The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-23
THE CATHOLICS OF CUBA
A rch bishop Ireland in Conference
With the President-His Statement
as TO Position of the Roman Catholics
of our New Possessions.

of our New Possessions.
Washington, August 20.-Archbishop
Ireland who has been in this city for
several days, left tonight, During his
stay he has had number Of confer
ences with President Mckinley with
whom his relations are Of the most
cordial character The archbishop has
declined to discuss the significance Of
his calls upon the president, but it has
been generally understood that he was
acting in the interest of the Catholic
church as to its protection in our new
possession. The archbishop dismisses
as without foundation the statements
tnat church matters are liable to
cause dissensions. To the Associated
Press tonight he made the statement
which follows:
The church question in our new
possessions offers no difficulty what
ever. Two principles are already
settled by the constitution and laws
of America. There will be no union
of church and state, such as is estab-
countries Of Europe; there will be
complete protection of all properties
and of all persons. With such prin-
ciples Catholics in the United States
are satisfied, and Catholics in our new
possessions will be satisfied The So
called church question need not be
considered by military or peacacommis
sions. 1t is fully regulated the moment
the flag of this country is raised-ove
territory. The people of our new pos
sessions understand, | am sure, this
matter very well, and will loyalty ac-
cept the situation. 1t may not be
very easy for them at first to adopt
themselves in all cases to this situ
alton, but the embarrassment felt will
be but temporary.
''The people will soon realize that
it is their duty to support religion by
voluntary and personal contributions.
In the greater number of parishes
moreover church properties yield am
pie revenue to meet all expenses. The
church everywhere in our new pos
sessions is thoroughly organized; it
means no missionary or experimental
aspect; but has the full form and the
and is we'll prepared to care for all her
interests without the help of state or
charitable aid 1t demands no fav-
ors, no privilege-naught, but liberty
and legal protection of the national
and civil rights OF it's members. Ger
tain people who talk of these territor-
les as fields for missionary efforts
from the United States do not know
foil HOY
might with as much sense organize
missions for the conversion Of the
Catholics of Santiago, Havana or San
Juan-and their labors would have as
much prospect of success in Washing
ton as in a city in Cuba Or Porto Rico.
The separation of the countries of
South American from Spain and Por-
tugal brought no change Of religion,
nor will the separation of Cuba and
Porto Rico from Spain bring any. In
deed the Catholic church will flourish
better in Cuba and Porto Rico than
in other territories, formerly colonies
of Spain, because in Cuba and Porto
Rico there will be for her the liberty
and the stability of order which our
flag guarantees.
Cuba and Porto Rico form an eccles-
iastical province with the archbishop
of Santiago as metropolitan, and
suffragen bishops at San Juan and Ha-
vana. This province will take its
place in the hierarchy, just as do the
province of Baltimore and that of st.
Paul, making the fifteenth ecclesiasti-
cal province in the United States and
bringing to our catholic population
an addition of .2500,0 ,000-not to talk Of
the islands in the Pacific, so whatever
else will come to America from the
late war, considerable increase Of
numbers and power will come from it
to the Catholic church. AS Catholic
/ am very much satisfied with the way
things have been going-and, as an
American l am of course, thoroughly
satisfied But if l were to speak at
length of my feelings as an American,
the interview would be too lengthy
and / will stop at the religious fea-
ture of the situation