LUKBAN
Constitution, that they would not meddle with religious affairs, and there they are in Dagupan, Jaro and elsewhere, forcing us to submit to our ancient tyrants, the Friars, whom we hate and who hate us. And they would make us promise today too, in stacks as high as heaven itself, for the period of volunteer service is about to expire and within a few days they won’ t have any troops. And, of course, they’ ll go on promising us all sorts of things to see if they can get us to give up our arms, whereupon they would plunge us into the most despotic and brutal subjugation.
“ Behold their works and their conduct up to today; at first they treated the prisoners of war well, and respected life and property; later, when they judged us weak, they began first by burning the homes of those taking part in the revolution, and, later, those of their sympathizers; then their sympathizers were taken out from time to time and secretly shot at midnight. And finally their prisoners were taken out and legally hanged until dead in the broad light of day, and upon the merest suspicion, the inhabitants of our fields and cities were tortured and sacked.
“ Today, however, they do not seek any pretext for firing and sacking, for torturing and killing; today they do not seek the cover of darkness for the perpetration of their brutal outrages and repulsive crimes. Today, they also do these things for pleasure, with impunity; and all of this the government tolerates, consents to, and if there be any outcry, even orders by terror-inspiring proclamations, giving arbitrary authorities a free hand in the perpetration of their misdeeds. The government, though it may pay but little heed to these statements, approves and assists the friars – those secular and insatiable vampires of our wealth and hangmen of our race – and carries its despotism to the extent of curbing the individual conscience and annihilating the press, which formerly enjoyed the free expression of opinion.
“ Anyone can tell what their treatment of us would be later when no longer a shot is heard in defense of liberty, and we have given ourselves into their hands, submissive and undefended. But, mind you, the spirit of justice so far shown by that government and its agents in their dealings with us, both heretofore and now, is the guarantee brought forward and offered to us by the Federal Party for the realization of their platform, so pregnant with beauteous rights and future concessions. Alas, for fellows, why trouble yourselves to deliver a treasure in the hands of persons, who as everyone can see, are squandering what is within their reach.. Why, none but a simpleton, or one who is blinded by the glitter of gold and desired personal gain, could conceive so monstrous an idea! None but a spirit deep in the
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