The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-05
Religious Trouble in the Philippines

career might in that case come to mean
something in America.
Religious Trouble in the Philippines.
We have had several different kinds of
war of late-the Spanish war. the execu-
tive war in China, and the war of the
Aguinaldo Insurrection. Now it appears
there is to be religious war in the Philip
pines-or. if not. the indications point to
something very much like one.
1t may be said with truth that when the
United States took possession of the archi-
pelago all OF its Christian natives were
Catholics. They formed but a fraction CT
the total population. certainly not more
than ten per cent. the remainder Of the
eight million souls in the islands being
pagans or Mohammedans. But the Catho-
lics-practically confined to the Tagal
tribes-oceupied the best of the territory
and were further advanced in civilization
than their neighbors. They had been for
a century in frequent revolt against the
Spanish rule. until they found another
power to fight and for one and the same
principal reason. Whether righteously CT
joining islands have been continually and
implacably arrayed in opposition to the
Spanish religious orders. which have alb
sorbed the arabic lands and exercised
practically feudal powers over their ten
ants, who have always claimed that they
and not the friars were the lawful pos
SCISSORS of the ground. To this grievance
has been added the immunity from civil
process and the grant of plenary magis-
terial power to the religious orders in the
country under the Spanish governors.
Now We find that the Tagals, in the be-
lief that no other course will save them
from reinstatement by the friars. sup
ported by the United States. are break
ing away from their old religious moor
ings. evidently with the idea of appealing
to the Protestant element in this country
for encouragement and assistance. The
so-called Federal party in Luzon if it is
not committed to a change Of faith, is
carefully bOlstering the American Metho-
dist movement to convert the Filipinos 10
that denomination. The dispatches tell
us of wholesale baptisms. of enthusiastic
revival meetings. and of the transf9rma-
ton of Catholic churches into Pro .estant
places of worship. We might accept some
of these stories with reserve. did they not
come TO us freely, and Notwithstanding
most rigid press censorship.
Now, it is far from our desire that
war should be added to the other |
difficulties which confront this country in |
the Philippines. 1t would be we'll for the /
to adopt such 4 course as !
would prevent a condition so greatly to be |
ieplored If the Tagals are not respected (
n their desire to have native or American
secular priests assigned to the parishes
he chances are that all hope of creating
native party favorable to American rule
will disappear and a large portion of
hem will break away from the Roman
Church as a protest against what they
nave been denouncing as oppression for a
hundred years.
The net result of such condition would /
be complication of hostilities. All the
Luzon and Panay Filipinos would be ar
-ayed against the United States, and the
among them against the dis
ienters. 1t is not difficult to understand
hat this would involve anarchy for al in
Ieinite period.
The situation is an ugly one, rendered
more so by the entanglements of the Adj
There is no doubt that, |
when Preparing TO take over the Philip
zines. the Administration. anterior to the
ormal peace negotiations with Spain,
made certain pledges to representatives
If the Vatican which are represented in
he text of the Treaty of Paris. That ac-
ion may have been dictated by consider
.tions OF state, fortified by the fact that
he empire we werc about to acquire, in
Is semi-clvilized portions at least, was
Iltogether Roman Catholic. Now. il seems
o be plain that, as far as the engage
nents alluded TO relate TO the Spanish
riars, they cannot be carried out in letter
nd spirit without mourning the undying
latred of the Tagal population; and to
his trouble must be added the propa
,anda which the sect of which the Presi-
lent himself is a prominent member is
conducting and which, judging from press
.ccounts, gives promise Of a wide spread.
Above all things Americans and their
'ulers, should prevent the possibility Of
'eligious conflicts among people who live
lnder the shadow of our free and tolerant
lag. But the latest news from the Phil
ppines suggests that this may be difficult
t not unfeasible in our Far Eastern pos
essions. unless something can be quickly
lone TO settle the basic friar question.
theatrical Resurrcctions.
At the classical court theatre In
yeimar it has been decreed that no actor