ive to their moral responsibility towards the
nation for the loss of the Philippines, were, nevertheless, desirous
of finding a champion of their cause in the political arena, and Deputy
Uria was willing to accept this onerous task. The Bishop-elect of Porto
Rico (an Austin friar) was a fellow-passenger with General Primo de
Rivera. According to _El Liberal_ of June 3, 1898, when he arrived
in Madrid he went with the Procurator of his Order to interview the
Colonial Minister, Senor Romero Giron, on the prospects of Deputy
Uria's proposed debate when Congress should meet again. The Minister
pointed out to them the attendant difficulties, and referred them to
the Prime Minister. They immediately went to Senor Sagasta's residence,
where they were promptly given to understand that _if any one could
be found to defend them, there might well be others who would oppose
them_, so their champion withdrew.

When, months later, Parliament was re-opened, the Minister of War
denied in Congress that the Treaty of Biac-na-bato had ever existed,
[190] and in support of his contention he cited a cablegram which
the Gov.-General Primo de Rivera is alleged to have sent to the
Prime Minister Sagasta. It was published in the _Gaceta de Madrid_
of December 16, 1897, and reads as follows:--

_(Translation)_

_Manila_, 12th of December, 1897

To the President of the Council of Ministers, from the
Governor-General

At the expiration of the time allowed and announced in the
_Gazette_ of November 28, after which rigorous and active
war measures would be taken against the rebels, a deputation
from the enemy came to me on behalf of the brothers Aguinaldo,
Llaneras, and the so-called Republican Government, offering to
surrender themselves, their followers, and their arms, _on the
sole conditions of their lives being spared and that they should
receive means with which to emigrate_. It appears to me, and to the
general officers of this army, that this surrender is the result
of the successive combats by which we have held the positions
taken in Morong, Paray, Minuyan, and Arayat, and the enthusiasm
displayed by the resolute volunteers in the provinces outside
Tagalog sphere. I feel sure of being able to take Biac-na-bato,
as well as all the other points occupied by the rebels, but I am
not so certain of being able to secure the persons of the chiefs
of the rebe