The Irish standard., 1899-07-01
Paul Pioneer Press of June 8, proceeds

Paul Pioneer Press OF June 8, proceeds
thus:
"Ponape, the largest island OF the
Caroline group, in spite OF Spanish rule
and the influence OF the Roman Catholic
church, is still controlled by stout-heart-
ed missionaries from New England.
"Some forty-6ve years ago these ISL
ands were unclaimed by any civilized
power and were in full possession of the
aboriginal inhabitants. At that time a
number OF missionaries from the United
States went there and began most sue
cessful and Outstanding work. This
continued until shortly after the time
when Spain took possession. Then the
Spanish governors, urged on by the
Catholic priests, put every possible OBJ
stacle in the way. This eliminated in
the burning OF the residences and school
buildings of the missionaries, the de-
strucion OF native churches, which had
become popular.
From that time ON the priests have
tried everything possible to make things
unpleasant for all who will not come
into their fold. They have recently de-
clared that every person on the island
must join their church and become a
Catholic; and, as result, another out
break seems imminent.
The Protestants are anxiously wait
ing the arrival Of United States man.
of-war, so that they may deliver the
control of the island to the naval officers.
The natives are nearly tickled to death
over this happy prospect Recently the
people have been told that the Germans
are to take the islands and be their mas
tiers. This has made them the more
furious"
Yes, and made "more furious" too,
"the stout-hearted missionaries" who
can hardly expect the Germans to favor
such intolerance, and such plundering of
the people as the American Boards mis-
sionaries have been indulging in in Ha-
waii and elsewhere. The charges here
flung at the Catholic missionaries are
just bits of Protestant missionary his
tory lyingly transferred. "Do it
yourself, and say twas I did it,"
"Fabula de tie narratur." This
liar knows enough at least to
know that the Catholic priests be-
lieve and teach no other doctrine more
emphatically than that no one must be
compelled to become Catholic and join
their church, or that any one refusing
to join the church may therefore have
things made unpleasant for him.
The Catholic priests in Ponape, as
elsewhere, are too busy preaching the
Gospel and dispensing the mysteries of
God, to have time or inclination to write
to periodicals the real happenings of
those far-off places; but, besides the un-
varying praise they get from every i'm
partial traveller and honest recorder of
the facts as they are, their traducers are
in nearly every case put out of court and
condemned out of their own mouths.
Thus an item in the daily press recently
told how the Rev. Francis M. Price, for
five years Protestant missionary in the
island Of Ruk, will be placed in charge
of the Protestant missionary station at
Guam, as soon as that is established.
Now, it is just from Guam that comes
the above yarn to the New York Times,
and whom, but missionary, would amy
level-headed person suspect of writing
it? That Mr.. Price may all the sooner
undertake the new mission the American
Board appeals for 5000 at once, and
for $4,000 more for the building of a
missionary boat. But unfortunately for
the Boards appeal, there appeared in
the same paper, from another source,
an account Of how dismal failure has
been Mr.. Price in his previous mission
of Ruk. Here is the paragraph:
among the Ruk missionaries the
rivalry is scarcely less bitter than that
among the natives. Chief among the
missionary squabbles is that started by
: the Rev. Alfred Smelling, who was sent
to the Carolines about ten years ago
from Boston by the Congregational
Board of Missions. His work proved I'M
satisfactory, and a few years ago Doctor
Price was sent to relieve him. Smelling
Immediately set up an opposition fold.
Wherever Price: set up a school Smelling
did likewise. Each warns the natives
against the others doctrines, and be-
tween them the religious affairs in Ruk
are kept at boiling-pOint. Price was not
long ago succeeded by the Rev. Luther
Stimson, who is carrying on the war
against Smelling. The latter is most pop
ular at present. He received by the
Ruth large consignment of cloth and
trinkets, and by judicious use Of these
articles has won over most of the native
rulers"
Should Smelling continue to prevail
over Stimson-ard he probably will do
so as long as he is kept supplied with
trinkets and clotll-he may take it into
his head to follow his former antago-
nist, whom he appears to have worsted,
to his new field and give him battle
there. In that event the people of Guam
will be burdened not alone with Price,
but also with. Smelling, and their peace
will be sadly disturbed by the warfare OF
these two worthless. But what matters
that, so long as Protestant missionary
boards can appeal to the gullible for