The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 326 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 326 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55.
of what was done, as it was to check him who was trying to destroy us.  The inspector should consider what he should do, if any similar case happened in China.  What he was sorry for was in not having been able to save any of the Anhays among the Sangley merchants, who perished among the guilty.  But it was impossible to prevent that, for the violence of war does not allow some to be killed and others exempted, especially since they were unknown to the soldiers in the heat of war.  Employing clemency toward those captured alive, he condemned them to row in the galleys, which is the punishment substituted by the Castilians for those who merit death.  However, if they in China thought that the punishment should be lessened, he would give them liberty.  “But it should be noted,” says Don Pedro, “that this might be the cause that, if so serious a crime were unpunished, they would fall into it a second time, a thing that would close all the gates to kindness.  The goods of the Chinese killed are in deposit.  And in order that it may be seen that I am not moved by any other zeal than that of justice, I shall have these immediately delivered to their heirs, or to those to whom they rightfully pertain.  I am not moved to any of these things by any consideration other than that of right.  To tell me that if I do not free the prisoners, permission will be given, to the relatives in China of those who were killed in the rebellion, to come with a fleet to Manila, causes no disturbance in my mind; for I consider the Chinese as so sensible a race, that they will not be incited to such things with little foundation and especially since we have; on our side, given them no occasion for it.  In case any other resolution is followed, we Spaniards are people who know how to defend our rights, religion, and country very well.  And do not let the Chinese consider themselves lords of all the world, as they give out; for we Castilians, who have measured it with palmos, know with exactness the lands of China, where it will be well to know that the king of Espana has continual wars with kings as powerful as their own [i.e., the Chinese king], and subdues them and inflicts great troubles upon them.  It is no new case, when our enemies imagine that we are defeated, to find us desolating and destroying the confines of their lands, and not ceasing until we have hurled them from their thrones and taken away their scepters.  I would be very sorry for a change in trade, but I also believe that the Chinese do not wish to lose it, since so great gain accrues from it, and the Chinese take to their kingdom so much of our silver, which is never diminished in amount, in exchange for their merchandise, which is composed of poor articles that are soon worn out.”  The English ships that reached the coast of China, he was determined not to receive, for they are not Spaniards, but their enemies, and are pirates.  Consequently if they came to Manila they would be punished.  “Finally, because we Spaniards
Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.