The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-04
ON CHURCH SIDE
Separation to Occur in the
New Possession.
AID OF ARCHBISHOP IRELAND
This Is Desired by President
Mckinley-Property Rights to be
Respected-Taxes.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-President
Mckinley is extremely anxious TO see
Archbishop Ireland appointed papal
delegate 10 the Philippines. The dis
solution OF Church and State in the
Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico is
to be accomplished at the earliest pos
sible moment. President Mckinley
has determined SO long as these ISL
ands remain under the military con-
troll OF the United States the laws of
this country relative to church and
property shall be applied therein.
Under this decision, much property
held by the church in these possessions
will be required to pay taxes. The
church holdings in the Philippines are
particularly large. The ecclesiastics
own fully three-fourths of the public
lands, including most Of the desirable
portions. Much land and many build
ings are also owned by the church in
Cuba and Porto Rico, either as
grants or as church investments All
of this property, which forms church
endowments, will have to contribute it's
ands. The churches proper, and such
buildings as are necessarily part of
the church establishments, will be eX-
empt. The President has promised,
however, that there shall be no con-
fscation of church property, such as
occurred in Mexico when Juarez estab-
lished republic there. Property
rights, whether of churches or of indi-
viduals, the President has said, shall
be respected in all territory wrested
from Spain. While, therefore, confirm
ing the Catholic church in it's present
possessions, the Presidents decision
will make the church one of the largest
taxpayers in support of the new re-
gime II will pay it's share of the cost
of the new Government.
The establishment of this new order
of things will be a delicate task. In
view Of the magnitude of the question,
as far as the Philippines are concerned,
the President is DESTROYS of having the
Pope send as representative an Ameri-
can prelate who understands the laws
of the United States, who appreciates
the spirit of our institutions and who
can explain to the Philippine clergy
the purity of our motives. He believes
that Arch bishop Ireland would make
well as an intelligent mediator between
the military authorities and the Phil
ippine clergy. The Administration s
desires in this respect will be minated
to the Roman pontiff unofficially.
Archbishop Ireland, when he sails
for Rome, in few days, will explain
to the Holy See the attitude of this
Government The Presidents wishes
anent the Archbishop's appointment
are being conveyed to the Vatican
through other channels. There IS rea-
son to believe the Presidents wishes
will receive respectful consideration
inasmuch as the appointment OF Arch
bishop Chappalle, as the Pope's repre-
sentative in Cuba, was made in pur'
s,lance to the Administration sugges-
ton.
There is no disposition to make~thi<
a permanent post for Archbishop Ire
land. but the President believes thai
a three months visit by the Archbishop
in the Philippines would be of value
not only to the Catholic church, bu
TO this country as well.