The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12
THE PHILIPPINE FRIARS.
MEMORIAL Addressed BT THEN TO
THE SPANISH GOVERSMENT.

~ 49,
war Begnn from the Point of View o.
the Religious Orders Complaints al
the Frinrs-Froemasonrv In the Islands
BOO The memorial sent by the Philippine friars
20 tho Spanish Government lust before the
m declaration Of war last spring is given In sub
s,anoe In the February number OF the RosnrI
MAGAZINE. n publication Of tho Dominican faith.
ere OF st. Joseph's prIory at Somerset. o.. tits
nyesented by tho Rev. Ambrose Coleman. o.
p. who says In n predatory paper that although
the memorial has been circulated by the iriars
in Spain and translated and disseminated
through FroncelIt has not before been put into
English. The memorial is a protest against
the abusive treatment to which the religious
orders and their members we're subjected by
officials and by Spanish resideDts and natives
. alike throughout the Islands: but any effect
II might have had was prevented by the out
break OF hostilitles while It was In transit to
the peninsula and the change in the Spanish
Ministry. including the Colonial onlco, before
Il reached its destination. 1t affords, never
theless. some interesting Information regard
ing Internal conditions among the Filipinos.
furnished by men whose lives are spent in In
Innate association with them.
The memorial Ia signed by the superiors Of
Che Augustinians. Prancisoaus. Reoolleots.
Dominicans and Jesuits. all the religious Or
ders In the Islands. Under their spiritual
OhI0, SOipLihb oAh Ohe' nav ' ~ W.
the ak millions OF nominal Christians in the
archipelago. a fact which lends i'm portance to
the statements In the memorial as embodylnz
an authoritative exposition OF the case. lie
declares 1t TO be moro than a nero appeal to
the Spanish Government. as which 10 would
be out OF date and nulliaed at -this time. and
to be really a challenge to the civilized world.
OF the Insurgents Father Coleman frankly
says: THAT they are hankerInR after self
49, Dt ayI N fauv IrtIa roElhIina Of
their own is beyond doubt. aud that
they are Incapable OF self-Government
seems 10 be the opinion OF all Euro
peans who have lived among them" But he
says that the bad spirit toward the priests has
been communicated to the natives from tho
6paniards. The memorial attributes the re-
boIlion against Spain In the islands to Free
masonry. Father Coleman says that to Free
masonry Spain owes many a civil war which
has desolated the peninsula, the loss of her
South American colonies. 'and. perhaps. If the
matter were closely examined. the loss OF
Cuba as we'll" He refers to n series OF articles
IN the administration OF Madrid lust before
che war. In which the suppression OF the friars
in tho Philippines was advocated. and 1t was
urged that they should be turned out of their
con vents and missionary houses by a secret
decree OF which they were TO be kept In iEnor-
ance until the execution actually took place.
IN6dulJk lilC7o lliL anu hLIsNdb iIpbOrdAS. III
The light Of recent Spanish history and with the
help Of tie memorial. we are inclined to believe
that without much further pressure from the
Freemasons the Spanish Ministry would have
carried them out he says. adding: For
tunately for the friars as well as tho natives,
they have no voice In tho matter now" He
asks II under tho new "cgime the cOntumely
"a to come to an end. will a now spirit como
in with the new Government" he asks. and
n -g.- 49, - H. iii - III
American Catholics. our own kith and kim"
The friars present themselves as faithful
and constant upholders OF Spanish rule in the
Philippines" conscious that they have al
ways been loyal and patriotic subjects and
have always fulfilled our duties and the obli-
cations of our holy ministry Far from Eu-
rope. scattered to the furthermost parts OF the
archipelago without other witnesses than
their dear and simple' practitioners. they
say. they have no other defence than right and
reason: but in the vilincations Of which they
were made the objects and a renewal OF which
they anticipated. they foresaw the reproduce
sion Ia the archipelaGo. with more or less
cruelty. OF that historical period in the PENN
su'a OF 1S3i-iO"-when. on the circulation Of
q story that the monks and lriars had poisoned
the wells. the p~opu!ace I'm a At Of mad rage"
rs Father Coleman puts it. rose on all sides.
rushed to tho converts and monasteries and
murdered all the minutes they could lay their
hands upon, That anl,iig the objects OF the
Sebels was, the extinction OF the orders the
triarB found proof in a paper. the brdud Orieht.
(which like q plague ia still scattered over tue
tela1ds.., q paper conducted by one OF tho
elared that one of the drst articles Of his pro-
9ramme was the exclusion Of the religious or
end In settlug up their demand for protection
aeclare: Apart from their essentially re-
pelago are the sole spanish institution. per-
hanent and deeply rooted. which exists in the
tslapde-a Vigorous organization well adapted
They 60 on to say; While the civil and
military 0naIcais, on the one hand. who
cline. fulfilling their duties more or
less wisely; according as II Is for or against
the language OF the country and have only a
superficial Intercourse with the islanders. we.
whole existence. dispersed often one by one
among the remotest tribes, When we bid an
unfairly condemn ourselves by virtue Of our
VOWS to live forever devoted to the moral. 70:
IiRious and civil education OF the natives. and
We have waRed conflicts in their behalf"
30 the frisrs, depict themselves a, conserva7
tors In general. loyal supporter Of The royal
oppreSsors and defenders Of the oppressed.
pnly TO meet ipgratitude from both sides. The
tnnurgepts, saId the priests; proiesged no dis
lion OF, separation from spain, but confined
f fss oisEry' s and 7 i HsmdH ready ,ST f jPsts eHDqlS a@oS Of
= the Spanish residents In tho archipelago who.
: t SSps sg ehssiG wh %nd ' the %%asehik IsnS q T wera t Sss
V'AO il'p
> thought. liberty Of the press, secplarization Of
preston OF the privileges OF the clergy. The
fobels hit upon this demand. the memorial
Gays. seeing that we were the most deeply
looted, influential and best respected Span
3Ards in tho country" whereas had they de
elared that the inSurrection was brought about
BY the numerous abuse, Of rover which have
Gonartes. they would have all the Spanish ele-
mont on tho ,archipelGgo leagued against
them. and would have the door closed against
al their means Of propaganda"
Then appears tho priests estimate NJ tho
sincerity OF the Insurgents demand for re-
dress. what has since been represented as their
elRerncss fer Belf.government. This from men
whom tho priests have always defended. a. tho
natives are subjected to a thousand vexa.
lions on the part OF tho Spanish La residents.''
Tho fathers say, however. thai very few Of
the native officials. who went through their
course in our schools took part in tho rebel
lion. The free thought speesh@s came for the
have failed In their career and were the refuse
Of our classes" On the subject OF education
the priests say: There Is no education In the
ordinary sense OF the term. primary. second
airy or superior. In the islands. that has not
hAAn founded annnnraUe1 and GputntnaA La