m called into
existence meetings, liberation societies, frequent discussions in
and out of Parliament, and continual protests against the apparent
Ministerial lethargy. In reality, the Spanish Government, fearful of
a rupture with America, could take no official action in the matter,
further than appeal, indirectly, to the generosity of the captors, and
remind America of her undertaking under Article 6 of the treaty. In
January, 1899, the Colonial Minister cabled to several people in
Manila, begging them to use their influence--but they themselves
were already in the rebel camp. No form of compensation in money or
armament for the captives' liberty could be officially made without
involving Spain in a _casus belli_ with America. Recognition of a
Philippine Republic would have been in direct opposition to the spirit
of the treaty of peace. In September, 1898, the Superiors of the
regular clergy in Manila appealed to Rome; the Vatican communicated
with President McKinley, and the President sent an inquiry to
Maj.-General E. S. Otis concerning the captive friars. General
Otis, after investigation, reported that these prisoners were fairly
well treated. In the following month, whilst the Treaty of Paris was
under discussion, the Spanish Government appealed to the United States
Government to aid them in the rescue of the prisoners, and orders to do
so were transmitted to General Otis. The Filipinos and the Americans
were ostensibly on good terms at that period, and General Otis
suggested to Aguinaldo that the friars and civilian Spaniards should be
set free. On the subject of this request, Aguinaldo replied to General
Otis by letter dated Malolos, November 3, 1898, as follows, viz:--"The
Philippine people wish to retain the Spanish civil functionaries in
order to obtain the liberty of the Filipinos who are banished and
under arrest, and the friars in order to obtain from the Vatican a
recognition of the rights of the Philippine secular clergy.... It is
not hatred or vengeance which inspires the Filipinos to retain the
Spanish civil and religious functionaries, but political expediency,
and the tranquillity of the Philippine people demands this measure."

At this date there were hundreds of Philippine prisoners held by
the Spanish Government in different places, some of them under
worse conditions than the Spanish prisoners. For instance, 218 were
deported to the fever-stricken colony of Fernando Po, and only 94 of
them cam