The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-10

give to these friars a mighty instrument
which is even now being welded.
"A very hot sermon was preached here
III tue church of St Ignatious, on July Is,
by the Rev. Father Resell. His subject
was Accommodation" and he made
ample present and future provision for
many possibilities. Among others, was
the following: ANY one contributing so
much as one cent to any Protestant object
schools, hospitals or anything Protestant
comes under the worst form of eXcommu-
hlcaton.' He made a very uncomfortable
future for the press and all It's representa-
ives. local paper, Ell Concrete, Span
ISM IN language and Catholic in religion,
issued protest and received a heavy
broadside from the archbishop himself.
l quote the following from another local
Spanish and Catholic daily, La Democra-
cia Diario Filipino Independence, a trans
lation from a two-columu leader of July
:: we, the Catholics, have confidence in
the soundness of our doctrines and pur-
poses, and look to see them preached IN
wisdom and sweetness (dulce), and not
with the threat always odious and detest-
able, which hitherto, in the Philippines,
has always been employed for the purpose
of disturbing tmid consciences."
The more intelligent Catholics of the is
land, and Catholic observers who are ia
miliar with the conditions, frankly &C
knowledge the survival here of a relg-
ious system which bears all the character
istics of medieval fanaueism and inIol-
erance This system has dominated the
islands and has controlled the local gov
eminent Its influence has been opposed TO
progress. education, and enlightenment
This is fully established by Catholic tes-
timony The orders have become i'm
nensely rich through the extortion of mon
eys and land from people whom they ter
rorize. Native priests have been suppress
ed, and the few natives who have found
their way into the orders have been utii-
lied only in minor and subordinate Offices
If the United States shall essay any alb
solute control or government in these is
lands il is quite beyond belief that there
could be any hope of escaping serious COM
phcation with these established and pow
erful orders. Anything which might be
construed into encroachment upon their
rights, authority, or possessions, would,
beyond question, be bitterly resented. I'm
til, through the process of many years.
their power over the peop,e should have
become weakened, there would remain a
constant menace of revolt and outbreak. Il
is not the Catholic church which would be
encountered, but a group of monastc or
ders whose position here is now practically
unique in the experience of the world of
to-day
ne United states mas come INTO tell
tative possession of group of vastly fer
tile islands. Their area is some thirty
times that of the island of Porto Rico
Their population is some ten times that of
the same island. Yet the total export and
import trade of the two are, in normal
years, about the same in value. A notable
percentage of the people is wild and no
madic. A very small percentage, indeed,
is thrifty or industrious. So far as the
people are concerned, there is little posi-
bility that the United States can or will do
other than repeat its experience with the
North American Indian. England's eXpe-
rence with the Hill tribes of India and the
bushmen of Australia, will find parallel.
In time, they may be beaten out, stamped
out. crushed out. In the meanwhile, the
Philippine Islands offer every prospect Of
providing a very large and active hornets
nest. Those whose ardor for territorial
expansion finds its root only i'm blatant
enthusiasm and blind belief in the 'desti-
MES" of America, will do wisely to stop
and think il all over a little. No true
American would see his country shirk her
duty But duty is one thing and greed of
gain quite another. The right and wrong
of the Philippine question turns upon that
proposition The enthusiastic young man
who asserted that he had heard the Lord
voice calling him to preach the gospel to
the heather was asked by practical
minded old aunt if he was quite sure that
il was not some other noise that he heard.