The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-31
A SERIOUS RELIGIOUS PROBLEM.

A sEHlO0S HAI4iOlObS BbOBLEM.
One of the most troublesome questions
in the Philippines relates to the friars.
The Filipinos are Catholics, but the great
majority of them are against the friars,
who it seems. have oppressed the people
in many ways. Under Spanish rule the
friars were, TO a very considerable extent,
the agents of the government. They lev
led the taxes and practically made and
administered the local laws. According
to the Filipinos they were tyrannical rul-
ers. They took the best the country yield
ed and gave the people very little in re-
turn.
In 1896 there were 1,12i friars of all
kinds in the islands. In the revolution
of that year and the one in 1898 ell but
Az were either killed or died from hard
ships of one kind and another or were
driven out of the country Most of them
fed the country, some going to Spain and
others TO China and South America.
Now the question Is shall friars be per-
mitted to take possession of the parishes
again? The Taft Commission is against
the friars because the great majority OF
the people are against them. 1t says that
the re-establishment of the friars
would make it impossible for the commits
sion to convince the people that the same
hateful system that prevailed under Span
ish rule was not to be adopted under
American rule.
What makes the situation all the more
troublesome is that there are some Fiji
pinos who want the friars. The question
as to whether they shall be permit
ted to return is one, therefore, which
promises to divide the people. Archbishop
Chappelle sides with the frars. but says
that they will not be sent to parishes in
which they are not welcome. But who
is to say whether they are welcome or
not? If a few want them the Archbishop
may decide chat they are wanted, even
though the majority is against them-in
fact, he may not be informed what the
majority sentiment is.
Another vexatious feature of the situa-
ton is that the friars are large land hold
ers. They own about 100000 acres of the
very best lands in the islands, and under
are bound 40 protect them in their owner
ship rights. At present the most of these
lands are held by agents of the friars,
to whom they were transferred when the
revolution broke out, and the feeling
against the friars began to manifest it.
self.
The Taft Commission recommends that
the United States government buy these
lands and sell them in small lots to those
who occupy them. The commission be-
lieves that it could do this without cost
to itself, as the natives could easily pay
the purchase price in small installments,
with interest.
The plan appears to be a feasible one.
The Filipinos are Catholics and will
doubtless remain attached 10 the Catholic
Church. The suggestion of some of the
Philippine leaders that they become
Protestants If the friars be permitted to
return is not a practical one. IL is not
an easy matter to change the religion of
people, and the probability is that if
an effort were made to change the Fill
! pinos from Catholics to Protestants with
out first converting them to the Protest
ant belief and simply for the purpose OF
getting rid of the friars, it would be q
failure.
1t is doubtless true that the Filipinos
have good reasons for hating the friars
and it is certain that if the friars were
permitted to return abe difficulties of es-
tablishing American rule would be great
| ly increased. The wiser plan therefore is
to comply with the desire of the natives
and get rid of them.