The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55: 1591-1593; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55: 1591-1593; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
But here it is to be noted that this right intention which is here
required is a condition no more essential to a righteous war than
to other good works, for in all these it is required, and without it
no work is virtuous; and hence it is that if this right intention be
wanting in the prince who levies war and in those who urge it, he would
sin by wrong intention, but if the other two conditions be fulfilled,
he, as Soto says, will not be held to make amends for the injuries
that may be done in the war. So, too, if a judge orders a robber to
be hanged, granted that _ex odio suspendat_, [25] he will not be held
to restitution, if on the testimony adduced the man deserved hanging.
_Reply_
Having ascertained the conditions required to make a war just, from
them we shall be able clearly to decide whether such is the war against
the Zambales at present under discussion. To this question we will
answer affirmatively: that it is lawful without any scruple whatever,
for in it the three conditions meet which are required for a just war,
as we have already said.
And first, in this war is found the first condition, namely, authority
in the one who wages it, for he is _persona publica_, the governor
of these isles; and also he has a superior who is our king. But since
the cause is self-defense, as will later be proved, he has no need of
other permission to defend his state against enemies who molest it,
as we have proved.
In this war, the third condition, too--we shall speak of the
second later--is fulfilled, namely, right intention; for its end
is the peace and security of the subjects, disturbed by these their
enemies. And this peace it has not been possible to secure by means
of our benevolent efforts, although such means have been tried--as
appears from our labors to that end last year in sending religious
of our order, and persons known to the Zambales, to persuade them to
desist from wrongdoing and be our friends, granting them a general
pardon for the wrongs they had committed against us; and although the
Zambales promised, and made oath in their fashion, they have defaulted
utterly, committing since then many atrocious wrongs against our
people, as appears from the reports on that matter which have been
drawn up. And, forasmuch as nothing has been gained through kindness,
comes now, as a last and drastic remedy, the resolution to win peace
and security for the king's subjects by waging war on his enemies; and
this is the right intention that is required according to Aristotle
and St. Augustine, as before quoted. But even suppose this intention
to be lacking, it is already said and proved above that this condition
is not in such sort essential as to oblige to indemnification.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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