Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-09
IRELAND IS
TO VISIT ROME
Many Matters That Need AT
tending to.
THE CHANGED RELATIONS
Between Church and State in Cuba,
Porto Rico and tie Philip
pine Islands.
THE CHANGED RELATIONS

New York, Jan. "a special to the
Herald from Washington says: The Her
aid correspondent is able, through the
courtesy of a prominent Catholic clergy
man of this city, who, through his for
eign atfiliations keeps in close touch
with Catholic matters affecting both this
country and Europe, to throw some light
on Archbishop Ireland's visit to Rome,
which he is soon to pay. This clergyman
says:
There are so many matters to which
Archbishop Ireland will give his per-
sonal attention while in Europe that it
is hard to specify any particular cause
for his visit. There has been, am con-
vinced, no call from the pope to visit
Rome, certainly not to answer any
charges or to explain anything in CON
nection with the course of the church in
this country during recent years. Mgr.
Ireland's visit is voluntary, and Is, L
understood, principally in relation to the
changed conditions which will confront
the church in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines.
"As everyone realizes there will be
many changes in the management Of the
church in those islands and in the rela-
tions heretofore existing between the
church and government and between the
church and the people. The peace treaty
provides for the free exercise of religion
in the islands and guarantee that the
property which belongs to the church
shall not be taken from it, There is
however, vast quantity of property, es-
pecially in the Philippines, ), which COM
monty belongs to the church, but to
which there are many claimants. 1T is
not this so much as the character of the
priests in the Philippines which is
cause of SO much anxiety to the Catholics
of the United States. If these islands are
to be held by the United States, as is now
almost certain, it is to be expected that
they,will be placed under the hierarchy Of
the United States. The government will
not look with favor on the proposition to
allow the Spanish priests to remain in
power and office in these islands. While
they are cordially dislked and even hated
by a large body of the natives, they are
still very influential, and their presence
there would be constant menace to the
interests of this country and hindrance
to the work of Americanizing the islands.
1.-TWO priests accompanied General
Merritt when he sailed for the Philip
pines, and they spent some time in
Manila and other islands. One of them
expressed himself in vigorous terms as
to the habits and character of the Philip
pine priesthood. They are totally differ
ent from the priests Of this country. The
priests are almost all friars, being men,
bers of powerful religious organza tions.
AS the organization never dies, they ac
cumulate wealth very rapidly. In this
case they have been assisted by the gov
| ernment, which gave the church vast
wealth that had been left behind by
original owners who fled to escape pun
ishment by the rebels. These lands the
church holds on tentative title, and it is
| expected it will be compelled to surrender
a large quantity of it, either to the gov
ernment of the United States or to the
original owners or their heirs.
During the period of transition from
the Spanish priesthood to the American
priesthood Archbishop Ireland's pres
ence in Rome will be of the greatest
value, both to the church and the gov
ernment. This, / believe, is the principal
reason for this trip, to present the case
Of America and the American church to
the people and to explain many steps
which the government will take in regard
! to the church in these islands. There is
nothing in regard to the Catholic univer-
sity which would incite visit to Rome.
The university yesterday placed a mort
gage On it's property for $165,O00, but I
understand it is to be utilized to erect a
building which is needed, as they are
very crowded there.
"There seems to be no necessity for
adding fuel to the fire which ragged over
the publication dealing with the life of
Father Hecker. Europe takes an ad-
verse view of Hecker and his work, and
America prizes him. There is no recon-
Citation il sight, and a fresh defense
would arouse more bitter criticism. How
ever strong the American liberals may
appear on the surface and whatever pres
tige may be attached to them, France
and Europe will always be conservative
and there are influences at Rome which
will never cease their attempts to thwart
the efforts of the American liberals
Archbishop Ireland made a tional
address the last time he was in Paris
He is to speak there again while in Eu-
rope. Perhaps this address will be as
sensational and as productive of COM
ment as the last"
The coming visit to France of Arch
bishop Ireland and the address which he
is to deliver in Paris before one of the
societies there are expected to either
cause reaction favorable to the Ameri-
cans or bring matters to a crisis. He is
highly regarded by the French Catholics,
and the last address he made in Paris
was the subject of much favorable COM
ment, and for a time liberalism in the
true sense of the word was not regarded
with the horror formerly displayed. The
influence of this address has partly worn
off and it remains to be seen if he can
revive it.