The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 | Page 5

protected against pirates by a small fleet of light, swift vessels. It must
be understood that no confidence can be placed in the natives, who kill
Spaniards at every opportunity. The conquests hitherto made by the
Spaniards should be further extended; and the districts and islands in

which the natives are disaffected should be subdued and pacified.
These will employ and reward the poor Spanish soldiers, and will
afford protection to the converted natives, who are continually harassed
and raided by their heathen neighbors. The regions that should be
subdued range from the Liu-Kiu Islands to Borneo. The governor
should be authorized to make such conquests, and even "to entrust them,
by contract, to other Spaniards." The king is called upon "to aid in
atoning for the wrongs inflicted on the Indians by the first conquerors,"
for which the latter are held responsible by the church, which refuses to
absolve them from sins until payment for these wrongs be made to the
Indians. This the conquerors are unable to do, and request for it aid
from the royal treasury. The king is asked to compel the encomenderos
to give religious instruction to their Indians. The abuses that prevail in
the collection of tributes from the Indians are enumerated; in some
places the natives are revolting, because treated so unjustly. Some
Spaniards still hold Indians as slaves, in defiance of royal edicts;
moreover, the natives themselves hold many slaves; and the priests are
unwilling to grant absolution to either unless they release these slaves.
Request is made for regulation of the system of slavery among the
Indians. Complaint is made that the friars go from the islands wherever
and whenever they please; thus they neglect their duties, arouse
ill-feeling among the Chinese and other foreigners, and in many other
ways do harm. This evil should be corrected by forbidding all
Spaniards to leave the islands, or to give assistance to the friars in
doing so, except by special permission from the authorities.
Then follows a curious scheme for invading and conquering China; this
would bring much wealth to the crown of Spain, and be the means of
converting innumerable souls to the Christian faith; the king is urged to
undertake this enterprise at once. The arguments in justification of this
conquest are left for Father Sánchez to explain to his Majesty. The
forces, equipment, and supplies necessary are enumerated in detail, as
also what part of these can be furnished in the Philippines themselves,
where preparations for the expedition have already begun. The fleet
which is expected to come from Spain with men and supplies should
land in Cagayán, Luzón; the routes which may be taken by those
vessels are described, and that by the Strait of Magellan is
recommended as the shortest and safest. It is desirable to induce the

Portuguese to take part in the proposed conquest; and an auxiliary force
will probably come from Japan. The Jesuit missionaries who are in
China are expected to act as guides and interpreters for the expedition.
The troops should be so numerous and well equipped that they can at
once awe the Chinese into submission; but they should not be allowed
to ravage the country, nor should the native government be destroyed,
as has so often been done in other Spanish conquests. It must be
understood that the proposed expedition is not to deal with the Chinese
as if they were Moors or Turks; it will be sent only to escort the
preachers of the faith, and to see that any converts that they may gain
shall be unmolested by the Chinese authorities; it should therefore be
commanded and officered by honorable, humane, and Christian men.
The gains which would result from the conquest of China are
enumerated--at first, mainly religious; these include the foundation of
many schools, churches, and monasteries for the Chinese, wherein they
will speedily become Europeanized. The writer praises the natural
abilities and excellent qualities of the people, and especially the virtue
of their women. As for worldly advantages, these are many and great.
Every year China can furnish to the Spanish treasury galleons loaded
with gold, silks, and other treasures; much silver from its mines; and
large amounts in rents, taxes, etc. All China can be divided into
encomiendas; and there will be many offices and dignities to be
enjoyed by the king's faithful vassals--indeed, "a great part of the
Spanish people could come to reside there, and be ennobled." On
account of the great virtue, modesty, submissiveness, and beauty of the
Chinese women, they would prove to be excellent wives for the
Spaniards; thus the two peoples would mingle, and "all would be united,
fraternal, and Christian." It is for lack of such amalgamation that
European experiments in Oriental colonization have hitherto failed; but
the proposed scheme