The record-union., 1899-11-05
CAPTAIN LEARY AND THE FRIARs

Attacks have already been made upon
Captain Leary, Naval Governor of
Guam, for expelling the friars who
were plotting against the Government
and grinding the natives of the isle be-
meath their heels. 1t is asserted that
the Captain has no right to expel these
holy men, nc, more thanA this Govern
ment would to order Protestant Epis-
copal dignitary into exile and to con-
f1scate the property of his church.
This is disingenuous. If. any clergy.
Protestant, Jewish or Catholic, became
a conspirator against the Government
and plotted against the laws and
the lawful authority here, he would
be and should be expelled, or worse.
When clergyman becomes a GRIM
inal, he rIst expect the tr reatment ac-
corded to criminals. In Guam a mill
tary Governor is in charge until a
established, and Congress so provides.
During his command he would be a
coward and an idiot if he permitted his
authority to be overthrown or defied,
be oppressed and prosecuted by cler-
fcals.
1t VIII be noted that Captain Leary
did not expel all the friars-less than a
dozen. He elected those who were Of
tenders. Finding one of them to be just,
and to confne himself to his ecclesi-
astical duties, no decree of banishment
was issued against him, nor is there
any account of his interfering with the
priests who were Law abiding. It was
there a matter of individual offenders,
and their cloth was not permitted to
protect them in base practices.
In Guam under Spanish rule it was
the same with the friars as with that
class in the Philippines. There is no
conflict OF the authorities as to the
conduct OF the friars, not all, but the
overwhelmingly greater number In
those islands. 1t was because .of their
cruelties, extortions and vices, protect
ed and winked at by Spain. whose
Governors General they cowed, and
one OF whom they overthrew and ru-
ined who sought to check their abuses,
that the Filipino insurrection began
first against the friars, prior to our
occupation.
1t Is against such men who hide the
devils hoof beneath the saints cloak
that Aguina1do, himself devout son
Of the church, is most incensed. 1t is
the friar whom he tortures and exc
cutes when he catches him to this day
The very first of all the insurgent de
mands made was an exaction that
Spain should curb the friars, require
them to adhere to things ecclesiastical
leave things secular alone, and cease
extorting taxes, beating, enslaving and
cowing the people
We have not far to. go to ascertain
the truth about the fiiars who offend
Any one so minded may consult The
Philippine Islands," by Foreman, F. r.
G. s.: The Philippines and Their Peo
pie" by Worcester: yesterdays in the
Philippines by Stevens, himself a
Catholic; "The Philippines and Round
About" by Younghus band; THE Phil
ippine Islands," by Ramon Reys Lala
Filipino and a Catholic: Austria
lasias" by DR.. GuilEemard, and Les
lies Philippines, Bulletin Societe
dEtudes Coloniales," by Leval, Cath
olic; and for that matter a score oil
other works by Catholic, native ant
dissenting writer's. We may take the
testimony of Aguinaldo, Agoncello anc
ary of the insurgent leaders. as vel
as several high dignitaries of the Cath
olic Church itself, and of all travellers
who have investigated.
The subject our readers will fine
ably and fairy treated in the light O
the evidence, in the "Quslrterly Review
OF couple Of months ~ago. Mr.. Lala