The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-19
PoWER OF THE SPANISH CLERGY.
They Had . Largo Part In Causing the Philip
pine Disturbances

MADRID, July 6.-SeNor Manuel Albania. late
special correspondent OF the impartial In the
Philippine Islands, writes an interesting article
in that newspaper regarding the influence the
Roman Catholic priest had in the eastern col.
ony of Spain. He says:
Fortunately for our supremacy, there have
been hitherto no political parties in the Philip
pine archipelago. There are only two great
MASSES, which have no organization and no
leaders. They may be called the Friends of the
Clergy and the Enemies Of tho Clergy,
The enemies, soI course, hold that the priest
Is at the bottom Of the insurrectlon, and that his
arrogance and oppression are the cause OF tho
late outbreaks; while the friends contend that
were there no priests spain would never have
ACQUIRED any colonies a. AZ; b andt lhey are the
up in arms against the priests because they
know that when once the church Is yanquished
the back of Spanish rule WIZ Do broken
Examining the question OF clerical prepondcr.
ancc, the writer observes that the Roman Cath
Ole; Church has enormous nNGSs Pos'e fssII1nr,d IN the
sessions, it has almoSt exclusive control of
the money market; THROUGH its ,seminaries
and colleges IL moulds tho opinion of the rising
generation and has almost absolute power IN
The priests are worthy young men. fresh from
Spanish colleges. When he arrives at Manila
the young priest, hitherto kept under the most
severe surveillance, receives almost absolute
power over "a large tract OF territory. What
wonder that, owing 10 excess OF zeal and his
unlimited power, there Is constant friction with
the blile IunCtlOnhflcb anu liS lllulHn pUpnlu-
toni Tho superior clergy are content to leave
all matters In the hunds or the ordinary priest,
and only interfere in case oil u great scandal.
Even then no punishment Is ilIIlIcted upon the
delinquent priest, only u slight remonalraI,e
and III would fare the unfortunate native who
brought "a complaint against his shepherd Tor
unjust or harsh dUaiins, or possibly tor his be-
ing too fond Of women.
The rebellion has developed itself in it,
grayest form in thosc provinces where tho
ftoman Church mas the largest estates. II Il
alleged by the Insurgents That IN numerous cases
the fathers have acquired landed property
through legal, or rather illegal, processes. the
rightful owners having no chance 10 be heard
owing TO the absolute sway OF the Church. One
of tho CHIEFS became AN insurgent because h,
and his family were ruined by such a case oil
judicial pervcrsity. lie has now taken his re
vcngc by devastating large tracts OF country
which belong chiefly TO the various orders Of
Friars.
On The other hand, tho writer considers thai
the priests have rendered enormous services
not only In upholding Spanish supremacy, buI
al-o by vastly improving the land by proper ir
ri6ation and cultivation of the estates held by
them, so that rich cultivated land exists nov
where there were deadly swamps before their ar
rival. Neither Is II safe to deprive them en-
trey OF their civil power, as it is difficult to sa!
VINO would replace them in their far-reachInl
influence,
Tho principal blame seems TO rest with tn,
higher orders OF the clergy, who are entirel,
too lax In dealing with their subordinate priests
VINO on the whole are much too promo to asser
their authority. For tho welfare OF the colon,
1t wore well II the clerical system of the arclt
pelago were thoroughly. reorRanized and an
abuses OF power were swiftly brought home :
the transgressorA-