Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-20
arcbbishop IreIand's Statement

Archbishop Ireland's statement OF Tic
views entertained by the Vatican concern
ING American control in the former Spanish
possessions as the interests OF the hoiiid'i
Catholic Church are affected. VIII Cum
mend itself to everybody OF thousht VINO
has in any measure considered the supJe'''
Tho statement comes from a man who
both as citizen and churchman cotiiiiianus
the respect Of the country irrespective OF
creed or party.
Here and there an effort has been made
TO prejudice people of the Roman Caliioiie
communion against the government on ahe-
cations that the interests of that church, In
the Philippines particularly, are menaceo
ny the new order of things, and by Wild
warns about the looting of churches there
nv American soldiers. This appeal rested
upon an assumption that those to Wnom
II was addressed were ignorant people
easily misled 1t was in reality an ahront
to all those from whom returns were ex-
pected 1t Is only necessary to oHer the
condition of that church and OF All
churches in the United States as evidence
of the fact that all religious interests are
safe under the stars and stripes 10 reiute
one of the charges. while the other, Wh1ch
relates to the irreverent despoillng OF
sacred edifices is SANDER on men wearing
the American uniform, and who at nome
have been accustomed to show respect as
citizens for all forms of religious worship
We learn now upon the highest authority
that these allegations have been received
with no respect at Rome but that the gen.
eral situation as it affects religious inter-
ests is one in which the highest church au-
thorities there feel satisfaction and con-
fdence They are advised, as thoughtful
har Of difficulties raised for
everybody by the fighting of war and
change of sovereignty, but they are also
as we'll advised, thoughtful men are
here of what our government stands for
wherever it's authority extends, and what
the representative American character Sig
mites in the broad relations of society and
control. 1t would be strange indeed if any
doubt could exist on that point in RESPONSE
BILE circles when churchmen of the achieve
ments Of Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop Ire
land and Archbishop keane stand for and
Illustrate Roman Catholic opportunity I'M
der free and enlightened government.
Moreover. would any interests including
church interests, thrive under the dictator
ship of Aguinaldo? The Filipino revolt
against Spain had it's watchword not
independence. but expulsion of the friars
and a redistribution of the vast tracts of
iinQ clalm2Q the mOnaStlc Inc
first act of an r1restrained native govern
ment would undoubtedly be to dispose of
the friars and to confiscate the lands held
by them. Archbishop Ireland has this fact
in mind when he says: THE only safety
which the Catholic Church has in the
Philippines for the possession of her prop
critics and the lives of her priests is the
protection afforded by the American flag"
The American flag protects all law
abiding lives and all property interests in
the Asiatic islands subject to it's jurisdic-
ton, those of the Malay Filipinos as well
as those of the Spanish friars. And when
the fighting is over, and the laws of peace
prevail. this government may be relied
upon by all the people of the Philippines to
dispense even-handed justice through a
properly constituted court of equity in the
matter of the rival claims to land by ag-
grieved Filipinos and the absorbing monas-
tic orders.