The times., 1898-09-21
The Voice OF the Church.


Remembering the opposite view of
the situation. taken by so influential an
Administration churchman as Monsig-
nor Ireland, and his friends in the
Senate and on the bench, the declara-
tn of the Catholic archbishop of Ma
Ma, ON the prevailing conditions in the
FLt.ppines, is attracting widespread
attention. While it is a matter OF
opinion in this country that the views
ana monopolistic interests of the
mcrkish orders in the Philippines had
a good deal TO do with the formulation
Of the protocol. and its apparent tend
ency TO provide for a surrender of the
archipelago TO Spain. on the other hand
ii now appears that the policy so
strongly urged upon the Administra
highest church authority on the
ground. In a recent interview at Ma
Mia, Archbishop Dozal said:
/ earnestly hope the islands viii NOT remain
Spanish because the rebels so strong
that such a course would inevitably cause ap-
palling bloodshed. The rec0nqucst of the natives
impossible until after years Of the most crusl
warfare.
Unfortunately, the archbishop of Ma
Mia, although now living under the
American flag, is not yet an American
citizen, nor does he have a pull as a
/ leading Republican politician. II
! Things We're different. perhaps he might
not take the unfriendly view that he
setTs to, of the immensely wealthy
| Dominican, Ausustinian, franciscan.
and Recoletan orders that practically
! have owned, controlled, and received
the usufruct of the Philippine Islands
for centuries. As remarked above, il is
perhaps largely in their behalf that
| the surrender policy has been promoted
in this country, and pushed upon the
Administra ton as good politics" by
certain gentlemen of senatorial, judi
cial, or corporate distinction. But
whatever may be the idea of their
rights on this side of the world, their
religious head at Manila does not look
upon them with favor, nor believe that
their further organized existence in the
Philippines would be either desirable
or possible. Monsignor Dozal says that
the whole people have determined tc
abolish them; that they have been al
| ways q source of trouble to the church
on account of ineessant quarreling
among themselves; that they have beer
beyond control of constituted religious
authority, and, finally, that they mus
go, no matter what else may happer
regarding the future of the islands.
we are able to see in this picture ar
Illustration of the impolicy of giving re
ligious organizations monapolstic anc
extra-leSal privileges which endov
them with power to oppress and mule
the common people without responsi
bility to the civil law. In free coun
try like America, these same monk:
would be worthy citizens, tending thei
vines, brewing their beer, building anC
conducting schools. hospitals, and or
phanages, and believing in the benign
institutions under which they lived
Perhaps the day may come when the!
can follow such a career in the Areri
can Philippines. respected and liked b!
their government and neighbors. Fo
the present it seems. upon the author
ity of Archbishop Dozal that they hav,
forfeited the right to remain and the.
and their claims, ambitions. and mo
nopoly should be eliminated from fur
ther consideration in the Administra
tion's Philippine policy.
To be entirely frank about the mat
ter, since the first Catholic dignitar!
in the archipelago has pronounced
against them, it would seem to be tn,
duty of President Mckinley to ceas,
giving heed to the influence mentioned
and to shape his course in complianc,
with the universal demand of tn,
American people, which is that we kee,
every square foot of the Eastern EN-
pire won for us by Admiral Dewey il
the victory of Manila Bay.