The record-union., 1898-12-04


besides, local rulers. Even the Govern
ment itself dare take no step with
out their consent They possessed
enormous property, dictated local ordi-
nances and practically levied the lar
ger share of the; harsh taxes, since
without their operation they could
not have been laid on.
In the Philippines even the dying
paid tax, since their bodies could not
De committed to the earth whence they
came without the payment : to the
church of sum of money In Porto
Rico, out Of pure charity, our Military
Governor paid the salaries of the &C.
ciesiastics for September, but notified
them that they could look to the Gov
must do as other priests and preachers
do, live upon the incomes the people who
worship under their ministratio see
1T to accord to them. These charges
and complaints, be it noted, come in
large part from sincere and devoted
friends and adherents of the church,
and therefore are divested of hostile
feeling.
Oh course such revolution and upset
makes the sufferers angry, and the
Vatican reflects the sentiment It's at
titude, as revealed snow by Mr.. Stead,
casts a good deal Of doubt upon it's
former protestations of regard for the
United States during the war. In truth
the Holy Father desired peace, wanted
the war to come to an end, used all
his power to prevent war, but did so
with the hope constantly in view that
Spanish sovereignty would remain un-
disturbed. There is no record-and we
nave made diligent search to find some
thing Of that nature-disclosing any
sufficient. effort on the part of the Vati-
can to relieve the people of the Philip
pines from the exactions and tyranny
OF the monks and friars in the islands.
1t seems that on two occasions Rome
did protest and on several occasions
admondshed, but there is no record that
she ever commanded as might have
been done, reforms and notifications,
which might, nay would have pre-
vented the insurrection, and have thus
covered the weakness of Spain in the
Orient and prevented 1t from becoming
a menace, or even known, and that in
turn would probably have prevented us
taking the Philippines. So but for the
church acquiescenee in the tyranny of
her servants, the Philippines might to-
day be still under Spanish control and
ownership.
No, it is not surprising that the vati-
can is sore over the outcome and looks
upon the United States as the op-
pressors of the Spanish But who op-
pressed the Fflipinos? Who gave
cause for the insurrection in the ISL
ands? Against whom did the original
followers of Aguinaldo raise their wea-
pons first? Against the commissioned
and robed representatives of the Vati-
can.
The United States did not create that
condition. We found the islands in a
State of war. We found the common
people on the one side and the ecclesi-
astics on the other arrayed against one
another, with the feeble, trembling
State doing the will and obesiance to
the latter. America now comes in as
savior. She relieves the people Of the
burdens the Spanish and the monks put
upon them. She bids the native to
stand erect in the attitude of a man.
She gives priest and layman equal free
dom, oppresses neither and favors
neither. She commands the peace be-
tween them and strikes off the shaekles
Spain had been permitted by the
church, to which in all things she was
plant, to rivet upon a conquered peo-
pie
No, it is not surprising that the vati-
can is angry, but it is surprising that
the shrewd, sharp statesmen Of the
Vatican should be so shortsighted and
narrow minded as not to perceive in
the new conditions to prevail in late
Spanish possessions, immensely greater
benefits and far higher possibilities for
the people Of that religion For the
betterment of mankind materially as
well as spiritually, is assuredly one end
and aim of the church.