“All of which I communicate to you in order that you may form an idea of what is taking place here, and take such steps as may be proper for the common good, and especially for the good of this town, hoping that with the aid of your valuable protection the abuses and disorders suffered by the residents will be stopped.” [300]

The province of Abra, now a subprovince of South Ilocos, was evidently no exception to the general rule, for there is on file a letter to Aguinaldo with twenty-six signatures, protesting bitterly against the oppression of the poor, in the effort to compel them to contribute war taxes, complaining against the misuse of supplies gathered ostensibly for the soldiers, and stating that the petitioners will be obliged to take refuge with the Igorots and Negritos, if not granted relief. [301]

Apparently the trouble grew, for on December 27, 1898, the “Director of Diplomacy” telegraphed to Aguinaldo concerning it, saying:—­

“Most urgent.  The discontent in the provinces of Pangasinan, Tarlac and Yloco (Ilocos) is increasing.  The town of Bangbang rose in revolt the 25th and 26th of this month, and killed all of the civil officials.  It is impossible to describe the abuses committed by the military and civil authorities of the said provinces.  I urge you to send a force of 100 men and a diplomatic officer to reestablish order.  The matter is urgent.” [302]

I find nothing important in the Insurgent records concerning conditions in La Union at this time.  Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan, which were now revisited by our tourists, have already been discussed.

The Province of Manila

Conditions in Manila Province, as distinguished from Manila City, left much to be desired.

Admiral Dewey made a statement applicable to the territory adjacent to the city and bay of Manila in a cablegram to Washington dated October 14, 1898, which reads as follows:—­

“It is important that the disposition of the Philippine Islands should be decided as soon as possible. . . .  General anarchy prevails without the limits of the city and bay of Manila.  Natives appear unable to govern.” [303]

Of it Blount says:—­

“In this cablegram the Admiral most unfortunately repeated as true some wild rumours then currently accepted by the Europeans and Americans at Manila which, of course, were impossible of verification.  I say ‘unfortunately’ with some earnestness, because it does not appear on the face of his message that they were mere rumours.  And, that they were wholly erroneous, in point of fact, has already been cleared up in previous chapters, wherein the real state of peace, order, and tranquillity which prevailed throughout Luzon at that time has been, it is believed, put beyond all doubt.” [304]

Blount seems here to have overlooked the fact that the admiral himself was in Manila Bay and in Manila City at the time he sent this cablegram.  The statements in question were not rumours, they were deliberate expressions of opinion on the part of a man who had first-hand information and knew what he was saying.