s a
_Santon_, preached idolatry, and drew to his standard a large band of
ruffians as skilled as himself in villainous devices. Insurgency, in
the true sense of the word, did not exist in Negros; opposition to the
American domination was merely a pretext to harass, plunder, and extort
funds from the planters and property-owners. The disaffected people
increased so largely in numbers that Colonel Smith was obliged to call
for reinforcements, and the disturbances only came to an end when it
was known that the Panay people had formally laid down their arms in
February, 1901. Shortly afterwards Governor W. H. Taft visited Negros
Island; the quasi-autonomous government of that region was modified
in conformity with the general plan of provincial civil governments,
and on August 9, 1901, Leandro Locsin (Ylongo by birth) succeeded to
the civil governorship, with a salary of $2,500 gold, by popular vote.

Notwithstanding the severities imposed on the Cebuanos during the
last eight months of Spanish rule, the Spaniards were able to evacuate
_Cebu Island_ without menace or untoward event. For several months the
Governor, General Montero, had held in prison, between life and death,
a number of Filipinos of the best families, amongst whom was Julio
Llorente, who afterwards became President of Cebu and subsequently
a magistrate of the Supreme Court of Manila. General Montero made
a compact with a young Philippine lawyer, Sergio Osmena (afterwards
acting-Governor of Cebu) that in exchange for two Spaniards held as
hostages in the interior he would release Llorente. Osmena procured the
liberty of the Spaniards, but it was only on the eve of his departure
that Montero permitted the prison doors to be opened.

On December 26, 1898, a chartered merchant steamer called at Cebu
to transport the retiring Spaniards to Zamboanga, the place of
concentration designated by General Rios. The farewell was sadly brief,
and almost in silence the Governor handed over the government property
to a most worthy and loyal Cebuano, Pablo Mejia, who was my esteemed
friend for many years. The Governor even offered Mejia about 40 rifles;
but Mejia, a lover of order, wrongly believing that a long period
of tranquillity was about to set in, declined to accept them. And
without any manifestation of regret on the part of the governed,
the last vestige of Spanish authority vanished from the city which,
333 years before, was the capital of the Philippine Islan