LUKBAN
mire of treachery and villainy could have inspired such thoughts!
“ And none could be found to preach them save men as preaching them now whose god is their stomach and whose motto is the requirements of their pocketbooks; whose patriotism consists in invoking the name of the Philippine islands when they wish to cry the loudest and deceive the better. who yesterday, and louder than anyone else, cried out:‘ Viva Independencia!’ when they saw the banner of the revolution triumphant; who, after egging on thousands of our comrades to the struggle, were the first, like the sycophants and cowards that they are, to shout‘ Viva the protection of America!’ and who tomorrow would cry out with equal ardour‘ Viva the sovereignty of African cannibals’ were those same cannibals to invade country with sufficient force.
“ Skilful traitors these, who long to return to their former yoke and chains; creatures devoid of dignity and initiative, carried away by the chimeras and visions which send them grovelling at the feet of whomsoever happens to be their master, sweating in the repugnant filth of servility and abjection. Retrace your footsteps on my countrymen who have been unwittingly caught in this trap! Think what you are doing. Can you not see that what these Philippine disciples of Judas offer you is not peace, but rather the surrender of our liberties and our shameful subjugation? And even if they do make all these promises in their proclamations, back of which stands the invader, do you think for a moment that in practice they will be complied with?
“ Yes, they shall be fulfilled when their originators want it so, and when they do not interfere with their malignant schemes and interests. A foreign government looks only to the interests of its own, and your strongest arguments are met, and be met by the powers in Washington. Only a national government, made up of the citizens on the country, can faithfully protect the interests of the inhabitants of that country; and this end cannot be gained by subjecting ourselves to any foreign power.” 15
When the Federalistas arrived in Samar in April 1901, it was likely that people outside the six American garrisons had read Lukban’ s pronouncements.
Federalistas campaign in Samar
The Americans got their ablest recruits in their policy of attraction from members of the Filipino illustrados who had everything to gain with their affiliation. Two of these, Benito Legarda and Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, actually used to be with Aguinaldo in the leadership of the
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