It seems to be agreed that the establishment of Masonic lodges in the islands and the admis sion to them later of prominent Filipinos and of anti-clerical or liberal sentiments of fered a nucleus for agitation. facilitated united action, and led hnmediately to the formation of the patriotic AsociaciOn Hispano-Filipina, the Li ga Filipina, and the revolutionary society, Katipunan." The first Masonic lodges were found ed about 1860. but it was over a quarter of a cen tury before they became active centres of anti clerical agitation. The AsociaeiOn Hispano-Fili phut was devoted to promoting Filipino national aspirations through literary channels, and estab lished an organ, La Soliduridad, in Barcelona.
The Filipum was founded by Dr. Jose Rizal (q.v.) to work for the expulsion of the friars and to secure the same political concessions for the islands that had been granted to Cuba, a larger recognition of the nat.ives in the appoint ments to cis it ulixee.., and freedom Of the press and of association. More radical than these was the Katifounan, Wil, established in 1892 to secure independence by open revolt, and began by wholesale assassinations of Spanish officials flint friars. The existence of an elaborate plot was revealed by a native, August 19, 1896, and on the the mask was entirely thrown oil. The garrison of Manila consisted of only 300 Spanish re:mlars and about 1200 native sol diers. The total number of Spanish soldiers in the islands was under 2000. The authorities eould net only on the defensive until October, when reinforcements began to arrive from Spain. On the other hand. the insurrectionists were ham pered Iry a great lack of arms and ammunition. The insurrection centred in the province of Ca vil& which was under the control of the rebel; until their power was broken in the spring of 1s:17 by the vigorous campaign of General La chambie. its leaders were Andrp7.s llonifacio, the head of the Katipunan, and Emilio .\guinaldo After organized resistance had been shattered. it seemed to the Oovernor-General. Primo (le Rivera. to attempt to secure peace by obtaining tin' withdrawal of the native leaders from the islands. in accordance with the Treaty of Macula batcp. -\guinaldo and some of the other generals withdrew to Hong Kong. No properly authenti cated text of this treaty has ever been puhlished. That made public In .\guinaldo is substantially identical with the demands which he made, and which it would appear were not acceded to by Primo de Rivera. Agninahlo demanded $3.000, 000, the expulsion of the friars, the representa tion of the Philippines in the Cortes, equality of Filipino and Spaniard in the administration of instiee, the participation of Filipinos in the higher administrative offices. a readjustment of property of the parishes and of the taxes in favor of the natives, the proclamation of the in dividual rights of the natives. and liberty of as s..eiation and of the pre.,. Aguinaldo has assert ed that the suppression of the religious Orders and the establishment of administrative auton omy were agreed upon. although not put down in writing. Covernor-Oeneral Primo de Rivera giv ing his word of honor that the agreement would be fulfilled. Priino de Rivera, on the other hand,
maintained that nothing bnt money and personal security wore promised to the leaders. The treaty was signed December 17. 1$97. Only the first in stalment 1$100.0001 of the sun; of SN00.000 filially fixed was ever paid, and. on the other hand, the insurrection was quieted only temporarily. In March. H9s, a new rising in the provinces north of Manila took place and early in April there was an outbreak in the island of Celpfi. On .\ larch 240 the Seventy-fourth Regiment of native soldiers deserted to the insurgents, who now va ly outnumbered the Spanish forces, hut were greatly hampered by the lack of arms.
The day that war began between Spain and the United States. Aguinaldo appeared in Singapore. and on April 24, 1S95. United states Consul General Pratt had a conference with him in refer ence to eoffperating with Commodore Dewey. Of the exact nature of the understanding the same uncertainty exists as in the of the Treaty of 13iacnabatio. What is certain is that Commodore Dewey arranged for Aguinaldo to follow him to Manila and that Agninaldo expected the United States to pursue in the Philippines the policy pro posed for Cuba, the policy of common action with the insurgents against Spain for their liberation from her rule. What is probable is that Consul Pratt at Singapore, and Consul Wildman at Hong Kong. and Commodore Dewey as well, had simi lar expectations. Later they all equally dis claimed having bound the United States in any way. On May 1st the Spanish fleet in the Bay of Manila was annihilated by the Asiatic Squad ron under Commodore Dewey. Aguinaldo arrived at Cavit(; on May 19th, in the American dispatch boat .l1ct'nlIoclt. He had an inter view with Dewey, who supplied him with arms for the insurgents, who flocked to his standard. In the weeks that elapsed until the arrival of General !Merritt kite in July, Aguinaldo secured control of he Province of Caviti; and thoroughly invested Manila by land. His rapture of Spanish garrisons was not only sanctioned, but assisted by Dewey, and had it not been for the native forces the capture of Manila would have been a far more arduous undertaking for the Americans and the Spanish forces might have eluded them by retiring into the interior. As it was, the con of the Spaniards was hopeless, and on Au gust llfh the arrangement wits effected. through the Belgian Consul Andre. by which the' Ameri can ships should refrain from firing on the walled city of Manila and the Manila forts from firing on the ships, while on shore there should be only a brief show of resistance to enable the Spanish general to save honor at least. The American soldiers were in ignorance of this arrangement, and through an accident there was more blood shed than was intended at the taking of the city (August 13th). To the onlooking foreigners in the harbor the transaction seemed like a travesty of war. The fall of Manila marked the complete collapse of the Spanish power in the islands. The Americans held the capital and controlled the harbor; and Aguinaldo and the insurgents rapid ly extended their control over the various pro vinces.