The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-14
The Problem of the Friars.

- ENATOR MORGANS amend
~.n ment to the Spooner Philip
~ pine resolution binding the
American government to exc
cute the pledges made and subsequent
ly broken by Spain when by trickery
she overcame the insurrection of 1896
calls up the most difficult Of our prob
lens in the archipelago. the relation
ship of the government to the friars.
There is little misunderstanding OF
this problem among Americans who
have had opportunity to study the
subject at first hand. We have talked
with a number of returned American
military officers, men without ecclesi-
astical bias, and we have read the
opinions of other Americans, military
and civilian, who have personally in
Vestigated the matter, and there is
practical unanimity in the belief that
as a whole the friars have fairly
earned the ill-will in which they are
regarded. One of the clearest discus
sions of the problem that we have seen
is presented in letter to the Wash
ington Star by one of its editors who
is now in the Philippines. This writer,
Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes. says:
II have been disappointed in my ex-
pectation that would find the Filipi-
nos, outside of the hostile fraction in
arms, full of confidence in the Ameri-
cans and heartily welcoming their con-
troll. Their attitude is apparently one
Of anxious expectancy, tinged with
more or less of hopefulness, according
10 the individual disposition. believe
that this doubt concerning the benefit
Of American control is based more
upon uncertainty concerning our policy
in respect to the frars than in respect
to any other issue whatsoever, even
that of full self-government. ] do not
think that there will be genuine peace,
happiness and prosperity in the Philip
pines, if we attempt, and as long as
we continue, TO enact Spain's role as
the ally and hacker of the friars."
Mr.. Noyes proceeds to tell at consid-
cradle length what grievances he
found against the friars among the
more intelligent natives, and he adds:
THE Filipino hatred of the friars is
not directed against them as Roman
Catholics. The mass of the Filipinos
are Catholics and there is no religious
revolt whatsoever. The churches are
well attended. The Roman Catholic
church will in its own interest do well
10 consider how far it is wise to alien
ate a Catholic population by attempt
fng'to force upon the people as its rep
Tesentatives men who are feared and
detested. OF course, generalizations
about the friars as a body will fail 10
fit the cases of some individual priests,
who as good men may be personally
acceptable to their parishes. But on
the broad question of making the
cause of the triars its own the decision
of the Roman church is eagerly await
ed, both by the Filipino people and by
the Protestant denominations of the
world, which are ready to take advan-
tege of any blunder in policy which
may be committed
There is no reason why American
Catholics should side with the friars.
These men are Spaniards, with more
than the natural national grudgC
against us, They are the essence OF
Spanish misgovernment in the Philip
pines, which we have oVerthrown; they
hate us and spit upon our flag. In
nost ca-les If returned to the villages