"Vd. disponza! All I want," said Saguanaldo meekly, "is not to behumiliated."
"I feel that as a representative of the American republic I canguarantee you that. You can be of invaluable service in the field inquelling disorder and bringing opportunity to your people."
"I am not insensible to the fact that you, as representative of a greatrepublic with standing already before the world, can command greaterrespect than I could do as president of the untried Filipino republic."
"A very sensible view to take of it. I am very much pleased to findso liberal and disinterested a man as you at the head of affairs. Itspeaks well both for the Filipino people and for the cause yourepresent. The American republic will remember such unselfishsentiments, and I am sure you will not lose by it."
General Saguanaldo was flattered by these remarks. They made himdesire to appear oven more disinterested. He began:
"My chief concern is for the Filipinos. You can scarcely be ignorantof the injustice we have borne for centuries. We want freedom andopportunity. I ask these things for the Filipinos."
"The request does you honor, and it will do America honor to grantthem. Between us all we shall be invincible. With the prestige ofthe American republic behind us we can command the good will of thenations. Rainey's fleet will be able to keep Cavite in subjection. TheAmerican general is an old campaigner who has with him a seasoned armyand the best of equipment, so that he will be able to stand before anyarmy that Spain can muster against him. Lastly, and most important ofall, you, General, are familiar with the islands of the Philippines,and can render service as a guide and leader such as no other man onthe earth can give; and in serving us you will be serving yourself andthe cause of Filipino liberty. I have heard much of the Fox of Luzon,and have felt that if I could formulate a plan that would enable us allto work together harmoniously, it would be a victory second only to thegreat victory that Admiral Rainey won in this beautiful bay of yours."
"I will do all I can, Judge Daft. As you have said, together we shallbe invincible."
"In that case I shall feel no hesitancy about landing. I did thinkthat perhaps it was not a courteous thing to do, to come fromacross the great ocean to your shores and then ask you to takeme in as something more than guest. But in war we can not stand onceremony. Your disinterestedness and your courtesy have been so greatthat you have made it much easier for me to do my duty."
The two men wandered over the ship, Judge Daft showing Saguanaldo allthe wonders of the modern man of war. They discussed various mattersapart from the questions most in their minds, and always Judge Daft wascourteous and apparently keenly appreciative of Saguanaldo. Followingthe visit of Saguanaldo to the battleship, Judge Daft visited himin the public building of Manila, and, with his permission, theAmerican flag was run up over the town in place of the flag of the newrepublic. Within two days Saguanaldo went into the interior as theguide rather than the commander of an expedition which the Americangeneral sent against some Spanish troops that had, under the directionof Bishop Lonzello, been preparing to attack Saguanaldo in Manila,but that, after the Americans landed, had retired into the interior.
It was only after they had gotten into the interior that Saguanaldobegan to realize his position. It came to him that, though he hadbeen hailed as president of the Filipino republic, another occupiedhis capital, and the Filipino republic was at an end; though he hadbeen the leader of an insurrection, the insurrection was inoperative;and he was fighting under another power; though he had celebrated theindependence of the Filipinos, Filipino independence was gone, andhe was seeking to subject the people to another foreign nation. Whilehe was under the spell of Judge Daft's influence, he had not noticedit, but now it came to him with all its meaning and bearing allits bitterness. He felt that he had lost. He felt that he was notonly unable to cope against the arms and warships of this strangerepublic from across the seas, but he was also unable to meet theirwiles--diplomacy, they called it. He had heard the word used and nowhe was beginning to understand what it really meant.
"I am a fool," he said to himself. "Ambrosia knows it, and so shedespises me. But if I must be beaten I will show her that at leastI am no coward." It was heroism surviving folly.
So ever it is the one who influences human actions, whether they begood or bad, public or private, in nature.
VIII.
THE MIGHTY DIPLOMAT.
The day following the departure of the allied troops from Manila anEnglish ship steamed into Manila bay, and among those who landed wasa Jesuit, who came as papal nuncio, a special envoy of the pope,the astute Leo XIII. He at once hunted up Bishop Lonzello and wassoon closeted with him over wine and cigars, discussing the situation.
"You see yourself the Spaniards cannot stand before the Americans. Theyrepresent the old order, the Americans the new; the old must pass. Itis more than useless, it is folly, to stay with the passing policy."
"But the Spaniards are friends of the church and the Americans areits enemies."
"I fear you are short-sighted, Brother Lonzello. The Americans areto be Catholics, while the Spaniards have only been Catholics. Alive dog is better than a dead lion. But the Americans are not tobe despised. The republic is entering on world politics, and if theHoly Father could control that nation he would as good as controlthe world through it."
"But he can never control that nation; it is given to heresy."
"I do not agree with you. Neither does the Holy Father atRome. Remember, I am speaking for him. Already we have two millionvoters in America. United, that means the balance of power. It issomething that any candidate may well covet. But that is not all. As aresult of this war America will add the Philippines to her territory,with possibly Cuba and Porto Rico besides. In time, states will beformed of these territories, and they, being almost wholly Catholic,will give America to the true religion. It is something worth workingfor, and the prospect makes the Holy Father eager that you shouldfall in with his plans."
"I can't believe it possible to make America Catholic."
The apostolic nuncio puffed his cigar in silence a moment. Then heleaned forward and said:
"Suppose we induce the capitalists of America to import a millionItalians to be naturalized. Suppose we secure jobs for a millionMexicans in America and see that they are naturalized. Suppose thatfinally Central America and Mexico are annexed to the United States."
"Why, that is treason to the Latin and the Spanish races."
"No. It is taking advantage of new conditions. America is developedto the point where it is necessary that she should expand. If sheshould dig the Panama canal, it will be natural for her to closein on territory that divides her, and excuses are more easilyfound than grapes in a vineyard. It will aid rather than hinder theCatholic. American capitalists can pay higher wages than either theItalians or Mexicans receive and still obtain them cheaper than theyget labor today. Catholic workmen will merely supercede heretics. IfMexico is taken there will be a leveling up as well as a leveling down,and the peon will gain immensely by the change."
"But it means an entire change of policy."
"The old policy has been worked to the end, and a new one isnecessary. We are living in an age of machinery. Peon and slavecan no longer yield the returns that the hireling can do by the aidof machinery. The returns from the Philippines can be quadrupled;and we were foolish to forego the rich harvest because it involvesa change of tenants."
The friar was flushed and angry. He almost shouted.
"But that means that the Spanish friars are to lose power in thePhilippines. Do you realize what you are asking us to forego?"
"Perfectly. You have had your opportunity and have made a failure ofit. The natives have been rebelling against you for three hundredyears. Now, Aglipay has stirred a schism that has taken from Romea majority of our churches. So long as the Spanish friars remain inpower the dissatisfaction will increase rather than diminish. It seemsprovidential that America should come at this time, for it gives thesupreme pontiff an opportu
nity to transfer you and by diplomacy savethe work you have done for the church."
The friar sank back in his chair and thought. Then he mildly said:
"It is a hard thing you ask."
"Yes, but your order asked the same thing once of the Jesuits, and,on order of the Pope, we were expelled from the Philippines for manyyears. Now the supreme pontiff is merely exercising his right oftransfer relative to the three orders of friars in the Philippines. Itis his voice, and you will not dare disobey it."
"I suppose, of course, we shall have to submit. But it is hard. Shallwe have to lose our property, our lands?"
"I come with a mission to the Americans relative to them. I have nottalked with the Americans yet, but I can assure you justice. As forthe churches and convents, you have lost them to the church, and itis part of my mission to regain them for the church."
"I shall have to submit. But I can not overcome my hatred of theAmericans and I will not remain to knuckle to the natives. I wish Imight strike them one hard blow." He brought his fist down on thetable with a thump. The Jesuit was silent a moment. Then he said:"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. You know the response."
"The lands which the supreme pontiff gave to Legaspi he may takeagain from the heirs of Legaspi."
"I can not for the life of me see where the holy church will profitfrom the change, seeing that Spain is a Catholic country and Americais heretic."
"Spain will remain true to the church even if she loses. But if Americawins, then we may not only win back into the fold the schismatics ofthe islands, but stand also a chance of winning America, and withit the world. It is the greatest, opportunity the church has hadfor years."
"I do not yet see how you expect to win America."
"We have been working for the conquest of America for centuries,ever since Columbus gave it to the world and dedicated it to Christand his viceregent. After the heretics had taken possession of it, wehave labored without cessation to win it back. We brought believingemigrants to the cities until we control many of them. We now haveten million population and two million voters, controlling severalstates and holding the balance of political power. Already thepoliticians are taking cognizance of us, But, more important thanthis, the statesmen are looking for a power that can withstand thetide of Socialism that is sweeping over the land and are ready tomake concessions to us for our influence.
"The most far-seeing of American politicians recently remarked thatsome day Socialism would become a menace to the world and thatthe strongest influence to combat it would be the Roman Catholicchurch. Acting on this belief he has already been negotiating forour support. It was the Catholic vote that saved America from thedomination of the middle class when threatened by the mob in 1896. Itwas members of my order who fanned the flame that led to the presentwar, so that America might enter on world politics. The end is notyet. The Pope sees the importance of our plans, and you must submit. Weintend that in the future it shall be known that he who would succeedat the polls must have our favor. We have the power now, and we shalluse it. The Brotherhood of Jesus has been banished from almost everycountry on the face of the globe, but in spite of this we have remainedloyal to our extreme oath, and have not for a moment faltered in ourpurpose to make America Catholic. We are now at the point of success,and the supreme pontiff sends me to command you to yield. Is yourloyalty sufficient for that? Remember, we have been driven from landafter land, and show yourself as true as the Jesuits have been."
Bishop Lonzello did not reply. But he filled the two glasses, and ashe raised his glass to his lips he proposed the toast:
"Leo, the greatest of Popes. When he speaks it is time for the restof the world to be silent."
After the toast had been drunk the Jesuit father referred no moreto the topic about which he had been talking. They were sitting bythe window looking out on the street where quite a few people werepromenading. As one woman after another passed they discussed thegood points of each and waxed merry over the wine, rehearsing manysalacious stories. Finally Ambrosia Lonzello passed. The Jesuit,looking on her, remarked:
"That is the woman for me. She has the woman's ten perfect points. Doyou know her, Brother?"
The bishop's lips were dry and his heart was enraged as he answered,feebly, "Yes."
"Can't you give me opportunity to hear her confession?"
The bishop knew what was implied by the request, and his heart wasfired with the heat of his passion. He made a motion once to kickthe Jesuit down stairs. But the knowledge that he was a specialenvoy of the Pope, and, more than that, the counter-fire of anger atAmbrosia, and the fierce flame of his hatred of Saguanaldo, causedhim to desist. Indeed, the first flames had eaten so deeply into hisheart that there was little left for the flame caused by the insultto touch. He merely answered, quietly, after swallowing a little:
"That is the sweetheart of the insurgent general, Saguanaldo."
"Ah, that is good," responded the Jesuit. "You hate him and wouldlike to wound him to the death before you go. Behold, the Lord hathdelivered him into your hands. Promise me that the girl shall confessto me."
He seized the bishop's arm and leered lewdly at him. "You really must,for I am mad from continence while on the water. Some day I will doas much for you. Won't you, good Bishop?"
Bishop Lonzello clenched his fist and hissed through his teeth,"Yes; and may God damn your soul to hell."
IX.
A LITTLE GAME.
"I am very glad to meet you as a citizen, but of course it is againstthe policy of my country to receive you as an envoy from the Pope."
"Very well, Judge Daft, we shall not quarrel over a little thinglike that."
It was the Jesuit talking to the new American governor. He had nointention of abandoning his purpose, but he meant to approach it byindirection. He knew something of diplomacy himself, and so devoted afew minutes to casual conversation. He was by nature and practice anexpert in the recounting of stories, having found that an art whichwon where no other art was honored, and the two passed a pleasanthalf hour together. Finally, as Rodriguez Violeta, the Jesuit father,arose to take his departure, he said:
"If I speak purely as an individual, I presume you will not objectto my asking that you treat us fairly relative to churches andchurch lands."
"By no means. I have no objection to telling you that I desire totreat you fairly in these and all other matters."
"Perhaps you would not object, then, to issuing an order that, untilthe matter can be settled in the courts, the possession of churchesis to be secured to the party in possession, whether that partybe the Roman Catholic church or the Filipino Catholic church. Thisseems to me to be fair, and I believe is in accordance with Americanjurisprudence."
"I shall be glad to issue an order of that nature to the soldiers inthe Philippines. Anything that is mutually just will be granted you;and, while I can not receive you as envoy of the Pope, I shall takepleasure in hearing your recommendations as an individual of experiencewho is capable of understanding your people and presenting your sideof the controversy in a fair and liberal way."
"If I can be of any service to you, it will afford me pleasure tobe commanded by you. I do believe, however, that the holy father,the Pope, has a plan which would save you very much trouble. I wishyou would permit me to present it--as an individual."
"You are at perfect liberty to do that. Be seated and I will hear you."
The Jesuit re-seated himself. The camel's nose had found entrance,and the rest of the body was about to follow.
"The Spanish friars are at the bottom of all the trouble in thePhilippines. The Aglipayan schism came because of them, and themany revolts that have disturbed the islands for the past threecenturies have been because the people wanted native rather thanSpanish priests. Now Leo, who has always been friendly to Americaand Americans, is desirous of removing the Spanish friars from thePhilippines."
Judge Daft leaned forward, evidently interested. "This concerns megreatly," he said. "Outline to me
the plan more fully."
The Jesuit ignored the request. Instead of answering him directly,he observed: "This would greatly simplify matters and make yourproblem sensibly easier of solution."
"I am conscious of that," asserted the Judge, betraying eagerness,a weakness which revealed that he was being beaten in diplomacy.
"America can easily handle the Spanish army. Your future problemswill lie with pacifying the natives and adjudicating the conflictingclaim of the two churches."
"You understand the situation just as it presents itself to me."
"You have splendid opportunities here."
"You mean, to make a fool of myself?" laughed Judge Daft.
"That is an opportunity that knocks often at every man's door. ButI was not thinking of that. I was merely musing--speaking aloud thething I thought--and a man never ought to do that."
"Sometimes I think he never ought to speak aloud anything else thanhis undisguised thoughts. I shall insist on hearing this novel thing,the undisguised thought of a Jesuit."
"I meant, opportunity to make yourself a reputation that shall leadto future political power. Who knows but that the presidency of theUnited States lies along this path?"
"I am not ambitious."
"I understand that; indeed, I was not thinking so much of you as anindividual as of you in your position. I was musing, you know. WeJesuits naturally look into the political possibilities of things,and I am astonished at the possibilities I see before you."
"War generally brings a warrior to the front. The people take pleasurein preferring their military heroes."