New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
NO RELIGIOUS PROBLEM.

The people who oppose the acquisition 81
Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands are max
ing Use Of some curious arguments. Just NJ
present they are much alarmed over the qu"S-
ton Of religion. Roman Catholicism Is the
State religion in these possessions, and IS part
~ supported by the State. Put should TINS
country acquire them the Roman Catholic
Church would. OF course, cease 10 he state
Church: and in that case II Is argued that the
Roman Catholics Of Porto Rico and the Philip
pine, would feel sore. and might become a
source Of embarrassment 10 the Government
As one Journal that has made much of this
question says.
How are the Catholics IN this country going
Il, stomach the practical destruction 81 the
Catholic church In the Philippines Are We
eoins 10 get rid 81 the Irish vote thanks 10 the
English ententc) only TO put In its place a cam
Ollie vote? The Pope has already shown that
he will not sit idly 10y and SEQ Philippine Cathol-
ici-m endangered Thousands OF voters in TINS
country pay Peters Pence rs well as war taxes
and they viii not be pleased 10 see one eat UP
tho other However look ut n. the rehgious
problem in the Philippines. If We take them;
viii be- most grave and viii AFFECT the political
problem there and at HON" mischievously.
How nonsenslca such talk is. This spectre
80 solcmnly evoked. has no existence save in
the Imagination Of those who have conjured IL
ND with IN" sole object of making mischief.
There Is not an intelligent American Catholic
from Cardinal Gibbons down who believes Tor
n moment that the interests of the Catholic
Church in Porto Rico and the Philippines VIII
suffer should those islands become American
bosses .ons ON the contrary. they believe that
such an outcome Of the war would be. IN III"
end. a good thing for the Church. one of the
most intelligent Catholic journals Of this coun-
try. The catholic Transcript of Hartford,
Conn. In speaking OF the acquisition of Porto
Rico AMI the Philippines, says:
". are convinced that such "A disposition Of
these islands would tend to strengthen the % 81
ton Of the Church in these Islands and free 1t
from the trammels under which 1t IS said To
labor II reports Of the condition Of the natives
can be credited. then We will hail with JOY the
day when our flag Will become their national
emblem II will bring with 1t liberty To the
people and will accord to the Catholic Church
rauabity of exercising its benign influence
without let or hindrance. Free institutions are
no barriers 10 the growth OF catholicity II
thrives and hourlshes In land blessed with
liberty
Nor does II content itself with that general
statement II points with pride 10 the growth
of the Catholic Church in free America, and
declares that the Church in the Philippines,
freed from The obloquy which Spanish misgov-
crnmcnt has east upon il. would stand in It's
purity ana beauty, uiiDulu'ucu vi polltl'al
"misdccds." and freed from the shackcs that
now cmbarrass 1t. would soon recompcnse IL
self doubly for any losses 1t might suffer, and
become IN those islands as intelligent and as
"faithful and rs worthy OF respect and loyalty
"aS il is in our own beloved land This Is
Catholic testimony and 1t disposcs finally Of
the religious bugaboo which certain Little
Americans have Invented
,iI that f'nth ,li.
are too american" to give a fair and impair
tlal Judgment on this question. The head of
the Church is the Pope, and he will certainly
view with grave concern the loss of the Churchs
power and privilege in these possessions be-
cause Of their acquisition. The answer to that
is that the Pope is statesman we'll a
Churchman. and knows that this country is
not hostile TO the Church In point Of fact. ac-
cordng To the Rome correspondent Of The
London Daily News" he has already telegraphcd
instructions to the Archbishop of Manila TO
place himself and his clergy under the protcc-
ton of the United States. in view Of the threat
cned attacks by the insurgents This action by
the Pontff Is especially significant when 1t is
remembered that the Archbishop Of Manila a
few weeks ago issued a fiery proclamation de-
nouncing this country as n foe to the Church
ana ready II II cohpu'i'u ih' nuIppiheS' 10
suppress Catholic worship. As to the Church
in Porto Rico. it was announced in the press
dispatches the other day that the Church au-
thortics in that island are prepared TO put
themselves under the protection OF Cardinal
Gibbons the moment the sovereignty Of the
United states is established. In fact. there will
be no religious problem involved in the ac-
ouistion Of these possessions. For the great
church most directly concerned has the power
NJ edaptng Itself to every political condition