New-York tribune., 1898-12-25

! RELIGION ~ THE NEW POSSESSIONS.
The religious problem in the new possessions
| of the United States is one of more than ord-
nary interest Christianity has been firmly o.
tablisbcd in Hawaii. thanks To The Jealous Ia
bors Of the American Board missionaries. In
deed Hawaiian civilization is almost wholly
the creation OF the Congrega tiona missionaries
from this country whose sons to-day. IN
spite Of rho viruent abuse hcaped on them by
Little Americans. stand for tho highest deals
OF moral and material progress Tho other ro-
lgous bodies IN Hawaii are small. but Chris
tians of AL names live together amcably. and
the problem OF religion in the islands is in no
wise different from that in the organized States
and Territories.
In regard TO Cubn there is nothing to bc said
at present except that so long as the United
States controls the island all religious bodies
will he treated with absolute Justice and equal
ry. Tho property or other rights OF Roman
Catholics will bc as fully safeguarded as they
have ever been. while. on the other hand. mon oi
cvcry other creed. or Of no creed. Will he pro
tectcd in their right under tho Constitution 70
hold and propagate their views. II seems like
utering truSm to say this 10 Americans; but
there are many intelligent Cubans who do roi
clearly understand that the attitude Of our
Government to all denominations is one Of all
soute impartialty. While the termination Of
Spain's sovereignty in the Island will doubtless
encourage Protestant propagandsm, the Cath
ollc Church cannot complain Of that. II rrospers
in This country under the same conditions, ana
intelligent American Catholics believe that
free field for ali churches and no favor for any
in Cuba will be actually beneficial to the Cath
Ole Church.
4 somewhat different state Of affairs appears
to exist in Porto Rico. Unlike Cuba. the isl
and is to be permanent possession or the
United States and therefore the neutrality OF
the Government toward all religions must he
taken into the account as il permanent factor ID
the problem On the other hand. ii certain re-
cent reports are trustworthy. Roman Cathoi-
iciSm does not have strong hold on the people
of Porto Rico. For instance. Father sherman.
a son of General W. T. Sherman. who has been
serving as chaplain Of Missouri regiment
stationed In Porto Rico. said recently thai the
island is "A Catholic country without religion
This Catholic testimony is in substantial agree
ment with number Of other non-Cathollc re-
ports. Thus the Rev Mr.. Sloan, who was not
long ago sent 10 Porto Rico by the Baptist Mis-
sionary Society says that the people laugh nj
their priests. sIieer at the converts. ridlcuie
"the monks and absent themselves from church
lie declares that the influence OF the Church
"is practically cipher, and that PROTESTANT
missionaries will be warmly received. And,
although they write with more reserve. THIS
IS in substance. the view expressed by Ameri-
can military mea on the island. While we be-
lieve that Roman Catholicism will recover some
of its lost ground when it ceases TO he identl-
fed with Spain and its methods. II is not Ike
ly that il will remain the only Church OF the
island The door Is opened for Protestaniishl'
and it would not be at all surprising II Il De-
came power in the island. EpscopaNahs are
especially anxious to sec what they can DO.
Tor they think that as Protestant Church. re-
tanning many OF the traditions. beliefs ana cere-
monies of the old Church. they Will he able TO
appeal powerfully TO Porto Ricans who have
broken away from Roman Catholicism without
ceasing 10 be Christians.
still another problem will bo presented in the
Phlippne Islands when the peace treaty *
ratified 1t Is the misfortune Of the Roman
Catholics IN those Islands TO have incurred The
bitter cnmity Of n large number OF the most
Intelligent natives. who accuse certain persons
i'm the Church especially the friars. OF ciuelty.
onnrcsslon and rapacity. The truth OF these
charges has vet To be substantaed, but the
widespread dissatisfaction with the temporal
rulo Of the Church is a matter OF record. Mr..
Uykcs. who was sert TO the Philippines by the
American Bible Society last September. reports
that the field Is ripe for American Protestant
missionaries and so does Mr. Randr. the agent
Of the British Bible Society in Manila. IT is
oui;c natural that Roman Catholics in ihp ihli-
lppnes having long ruled those Islands 70
tlc exclusion of every other faith. should be
inclined 10 antagonize tho entrance OF frotes-
tant missionaries. But American Catholics VIII
no prompt TO tell them that such an'aSonism
will ho unavang and that, moreover
healthy rivalry in religious work viii be me
best possible hing for the Church In the Ph'l-
jnnnce Whatever is unsatisfactory In It's con
dition there to-day is almost wholly due to me
fact that il has held exclusive possession of fhe
field. and has thus been tempted to adopt mefh-
ods and polices that have reacted upon Itself