The Philippine Islands

The Philippine Islands, by John
Foreman

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Title: The Philippine Islands
Author: John Foreman
Release Date: September 30, 2007 [EBook #22815]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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The Philippine Islands
A Political, Geographical, Ethnographical, Social and Commercial
History of the Philippine Archipelago

Embracing the Whole Period of Spanish Rule
With an Account of the Succeeding American Insular Government

By John Foreman, F.R.G.S.

Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged with Maps and Illustrations
London: T. Fisher Unwin 1, Adelphi Terrace. MCMVI

Printed and bound by Hazell, Watson and Viney, LD., London and
Aylesbury.

Preface to the First Edition
It would be surprising if the concerns of an interesting Colony like the
Philippine Islands had not commanded the attention of literary genius.
I do not pretend, therefore, to improve upon the able productions of
such eminent writers as Juan de le Concepcion, Martinez Zúñiga,
Tomás de Comyn and others, nor do I aspire, through this brief
composition, to detract from the merit of Jagor's work, which, in its day,
commended itself as a valuable book of reference. But since then, and
within the last twenty years, this Colony has made great strides on the
path of social and material progress; its political and commercial
importance is rapidly increasing, and many who know the Philippines
have persuaded me to believe that my notes would be an appreciated
addition to what was published years ago on this subject.
The critical opinions herein expressed are based upon personal
observations made during the several years I have travelled in and
about all the principal islands of the Archipelago, and are upheld by
reference to the most reliable historical records.

An author should be benevolent in his judgement of men and manners
and guarded against mistaking isolated cases for rules. In matters of
history he should neither hide the truth nor twist it to support a private
view, remembering how easy it is to criticize an act when its sequel is
developed: such will be my aim in the fullest measure consistent.
By certain classes I may be thought to have taken a hypercritical view
of things; I may even offend their susceptibilities--if I adulated them I
should fail to chronicle the truth, and my work would be a deliberate
imposture.
I would desire it to be understood, with regard to the classes and races
in their collectedness, that my remarks apply only to the large majority;
exceptions undoubtedly there are--these form the small minority.
Moreover, I need hardly point out that the native population of the
capital of the Philippines by no means represents the true native
character, to comprehend which, so far as its complicacy can be
fathomed, one must penetrate into and reside for years in the interior of
the Colony, as I have done, in places where extraneous influences have,
as yet, produced no effect.
There may appear to be some incongruity in the plan of a work which
combines objects so dissimilar as those enumerated in the Contents
pages, but this is not exclusively a History, or a Geography, or an
Account of Travels--it is a concise review of all that may interest the
reader who seeks for a general idea of the condition of affairs in this
Colony in the past and in the present.
J. F.

Preface to the Third Edition
The success which has attended the publication of the Second Edition
of this work has induced me to revise it carefully throughout, adding
the latest facts of public interest up to the present period.
Long years of personal acquaintance with many of the prime movers in

the Revolutionary Party enabled me to estimate their aspirations. My
associations with Spain and Spaniards since my boyhood helped me, as
an eye-witness of the outbreak of the Rebellion, to judge of the
opponents of that movement. My connection with the American Peace
Commission in Paris afforded me an opportunity of appreciating the
noble desire of a free people to aid the lawful aspirations of millions of
their fellow-creatures.
My criticism of the regular clergy applies only to the four religious
confraternities in their lay capacity of government agents in these
Islands and not to the Jesuit or the Paul fathers, who have justly gained
the respect of both Europeans and natives: neither is it intended, in any
degree, as a reflection