MAXILOM TO MABINI, MAY 15, 1899

Exhibit 1393.

[Original in Spanish. L.S. P.I.R.. 144.5.]

MAY 15, 1899.

Seņor APOLINARIO MABINI.

My DISTINGUISHED SIR: In accordance with what I stated in one of my former letters that the American authorities had intimidated our Provincial President in order that all the towns within his jurisdiction should positively and clearly recognize the supremacy of their Nation, they have not repeated as yet that demand on account of the attitude of resistance which was assured by the local presidentes whose wishes were consulted and by energetic attitude of the military class which at once proceeded to prepare for an outbreak of hostilities. The complaisance amounting to servility of our former Provincial Government to the American invaders has produced great disgust in the towns in general and especially in the officers of the army who are placed in an uncalled for position since they find all sorts of obstacles opposed to them and all resources withheld from them in order that they may not be able to oppose any resistance to the enemies of our independence. As time goes on the relations of the people who refuse to submit and the officers of the army with the government were becoming continually more strained. Before any contest had arisen on account of its unspeakable conduct, a conflict which would render still worse the serious condition of the province the local presidentes requested Seņor Julio Llorente, special commissioner of the Honorable President of the Nation to hold and preside over elections, so that a Provincial Government with a proper head should be established and in fact this was done. By aid of the documents I send herewith, you can judge better of this.

Unhappily the occupation of this city by the North Americans makes felt the pernicious influence of the policy of attraction which tlley have established; lavishing all sorts of cajoleries upon both the common people and those of quaUty in the towns and aided as they are by their brothers the English and by the irreproachable conduct of themselves; it is not strange that they continue attracting the sympathy of many and that this quality of attraction of theirs has had great influence upon the present provincial Government whose policy tends toward a frank recognition of the necessity for annexation and the acceptance of autonomy. It is not strange that this should be the case as Seņor Julio Llorente presides over the government and his intimate friend is the ex-councilor of Revenue, Seņor Pablo Mejia, and besides they receive frequent letters from Seņor Florentino Torres a decided partisan of annexation, whose ideas have been taken up by the said gentlemen in spite of the opposition of Seņores Miguel Logarta and Segundo Singson, ardent patriots. Seņor Mejia formed part of the former government as Councilor of Revenue and was the principal target for the wrath of the unconditional party, which knew 11is convictions even when he was hiding them with the cloak of patriotism, but his counsel to the ex-President Seņor Flores influenced the latter to place his authority under the the American authority, which conduct occasioned the fall of the Government, and caused their ostracism.

The nomination of Seņor Julio Llorente for the Presidency, although he had lost much of the prestige he enjoyed before, on account of the weakness of his character and meanness of spirit which he has demonstrated since the arrival of the Americans, was necessary, because public opinion had not yet lost the hope that placing him at the front of the Government and with a direct responsibility, would cause him to face the difficulties of the situation, knowing his recognized prudence and learning; hence he was elected for the said office almost unanimously, Very promptly came disenchantment and the reality succeeded to the illusion which until then was cherished by the electors who see to-day with dismay that he is going in a road completely opposed to that which the patriots follow in order to arrive at the goal of their aspirations, which is the independence of their land. The last letter he received from Seņor Torres informed him that he had frankly accepted autonomy, and advised him to influence the inhabitants to desist from all kind of resist. alice which would be suicide, and persuade them to accept annexation, urging that he should work to this end. To the end that his ideas should prosper and for the good result of his policy, he commenced to dear the ground of every kind of obstacles, and the greatest being the military element, he proceeded against them by stopping all supplies, later he suppressed the Volunteer Militia in all the towns; and arranged that the budget of the Provincial Council should absorb almost all the income, on account of the munificent salaries and expense accounts which were alloted to the functionaries, while those of the army were presented poor and scanty pay, they said that they could not sustain these charges and, what was worse, they submitted them to the American Government in order that they should be modified and that the same should be known, pretending that the Superior Military Headquarters depends upon the Provincial Council like a kind of Police, which forces nre the only ones which have been ordered to be kept and with a section denominated Provincial attached to the Comandancia (Headquarters).

Notwithstanding that the opinion and sentiments of almost all the Province and the material force are on our side, they are impotent to oppose openly a constituted government which shields itself with the law, invoking the principles of authority in order that its desires be acknowledged, and thus, all resistance will be considered as an act of rebellion especially as it may produce internal discord which at all cost we have to avoid under the present circumstances because we need to bind our union with more force. But even although the duties of the Military Chiefs have been limited and defined with relation to those of the Provincial Chiefs according to existing orders, but the nominations of the former not having been confirmed by the supreme government fail to be obeyed, and for this reason those officers consider themselves trodden under foot by the Provincial authority.

The total suppression of the military has caused great disgust among those who in order not to be driven to the serious conflict which is undoubtedly being incited by the Americans, make earnest efforts to maintain the equilibrium until definite instructions may be received from the Center and for this end, they send there Seņor Aguedo Batabalonos who will present himself to salute and offer his respects to the Honorable Seņor President of the Republic and to his Government in the name of all the officers and citizens who are partisans of the cause of Independence.

And lastly, if the services given to the revolution and to the defence of our Independence by some officers with the sacrifice of their lives and property, be judged by the Government of the Nation to be worthy of its gratitude, I hope to merit your kindness and ask you to interpose your weighty influence and to intercede with the Honorable Seņor President for the confirmation of the nominations of the gentlemen who are mentioned in the attached list who in all ways have made themselves worthy of this favor and are those who by their qualities and aptitudes discharge their duties with ability.

Just as these lines were being finished Seņor Julio Llorente presented himself in order to set forth that the American Government was pressing him to find out if the Province would recognize the supremacy of its nation and he expressed himself that in face of a greater force and with the end of avoiding shedding blood, we should accept autonomy under protest and with the condition that in case that the independence of some islands should be recognized, that this should also extend to the Province of Cebu. I answered him that according to my way of thinking, that it would be met with strong opposition in almost all the towns because it would be a shame that while our brothers of Luzon were struggling for our independence, we should accept transactions with the invaders who wish to take advantages of the circumstances in which this province is found withont any kind of resources and suffering from a most terrible famine.

This afternoon the Council has advised all the Local Presidents to assemble with the end of having the pretensions of the American authorities explained to them, in order to find if these wish to submit after having advised with their neighbors. Seņor Llorente will sail for Manila within a few days to confer with Seņor Torres and said also that he would see Seņor Aguinaldo.

God guard you many years.

EL PARDO, 15th of May, 1899.

(Signed) ARCADIO MAXILOM.