The age-herald., 1898-08-21
IRELAND TALKS OF CATHOLICISM. Acquisition of Porto Rico Mil Not Cause Discussions.
  PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND
Will Understand There Can Be No Union
 of Church and State.
PROTECTION OF ALL PROPERTIES
Was Guaranteed When American Flag Was Unfurled in Our New Posses. Archbishop Refus e to Di-
 -ulge Mission at Capital.

Washington, Aug. 2O.-Archbishop Ire- land, who has been in the city for several days, left tonight. During his stay he has had several conferences with President Me Kinley, with whom his relations are of the most cordial character. The archbish- op declined to discuss the significance of his calls upon the president, but it is gen erally understood that he was acting in the interest of the Catholic church as to it's position in our new possessionS Arch- bishop Ireland dismisses as wit yzSlt foun- dation the statement that chU.Sa matters are liable to cause dissensions To the As sociated Press tonight he made the state ments which follow
 ''The church question in our new pos sessions offers no difficulty whatever. Two principles are already settled by the con stitution and laws of America. There will be no union of church and state such as is established by custom or concordial in certain Catholic countries of Europe. There will be complete protection of all properties and of all persons. With such principles Catholics in the United States are satisfied and Catholics in our new pos sessions will be satisfied. The so-called church need not be considered by mili- tary or peace commissions. It is fully reg ulated the moment the flag of this country is raised over a territory. The people of our new possessions understand, I am sureIi this matter very well and will loyalty ac-j cept the situation It may not be yerpi easy for them at first to adapt themselves in all cases to this situation, but the em~ barrassments felt will be temporary. .
 Ample Revenue so
 The people will soon realize that it is thefr duty to support religion by voluntary and, personal contributions. In the greater num1i Der of parishes, moreover, church properr, ties command ample revenue to meet all expenses. The church everywhere in ouRi new possessions is thoroughly organzeda 1t wears no missionary or experimental asG pect, but has the full form and full strengtn of complete organization and is well pre{ pared to care for all its interests without state help or charitable aid. It demands no favor, no privilege-naught but liberty and the legal protection of the natural and civil rights of it's members. N'
 Certain people who talk of these terri- tories as fields for missionary efforts from the United States do-not know what they are talking about. They might with as, much sense organize missions for the cons version of Catholics of Washington for the conversion of the Catholics of Santi- ago, Havana or San Juan-and their labors would have as much prospect of success in Washington as in those oities of Cuba and Porto Rico. -
 Brought no Change
 "The separation of the countries of South America from Spain and Portugal brought no change of religion nor will the separa- ton of Cuba and Porto Rico from Spain bring any. indeed, 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 guaran- tees.
 Cuba and Porto Rico form eccles- iastical parish with the archbishop of San- tiago as metropolitan tnd suffrage bishop at Santiago and Havana. The province will take its place in America hierarchy just as the province of Baltimore or St. Paul, making the fifteenth ecclesiastical province in the United States and bringing to our Catholic population additional two and half millions not to talk of is- lands in the Pacific, so whatever else may come to America from the late war, con- siderable increase of numbers and powers will come to it from the Catholic church. As a Catholic I am very much satisfied with the way things have been going and as an American, I am, of course, thorough ly satisfied. But if I were to speak at length of my feelings as an American the interview would be too lengthy and I stop at the religious point of the situation"