The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-06
Gen. Funston Again Talks About
Their Influence.
Says Their Expulsion Would
End the War.
LIKE MIDDLE AGES.
Practices of InquisitiOn Be
ViVed, Says the General.
Native Hatred of MOnastic Or
ders Almost a Mania.

Lawrence, Kan. Nov. ST believe
that six months will see the end of the
Instruction" said Gen. Funston. 1--WE
will soon have sufficient force to crush
it and hold the positions we capture.
There will be no serious difficulty in
governing the Filipinos, if we put over
them, in the various administrative de-
partments, our best men-not men who
are sent there on no other recommenda-
ton than that they need the job. They
must be firm, but have a sympathy
with the aspirations of the people.
1.-THE Fiipinos, in a generation, at
least, can not stand alone. They are in
capable of self-government. am posi-
tive that civil war would exist on the
island had the American forces been
withdrawn. They should be allowed
their own local government, but over
that must be a strong central govern
ment controlled by the United States.
Il want to emphasize my statement
that the expulsion of the friars from
the islands would mean an end of the
rebellion. I am satisfied that no perma-
nent peace or progress can ever be at
tanned until that is done. When speak
of friars, I do not mean the Catholic
church. have a high regard for that
church, and have many friends among
its clergy, but the friarS in the Philip
pines have very little in common with
! the church of this country or with the
clergy of the islands. They represent
the Middle Ages.
1T is a fact that upto within two
years ago the practices of the old in
QUESTION obtained in the islands. l
have seen men whose bodies bear the
scars from having been scared with hot
irons by the friars. Hanging by the
thumbs, hanging head down with steel
hooks, and other similar methods were
used to compel victims to confess their
connection with the Katipunan, a Sc
whose object was to free the people
from the rule of the friars and the
Spanish government. In 1869 whole
sale execution of natives took place, the
information against the victims having
been furnished by the friars, who ex-
tOrted it by torture.
These facts [ have gathered from
foreigners, who have long resided on
the islands, and from natives. If one
wants to understand the fullness of the
awful character of these friars. ne
should read a book called The Philip
pine Islands, written about seven years
ago by an Englishman. John Foreman,
who had been an old resident. Mind
you, he was loyal Catholic, too.
There are four orders of friarS on
the islands. The best of these is the
Jesuits, who have accomplished much
good in educational work. The others
are narrow, cruel and licentiouS. They
keep mistresses, and the number of
( illegitimate children of the priests scat
tered about the islands is we'll known.
1t is a common joke among the natives.
These orders own a large per cent of
the best cultivated lands, and a most
terrible form of rack rent exists. The
system absorbs everything raised above
a bare living.
'These lands should be confscated
and the proceeds devoted to improving
the condition of the people. They are
practically crown lands, and now be-
long to the United States for there
never was any clear division between
church and state property Titles
a fcGfn
and the mOnaStic orders be compelled
to prove their title. Every acre that
is not legitimately theirs should then
be conhscated.
1.-THE hatred of these friars by the
natives amounts to a mania. From my
knowledge of the Spanish language, I
was able before the outbreak of hostili-
ties to converse with many of the insur-
gent officers. I asked them what they
would do if they had their independ-
ence. They had crude ideas on finance
and other questions of government. but
they invariably replied that their first
act would be to expel the friars.
THE natives are loyal Catholics but
they want secular priests. They have
no use for Protestant missionaries, but
we should encourage sending American
| Catholics to take charge of the welfare
of the people. The friars hate Ameri-
cans and Cypress the natives. They are
remaining neutral in the rebellion. as
| they dislike both the insurgents and
the Americans.
Nov, let me explain why the ex-
pulS1On OF the friarS would end the war
The insurgents would accept it as an
expression of good faith on the part of
our government. It is the end above
all things that they have fought to ac-
complish, and if the United States would
give it to them they would begin to
think that we really want to treat them
fairly and better their condition But
as long as the pernicious influence of
the friars continue in the islands we
shall be regarded by the insurgents as
no better than the Spanish"
Regarding the trip from San Fran
cisco home Gen. Funston said:
Il want to express the gratitude of
the Kansas men and their officers for
the kind treatment of the Santa Fe
railroad, both by the management and
the trainmen who brought US to Kan
sas. The railroad company generous
] ly furnished the transportation, and al
so paid for the Pullman cars for the
enlisted men and for the meals en- route
OF course. the legislature viii refrn-
/ burse them, but they will have to wait
over year for their money, without
any guarantee except the loyalty of the
Kansas people. This company handled
our trains magniffcently, and the Har-
Vey eating house gave US the best of
meals. You may set it down that every
man of the old Twentieth Kansas
/ which is now no more except in history
will hereafter travel on the Santa Fe
| route whenever he goes anywhere
reached by that line"
Struck a Gas Well