"THE INSURRECTION IS OVER."
When Saguanaldo heard of the fate that had befallen Ambrosia he
was almost beside himself with rage and horror. He determined to be
revenged on the Jesuit and Lonzello, and issued orders for the force to
at once prepare for active service. Mrs. Rizal's singing and speaking
began to bear fruit. The story of Ambrosia spread rapidly through
the island, rousing the people to something like frenzy. They came
out in force. Not until now had that feeling which makes a religious
war been stirred, but it was rampant at this time. Even some of the
Spanish friars, who rebelled at being banished from the islands,
joined the revolt. The war had turned, so that it was no longer
Spaniard and native, but the native against both Spain and America.
They gathered in great numbers before Manila, coming in pairs and
squads. Some were captured, but the United States troops, appalled at
the demonstration that seemed to be even larger than it really was,
fell back into the city, while the insurgents formed on the hills
occupying the rifle pits without. It was raining and the mud was so
deep that all movements were slow and disagreeable. But the forboding
appearance of nature did not discourage the malcontents. Women and
children were there. Some of them were unarmed, but they gathered
stones for throwing and carried them. Others had nothing but clubs
or bolos. But they were all mad for slaughter, ready to die.
Contrary to expectations of the Americans, they did not attack by
night. Neither did they make any demonstration against the Spanish
fortress of Cavite. In the early morning women and children, ragged
and showing the poverty that had provoked the war, drenched by rain,
muddy and miserable, marched down the streets, in irregular lines,
shrieking and singing. As they marched, others came from the houses
of Manila and joined them. Again there was the song:
He may be a brother of Governor Daft,
But he ain't no friend of mine.
Instead of an army, it was a mob, something far harder to handle than
an army, especially if it is composed of women and children. They
broke into shops and took things to eat, munching and screaming as
they marched.
Then, while the American troops were besieged with the mob, Saguanaldo
attacked from the rear. As his troops charged on the American works,
women from the rear threw stones at the American soldiers. The first
line of defense was taken. Cavite was silent, having no part in this
battle, and it was well for America it was so; for had the attack
been more complicated, the issue might have been in doubt. Some said
it had been arranged so in advance. As it was, the American army
lay in the mud in its redoubts, with the rain drizzling on them,
and the little pools of water that formed were stained with blood.
Somehow Saguanaldo and an aide penetrated to the convento and appeared
unannounced before Judge Daft, dripping from the rain and sprinkled
with mud.
"Have a seat, General," said Judge Daft, affably. "You must be very
cold. I will order hot coffee brought."
"Thank you, but you need not," Saguanaldo replied. "I am here on a
mission of war, not of hospitality. You have wronged me, Governor,
grievously wronged me."
"War is not a pink tea affair," returned the Judge. "It can not be
prosecuted without individual harm being done."
"I do not refer to that," said the insurgent. "I shall not whimper
over hardships and private losses or wounds that come from war. But
you have wounded me in peace, while I was ally to you."
"I do not see that you are acting as an ally today."
"No, but I was when I went with the American troops to spy out and
defeat the Spaniards. And at the very hour when I was serving you,
and after I had voluntarily given you my office and surrendered the
Philippine republic that we might come under the protection of the
American republic, you set your soldiers to protecting the Spanish
friars, in possession of property which Spanish soldiers had seized
from us. Was that right?"
"It was a general order. Had the insurgents been in possession of the
property, they would have been protected in it. It is not my fault
if you were not able to hold this property."
"But you occupy the conventos, on invitation of the friars. It puts
you under obligation to them."
"I occupied the house you offered. Did that put me under obligation
to you?"
"Yes. But you now war those who were your allies."
"And you war those who were your allies. That makes us even."
"The man whose guest you are, murdered the leader of the schism,
cruelly, and you shield him. He betrayed the faith of the friar's
daughter"--
"After she had betrayed her faith"--
"On her father's solicitation"--
"So she said. Poor girl, she was evidently insane."
"And then horribly maltreated her. Later he burned her, as it were,
at the stake."
"My friend," said Judge Daft, amiably, "it is not a part of my duty
to quarrel, and I refuse to jower longer with you. If you want to
fight, go and join with those whose duty it is to fight. If you
have a personal grievance, bring civil suit, and I will hear your
cause. Before you go, I shall be pleased if you will permit me to
serve you something warm."
Saguanaldo was broken in spirit. He was again beaten in diplomacy. His
mission had failed, and, with quivering lip and voice shaking with
emotion, he said farewell, muffled himself in his great coat and took
his departure with his aide.
As he stepped on the street he was met by a detachment of soldiers,
sent out from the convento by the apostolic nuncio, and placed under
arrest. At the same time Violeta stepped before him and extended
his hand:
"General, I am glad to meet you."
Saguanaldo struck at him, but missed, because the soldiers restrained
him. The Jesuit very composedly said:
"Nothing is ever made, General, by being unpleasant. Take the prisoner
to American headquarters, and spread the report that the leader is
captured and the insurrection is over."