To-day he amuses himself in fitting out bands of little boys who on
"state" occasions parade the streets with American flags and Japanese
lanterns, and placards with various inscriptions, the chief ones
being petitions for an amnesty on behalf of all those who have "done
what they ought not to have done". Poblete would open the doors of
the prisons of the Archipelago and let loose all their occupants. The
result? A political boom for Poblete, an increase in the membership of
the Partido Nacionalista and an increase of crime to a thousand fold,
not only in Manila but throughout the whole archipelago.
Poor Poblete a pobre infeliz, a stain upon the good name of the
filipino. But then, what would Filipinas be without her Poblete;
almost like a cat without fleas.
[93] Cruz Herrera, now alcalde of Manila, was another upon whom the
authorities took pity on account of the rheumatism from which he
suffered to such an extent that he could scarcely walk.
[94] This was Alfonso XII. the anniversary of whose death fell of the
25th of November. Archbishop Payo had been suffering for a considerable
time from dysentery. Apart from this, the bitterness of the official
relations at that time between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities
had completely incapacitated the venerable prelate from attending
to his official duties. Consequently, acting upon the advice of his
physician, the Archbishop left Manila for Navotas for a few days of
complete rest. The departure of the Archbishop happened to almost
coincide with the anniversary of the death of the King; but as the
prelate was physically unable to attend to the pontifical ceremonies
which were to be held on that day and to the other functions consequent
upon such a solemn occasion, he was wisely advised to absent himself
from the city.
Freemasonry ever on the watch, saw in this an opportunity to attack
the Religious Orders, and taking advantage of it, demanded: "The
insult committed by the archbishop being therefore very culpable,
and having caused the greatest indignation to the government, to
the nation, and in particular to those of this country, as devoted
to their king; it is indispensable to expel him from this soil,
imposing upon him the penalty of temporary banishment marked out by
article 142 of the penal code.
[95] To judge from his writing, Isabelo held the idea that he alone
was able to direct everything connected with the revolt. Isabelo
takes upon himself the intellectual work of the affair leaving to
others the dirty work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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