The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-21


counter-Catholics VIII BE, as
They Are in America, Satisfied
With the Protection of the Stars
and stripes-Cuban and Porto
Rican Provinces VIII Be Similar
to Those of ST. Paul and Baltimore
dent.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2O.-Archbish-
op Ireland who has been in the city
for several days, left tonight. During
his stay he has had several 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 it's protection in our new
possessions. Archbishop Ireland dis
misses as without foundation the
statement that church matters are la
BILE to cause dissensions. To the Asso-
ciated Press tonight he made the state
ment which follows:
The church question in our new pos
sessions offers no difficulty whatever.
Two principles are already settled by
the constitution and laws of America.
There will be no union Of state and
church, such as is established by GUS
tom or otherwise, 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 sat-
isfied, and Catholics in our new pos
sessions will be satisfied. The So
called church question need not be
considered by military or peace COM
missions. It Is fully regulated the
moment the flag of this country is
raised over q territory. The people of
our new possessions understand, I am
sure, this matter very well, and will
loyalty accept the situation. 1t may
not be very easy for them at first to
adapt themselves in all cases to this
situation, but the embarrassment felt
will be temporary. The people will
soon realize that 1t is their duty to
support religion by voluntary and par
sonal contributions. sin the greater
number Of parishes, moreover, church
properties Yield ample revenue to meet
all expenses. The church everywhere
In our new possessions is thoroughly
organized; it wears no missionary or
experimental aspects itself, but has
the full form and the full strength Of
complete organization, and is well pre-
pared to care for all her interests
without the help Of state or charitable
aid. 1t demands no favor, no priyt-
lege-nausht but liberty and the legal
protection Of the natural and civil
rights of its members.
CHANGE IN RELIGION.
Certain people who talk of those
territories as fields FOR missionary ef-
forts from the United States do not
know what they are talking about,
They might with as much sense or
ganize missions for the conversion of
Catholics Of Washington as for the
conversion Of the Catholics Of San
tiago, Havana or San Juan-and their
labors would have as much prospect
OF success In Washington as in those
cities of Cuba or Porto Rico. The
separation of the countries of South
America from Spain and Portugal
brought no change Of religion, nor will
the separation of Cuba and Porto Rico
from Spain bring any. Indeed, the
Catholic church will flourish better in
Cuba and Porto Rico than in our ter
ritories formerly colonies of Spain, be-
cause In Cuba and Porto Rico there
Will be for her the liberty and sta
biltty, or order which our flag guar
antees.
Cuba and Porto Rico form an &C.
clesiastical province with the arch
bishop Of Santiago as metropolitan.
and suffragan bishops at San Juan and
Havana. This province will take it's
place in the American hierarchy, just
as do the province Of Baltimore or
that Of St. Paul, making the fifteenth
ecclesiastical province In the United
States and bringing to our Catholic
population an addition Of two and q
half millions, not to talk Of islands In
the Pacific, SO, whatever else will come
to America from the late war, consid-
erable Increase Of Numbers and power
will come from it to the Catholic
church. AS a Catholic, am very much
satisfied with the way things have
been going-and, as an American, I
am, of course, thoroughly 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 feature of the situation"