APPENDIX A.

A HISTORY OF THE FEDERAL PARTY, BY DR. T. H. PARDO DE

TAVERA.

THE FEDERAL PARTY.

The political event of greatest importance next to the organization of the Filipino revolutionary government and the outbreak of hostilities with the United States has undoubtedly been the establishment of the Federal party-the first to be born and develop in the Philippines under the protection of law and in accordance with the new right of freedom of association and of the press which the Government of the United States has guaranteed to the natives of the archipelago.

In view of the greatly disturbed condition of the country after the 4th day of February, 1899, it was not easy to foresee when a political party could be formed, and it appeared impossible to arrange a peace proposition which would induce the Filipinos to acknowledge American sovereignty. A policy of government based principally upon the most absurd intolerance which had obtained in the Philippines for more than three centuries until the arrival of the Americans, has established in the minds of the Filipinos the deep-rooted conviction that an alien sovereignty could come with no other object in view than an iniquitous exploitation and that it could be maintained by no other means than a selfish and absorbing government founded upon civil intolerance, religious medievalism, and inexorable military power-the triple alliance which the previous government relied on.

The successes of the Union Army in the war convinced the Filipinos that there was a superior force which would annihilate them; but these successes could not prevent the people-bleeding and without strength-from tenaciously continuing a suicidal struggle to escape the new slavery which they so greatly feared, even though it were at the cost of death. An attempt was made as far back as the outbreak of hostilities in February, 1899, to organize a party that would accept American sovereignty, for the purpose of securing peace and permitting the Filipinos enjoying it to petition the United States, through lawful channels, for all those rights and liberties they wished to obtain.

The Filipinos knew the United States only through the proclamations, speeches, and ordinances of the Spanish authorities, and through the articles published in the Spanish press, all of which tended to convince them that the sovereignty of the United States would endanger not only their liberty, but also the civilizing influences of religion, and even their families. They also diffused the idea of the absolute weakness and impotency of the United States to make war on the Filipinos. Such was the true reason for the great lack of confidence felt toward the United States and of the absolute certainty which the Filipinos PC 1901-PT 1-11

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harbored of being able to vanquish their great rival in an armed conflict.

It was necessary, in order to secure peace, to patiently and confidently await the time when facts would prove to the Filipinos the error of their judgment. The lesson taught by experience was long and, unfortunately, at the cost of the ruin of the country and the loss of a large number of human lives..

Certain abuses committed by men representing authority among the Filipinos and the unsettled conditions and injustice that prevailed in their territory showed the impossibility of the organization of an independent government. The triumph of the American arms made them realize that the accusation of cowardice brought against the Americans and generally disseminated throughout the country during Spanish rule was an absurd slander, and, finally, the conduct of the Americans after their victories showed them that their acts did not reveal cruel and wicked men, as had been affirmed by the Spanish military, civil, and ecclesiastical authorities in official documents.

Of the principal civil chieftains of the insurrection some voluntarily surrendered, while others were captured by the forces of the Union. Some of the generals were already in Manila and had acknowledged the sovereignty of the United States. This circumstance favored the work done with the purpose of convincing the people that peace was an absolute necessity and that it would be the origin and beginning of a period of justice during which the cause of liberty would attain those rights which it would be impossible ever to acquire by the force of arms. The people in arms received the advice which was sent them by their friends in the city with the most profound contempt, supposing it to have been dictated and inspired by fear, under the threats of the authorities. The civil and military commanders who surrendered or sought the protection of American sovereignty had, upon their arrival in Manila, an opportunity of communicating directly with the members of the Commission and of observing in person that the state of affairs was actually far different from what they had supposed when in the field. They themselves wrote to those who persisted in their hostile attitude, informing them of the true situation. Little by little they so convinced their friends and comrades that they, too, began to return to the towns, and there was spread throughout the country, if not an absolute confidence in, at least a more favorable idea of, the Americans and less mistrust of their policy.

It appeared to some at this time that the opportune moment had arrived to organize a political party, and thereupon the preliminary labors for the construction of our platform were begun.

Messrs. Buencamino, Dr. Frank S. Bourns, Ner, Arguelles, Dancel, Fabie, Yangco, Torres, Arellano, and others, full of faith and confidence in their success, went to work and were able to complete their labors in time to call a meeting for December 23, 1900. At said meeting, presided over by Mr. Florentino Torres, the manifesto of the Federal party was read and its platform given out, and thus was the Federal party organized.

Without wishing to cast aspersions upon the good faith of anyone, lack of confidence in the brilliant success at once achieved by the party was perhaps natural, since at that time Manila was under a military government, and it was not strange that suspicion should be harbored that many of those that joined the party did so in order not to appear

as enemies of the American Government. But the real influence of the party and the sincerity of its adherents was soon made evident, not only by the rapidity of its growth in the provinces, but also by the more significant fact that the surrender of many Nationalists with their arms was followed by their acknowledging the sovereignty of the United States and their declaration that they abandoned armed warfare by reason of the efficacious influence of the Federal party which they joined.

In order to organize committees in the pueblos, delegates with adequate instructions were sent to the provinces, but so great was the effect produced by the new party that in a great many of the pueblos committees had been formed before the arrival of the delegates; in fact, new and enthusiastic adherents were gathered in spontaneously from every quarter.

The first demonstration of material importance made by the party was held when the Civil Commission made a trip through the Provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Pangasinan, where, due to the unity of purpose of the party, a large group of persons, representing the most distinguished elements of those provinces, for the first time made a public expression of their sympathy, confidence, and adherence to the sovereignty of the United States. Such demonstrations were of great value, for, besides revealing in the Philippines a new sentiment, they served to convince the rest of the Filipinos that it was already possible, without endangering life, to express allegiance to the new sovereignty. Terror had reigned in those very provinces until a short time prior hereto, because natives who had shown they were partisans of the Americans, and who expressed their ideas in public, were cruelly assassinated in their own homes or kidnapped with their families, to be sacrificed in a manner as cruel as it was barbarous.

On February 22 last the "Americanista" sentiments of the Federals were in evidence in Manila, when a memorable demonstration was held on the Luneta drive, where more than 7,000 people, belonging to all classes of society, applauded the name of Washington and paid homage as sincere as it was enthusiastic to the American flag. In all the pueblos of the archipelago where the party had been organized demonstrations of the same nature took place, this being the first time that enthusiastic public demonstrations of friendly sentiments toward the United States had been held.

During the trips afterwards taken by the Commission to the two most obstinately rebellious provinces-Bulacan and Bataan-it was observed that the triumph of the Federal party had brought about peace and confidence on the part of their inhabitants. It was also seen when the Commission traveled over the other provinces for the purpose of establishing civil government that the adherents of the party did everything in their power to facilitate the work of the Government and to diffuse among the Filipinos the sentiments of confidence which they themselves bore toward the United States.

Although it is true that in some of the provinces the committees had been rapidly organized and had been successful in calming the general lack of confidence of the people, in others not a few difficulties had to be overcome because some misguided men were diffusing ideas calculated to excite mistrust.

The Spanish press of Manila is making a systematic opposition to the Federal party and a short time ago inaugurated a campaign of slander directed against its adherents, but they have been able to

create only an atmosphere openly hostile toward the Spaniards, which will undoubtedly increase.

The Federal party is constantly laboring to show to the Filipino people that nothing will benefit them as much as an unconditional adoption of American civilization, in order that they may at the proper time constitute a State similar to others of the Union. This is the final purpose of its platform, which clearly explains the aspirations of the party, which are, briefly, as follows: A steadily increasing autonomy, the separation of church and state, representation of the Philippines in the Federal Congress, and the adoption of the American Constitution, culminating at last in the admission of the islands as one of the States of the Union.

Peace being secured, all the efforts of the party will be directed toward the Americanization of the Filipinos and the spread of the English language, so that by this medium the American spirit may be infused, its principles, political usages, and grand civilization adopted, and the redemption of the Filipino people be radical and complete. Such a work will not be easy. The old rule has inculcated habits and customs that can not easily be changed, but in the same manner as the Filipinos have been taught by experience that they were deceived in supposing and in believing the slanders they heard against the Americans to be true, so will they again be taught by experience that the progress and civilization of the country lies in a complete adoption of the American spirit.

Habit, the traditional spirit of backward countries, and a mistaken idea of their own history, are the motives that lead some Filipinos to stubbornly insist upon the preservation, as useful and glorious, of a rickety form of civilization bequeathed by the former sovereignty. However, common sense will not be long in showing, when their passions have somewhat calmed, that the past has fallen because it only represented the miserable vestiges of a senile and incomplete civiliza tion. It is only now that the Filipinos can say that for the first time an opportunity has been granted them, of having a true civilization in their midst, guided by a nation practically capable of civilizing and extending to others the benefits of its institutions and its customs.

The Filipino people is ardently desirous of education; it thirsts for justice, and it was only through the fear of a perpetuation of the era of abuse and oppression which characterized the old sovereignty that it was impelled to a tenacious resistance against the sovereignty of the United States. When the Government of the United States shall have organized public education, and when the organization of justice shall give complete satisfaction to all who demand the defense of their rights, then will it be possible to see the true sentiments that our people harbor to the new sovereignty.

The Federal party has confidence in America and in the Filipinos, because its adherents are sure that America, sooner or later, will grant to the Filipinos all the rights enjoyed by the natives of the Columbian continent; it is also confident that the Filipinos, within a short space of time, when they understand their best interests, will enter, without suspicion or reserve, upon the road which the Federal party will show them. Inspired by the American spirit, adopting the English language, reading and thinking as Americans, the universal belief is that it will be demonstrated to the Republic of the United States, sooner or later, that the Filipinos are worthy and able to form a part of their federation. Such are the hopes harbored by the founders of the