obernadorcillos and officers of justice with the
proper respect; and they shall not permit the latter to be beaten,
chastised, or illtreated by the missionaries, ... nor shall they be
compelled to serve them at table." [134]

The former alcaldes who bought their posts, or obtained them through
favor, and who had no previous training in official business, and often
no education and intelligence, and who did not possess the necessary
mental and moral qualities for so responsible and influential an
office, received a nominal salary from the State, to which they
paid a commission for the right to engage in trade. According to
Arenas (p. 444), [135] this commission was regarded as a fine on the
alcaldes for transgressing the law; "for since all kinds of trading
were forbidden to them by various laws, [136] yet also his Majesty was
pleased to grant a dispensation for it." [137] This irregularity was
first suppressed by royal decrees of September 10 and October 30, 1844.

The alcaldes were governors and judges, commanders of the
troops, and at the same time the only traders in their respective
provinces. [138] They bought in Manila the goods that were needed
in their provinces--usually with the money of the charities [_obras
pias_] (see p. 14, note 17); [139] for they themselves came to the
Philippines without any property. The Indians were compelled to sell
their products to the alcalde, and to buy his wares at the prices which
the latter established. [140] In such circumstances, the priests were
the only ones who protected the Indians against these bloodsuckers,
when they did not (as sometimes happened) also make common cause with
the alcaldes.

At present the government sends men who know the law to act as alcaldes
in the Philippines, who are somewhat better paid and are not allowed
to trade.

On the whole, the government is endeavoring to lessen the influence
of the curas, in order to strengthen the civil authorities; but
that will be only very imperfectly accomplished, however, unless the
tenure of office of the alcaldes be lengthened, and the office be so
assigned that the alcaldes will have no temptation to make money on
the side. [141]

THE AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

[The following is translated and condensed from _Provincia de San
Nicolas de Tolentino de Agustinos descalzos de la congregacion de
Espana e Indias_ (Manila, 1879).]

Archbishopric of Manila

In this archbishopric t