The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-07-15
THE PHILIPPINE ERIARS.

pers Of the country love to dwell on
the great power and influence exercised
by the friars in the Philippines before
the American occupation OF Manila.
The Pioneer Press of last Sunday fur
nished its readers with a two-column
diatribe against the religious orders,
which it reprinted from the New York
Tribune. The article consists OF state
ments made by an Englishman named
Foreman, and Filipino named Oolo-
gan Ozaota, the son OF rich Manila
merchant. What they say has been re-
futed by disinterested persons who have
seen the effects OF the labor OF the SLAM
dered friars among the natives OF the
islands,
The Filipino whose interview is print
ed unconsciously pays high compli-
nlent to these worthy men when he
enumerates the requirements they pos
sess as architects, engineers, physicians,
teachers, lawyers and politicians. Ac-
cording to himself the friars were nei-
Their lazy nor ignorant but were enter
prising and busy men. In spite OF his
he is forced to admit
they accomplished a great deal for the
natives.
Whatever else may be said of Spain
she certainly elevated the aborigines
both morally and materially. Spain can
show what she has done in the Philip
pines. Evidences OF her civilizing in
fluenccs can be seen everywhere in the
islands. General King in recent inter-
view states that the Filpinos are strict
ly honest and that 90 per cent of them
can read and write
When, therefore, Mr.. Foreman speaks
of "the ignorant native community" he
is bearing false testimony against the
Filipinos and the friars who instructed
them. He ought to compare the ma
tives OF the Philippines with the Mao
ries of New Zealand and see the vast
difference between. Spanish and Anglo
Saxon civilization. While the Filipinos
have been increasing and multiplying
at rapid rate and advancing in the
scale OF civilization, the aborigines of
Tasmania under British rule are nearly
exterminated and have remained in their
original barbarity What have the Prot
estant clergy done for them, compared
with the marvellous work accomplished
by Catholic priests for the Filipinos?
The latter have educational establish
ments of all kinds for boys and girls.
They have an institution conducted by
Jesuits where all the arts and sciences
are taught and degrees are conferred on
the graduates. Its curriculum includes
instruction in English and French, en-
practical agriculture, me-
clanics, physics and chemistry.
The Englishman displays lamentable
ignorance of the Catholic religion and
thinks that the Catholic priests imposed
on the natives. He says that they de-
rived large revenue from "the sale of
papal bulls, masses, pictures, books,
marriages, burials, bene-
dctions and baptismal fees" Every
Roman Catholic who is instructed in his
religion knows that Foreman, who, by
the way, is Fellow of the Royal So
ciety, is very much mistaken in some
things he says. There is no sale OF
"papal bulls" masses" and "indul-
gences" in any country and neither is
there any sale of "benedictions." Fore
man cannot buy in England pictures
and books for nothing. Neither could he
get married without paying the preacher
or squire for his labor, and we venture
to say that if he was ever baptized his
father gave something to the minister.
What this Johnny Bull says of the
priests in the Philippines has been said
by other bigots from time immemoral
of Catholic priests in every land. He
is the same Foreman who reported more
than year ago that the friars betrayed
the secrets OF the confessional and there
by aroused the Filipinos to instruction
against Spain. That yarn was cffectu-
ally disposed OF by the special cores
pondent OF the New York Herald at
Manila, who took occasion to say that
Foreman was in absolute Ignorance of
affairs in the Philippines and gathered
his information from conversations held
with the loungers in the coffee rooms OF
Manila. And yet Foreman was consid-
cred an authority on the Philippine
problem by the American peace COM
at Paris, and the New York
Tribune, Pioneer Press and other
Anglo-Saxon sheets quote him at
length when he ISLANDERS the Catholic
church and its faithful priests in the
Philippines. Anglo-American organs of
spoliation and conquest pay undue at
tention to Foreman and men of his ik.
He is entirely unworthy Of confidence
as an authority on Philippine matters,
but he is evidently paid we'll for his ly-
ing by the promoters of an Anglo
American alliance.
SOUND..WORDS FROM COL. FINERTY.
When President Mckinley in the
name of humanity issued a call for VOL