Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-29
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
Discussed by william Michael Byrne-Th
Religious situation There.

Discussed by william Michael Byrne-The
Religious situation There.
William Michael Byrne, In his recent
letter to Representative Theodore Clark
Of Delaware City, has this to say Of
the Philippine question:
Valuable In themselves, the Philip
pines are also of incalculahle value to
lis as forming base of trade supplies
to reach the magnificent markets I
already mentioned. That there are
difficulties in our way ought not to :
terests while preserving the rights of |
others, There is no inherent difficulty
in the Philippine question. The Re |
public has before this faeed the piob-
lem of the assimilation Of races, and |
the establishment d accord between
religions. A glarce at the history of
the Louisiana possession will show the
alarm felt by many cautious statesmen
at the contact of Northern Puritanism
and Southern Catholicism; but the
Louisiana programme was carried out
by Jefferson and his associates and the
magnificent character of Catholicism
today In New Orleans, st. Louis, and
through the Louisiana territory, shows
that the Catholic religion has nothing
to fear from the genius Of American in
situations.
The Fundamental law of the Ameri-
can Republic against the establishment
of Stats religion equally guards us
against the vice of depressing any faith.
If religio affairs in the Philippines
become subject for political action
they will be treated not by the over
Jealous, aud often ill-inrormed cham
pions of faiths opposed to the one es-
tahlishment there, but by calm, saga
cioua and broad minded statesmen who
know that the greatness OF this republic
is the result Of The civic virtue OF men
of various faiths and is not a monopoly
| Of any In particular. They will not
forget that when the brave Magellan
discovered the islands an effort was at
once made not only to extend the mower
OF Spain, hut also 10 promote the in-
teresis of the inhabitants which is seen
in the policy of Legaspi and Salcedo in
allowing local government under
| native chiefs and in the subsequent
Spanish decree ordering the liberation
of slaves and the abolition of slavery.
These principles of elf-goyernment
and liberty placed by Spain IN the
Philippines at the commencement of
her power there may in part explain the
fact that now, alter nearly 400 years of
Spanish occupation, the Philippines,
instead Of condition OF actual canni-
balisin or state akin to it, can show
social order from which arises an
Aguinaldo and Luna, Sixto Lopez
and an Agoncillo and population
numbering millions, among whom, ao-
cording to the testimony of .Blumen-
tritt, the eminent German ethonologist,
the rudimenss of primary education are
more widely known than in many parts
of Europe. The moral and educational
training IF the Filipinos was for the
most part intrusted to the religious
orders of the Catholic Church, and If
Blunentritt's testimony is true the
, system adopted by the Spanish frIars is
far more ccmmendable than somo we'll
known systems of colonization by which
| ths native races are destroyed and deci.
mated. 1t is but natural that the Span.
} ish friars should be subjected to Ger
, tain amount of olamolous invectiye by
interested opponents in these times o.
troublous upheaval and change; but
, their work, resulting in the transforma
J tion of race from cannibalism to civi
/ lization, stands monument to theil
j sagaoty and zeal.
? If the progress of events demands I
change in the order heretofore existing
in the Philippines the Catholic
Church, with her centuries of wisdom
will know how TO meet the changed
conditions and the young republic o
o the West, girded as she Is with tn
: sword Of justice, will demand nothinI
tainted with dishonor. To the eminen
Y men at the head of the Catholi
J. Church and the eminent men ut tn
j. head of the American republic Gan b
!. left with absolute safety the delioat
l. questions affecting the relation o
II Church and State in the philippines
d For myself, remembering the histio
3 of my country, have an abiding conf
k dence that the American government
:, will never pass a law interfering wit
IS the fundamental right of religious assc
d citation; and, rememt ering the histor
l. Of my church, / know that she will nc
oI stand in the way OF reforms in Ian
IS tenure, il such reforms are needed, an
" executed in spirit of justice.
r have written CT this matter becaus
il the American government solves th
|, Philippine problem free Of religion
'. rancor 1t will be tangible evidence t
], the Latin people OF South America tht
Y, our desire is one of assimilation ratht
10 than destruction of their system
I'd civilization. The harmonious relation
4, thus established will greatly promo
Ell our trade Citations with the Sout
p Americans and will cooperate with I'll
70 Pan American Exposition at Buffa
8, and the building of our isthmian can
as forces establishing America
y, supremacy on this continent which WI
/ I; dreamed of by Clay aud Blaine ar
n, which will, I believe, be accomplisht
o. by Mckinley.
j.