consideration and an immediate response from the high patriotism and honourable standpoint of the Supreme Dictator of the Philippines.” [265]

It will be noted that the picture thus drawn by Senor Apostol differs in certain important particulars from that painted in such engaging colours by Judge Blount.

In September, 1898, the civil governor of Pangasinan had to have an escort of troops in passing through his province. [266]

On November 20, 1898, the head of the town of San Manuel wrote the provincial governor that his people could no longer support the troops quartered on them, as the adherents of the Katipunan had burned or stolen all of their property. [267]

The sum total of Blount’s description of affairs in this, the most populous province of Luzon, is derived from the narrative of Messrs. Wilcox and Sargent and reads as follows:—­

“In Pangasinan ’the people were all very respectful and polite and offered the hospitality of their homes.’” [268]

Doubtless true, but as a summary of conditions perhaps a trifle sketchy.

Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija was the next province visited by Wilcox and Sargent.  They have failed to inform us that:—­