Recollections of Manilla and the Philippines | Page 3

desire of domination should in time
usurp the place of those laborious, enthusiastic, and pious missionaries
who, so happily for the natives, had managed to revolutionize their
minds, and so spared their country those scenes of blood which blot
with a fearful stain the history of Spanish power in America. But the
influence of churchmen, as usual, in the Philippines, was not always to
be well directed; for the merciless Inquisition having established itself
at Manilla, commenced its terrible career. No one was safe, none were
exempt from its powers; its emissaries penetrated even into the palace

of the Governor. Moderation in religion, or remissness in its strictest
observances, became crimes, punishable by the severest discipline of
that fearful and cruel establishment. All attempts, even when aided or
directed by the authority and influence of the highest officials, to lessen
its power, proved unsuccessful; and frequently a Bishop was chosen to
occupy the Governor-general's place, to perform his civil and military
duties! Everything was in the hands of the churchmen, the subsequent
effects of which were demonstrated to the world by the easy success of
the British expedition of 1762, which they permitted to enter the bay
without opposition, having passed the fortified island of Corregidor at
its entrance without a shot being fired to prevent them. And the same
effects caused but a feeble resistance to be opposed to their arms, and
the speedy surrender of Manilla by its priest-ridden and effeminate
defenders.
CHAPTER II.
The Government of Spain has, ever since the period of their acquisition,
shown itself ignorant or neglectful of the commercial importance of
these islands, the commerce of which has long been subjected to
regulations and restrictions as injurious in their tendency as can well be
imagined,--they being framed, apparently at least, more for the purpose
of smothering it in its earliest existence than with any kindly or paternal
views of nourishing and increasing it.
But a change having at length once begun, a new era may be said to
have commenced with regard to them, and it is to be hoped that
increasing wisdom and liberality of ideas may clear away some of the
remaining obstacles which for so long encumbered, and even yet
impede and circumscribe within a very narrow circle, the natural course
of their commerce. For the Spanish Government are far from following
a similar policy to that of the great Henry the Fourth of France, who, as
an encouragement to the manufacturing industry of the country,
rewarded those silk manufacturers who had carried on business for
twelve years, with patents of nobility, as men who by doing so not only
benefited themselves, but deserved well of their country for their
enterprise and commercial spirit. Don Simon Anda was about the first

person who showed any desire to augment the trade of the islands; and
his election to the highest offices of the colony, after its restoration by
the English, was a most fortunate event for Manilla. Although,
unluckily, many of the steps he took with the best intentions,
notwithstanding being infinitely in advance of those of his predecessors
in office, were not always in the right direction, and consequently
unattended by the highest degree of success which he aimed at, partial
good results were obtained by them, and a beneficial change began to
regulate affairs.
The expulsion of the Jesuits from the Philippines in 1768, by throwing
their immense estates out of cultivation, and also the wars and
disturbances subsequent to the French Revolution, being felt even in
this remote part of the world, were attended with the worst effects to
the trade and agriculture of the islands. On the peace of 1814, the
condition of the country was truly deplorable, as, during a long period
of isolation and inactivity, abuses had multiplied to an alarming extent,
and the minds of the Indian population especially had become divided
between superstition and sedition, from each of which a sanguinary
catastrophe resulted. Public opinion at the time fastened on the priests
the guilt of the massacre of the Protestant foreigners at Manilla in 1820,
and the growing discontent of the people blew into open rebellion in
1823, under a Creole leader, who then rose and attempted to shake off
the Spanish authority.
To give the reader some idea of the commercial regulations then
existing, which helped, no doubt, to bring about these disorders, it may
be mentioned that among many other things, even after the port of
Manilla was thrown open to ships of all nations, the vessels belonging
to that port itself were not allowed to trade with Europe, or to proceed
beyond the Cape of Good Hope; and Government yet further limited
their intercourse with the only ports of China and India which were
open to them, by issuing passes to all