He had been taught to believe that the Americans
murdered prisoners, raped women, and committed similar barbarities
whenever they got a chance. As we have seen, stories of this sort
were industriously spread by many of the Insurgent leaders among
their soldiers, and among the common people as well. They served
to arouse the passions of the former, and stirred them up to acts
of devilish brutality which they might perhaps not otherwise have
perpetrated. Arguelles told the truth upon his return, and this,
together with his suggestion that it might be well to consider the
acceptance of the form of government offered by the United States,
nearly cost him his life. Relative to this matter Taylor says:--
"When Arguelles returned to the insurgent lines, it must have been
considered that he had said too much in Manila. While he had been
sent there to persuade the Americans to agree to a suspension of
hostilities to be consumed in endless discussion under cover of which
Luna's army could be reorganized, he had not only failed to secure
the desired armistice, but had come back with the opinion that it
might after all be advisable to accept the government proposed by the
United States. On May 22 General Luna ordered his arrest and trial for
being in favour of the autonomy of the United States in the Philippine
Islands.
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