The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-26
OPPOSING FEDERALIsTS
PRIESTS WILL NOT ADMINISTER SAC
RAMENT TO LIBERAL FILIPINOs.
Statement by Father McKinnon That
Shows the Depth of III-FeeIfng
Between Clericals and Ants.

MANILA, Feb. 24-Rev. Father McKin-
non. who was formerly private secretary
to Mgr ChappeIle. and who is now pastor
OF the Ermita Catholic Church, Informed
a reporter of the Associated Press that
there were upwards of 500 native priests
in the Philippines opposed to the Federal
party and that these would refuse to adj
minister the sacrament to Federalists, be-
cause they believed the Federal party to be
merely cloak for Protestant attempts to
weaken the power of the Church of Rome
He referred to the Federal party as rest
ing on an insecure foundation and destined
to crumble soon,'' and asserted that the
Methodist and Presbyterian missionaries
were using unfair means to induce Fill
pinos to leave the Catholic faith. He as
sailed the character of Senior Buencamino
and other evangelical leaders and cor
tended that only by securing the co-opera-
ton and good will of the padres could the
Americans make permanent progress in the
Philippines.
Senior Tavera, president of the Federal
party, when the views of Father McKin-
non were brought to his attention. replied:
so much the better as it will bring the
matter TO an issue" When asked whether
the members of the party would not leave
1t II they learned that membership involved
their church standing, Senior Tavera re-
piled: They probably would, If that were
true. but / believe only a small proper
ton of the priests would exclude people
from their church privileges for such a
reason. We Filipinos did not make an.
issue of separation of church and state.
This was decreed by the United States
Constitution. Nothing else is tolerated UNI
der American sovereignty. Whether Fed
eralists approve not. they can be loyal
lists and yet oppose that doctrine. If the
Cathonc authorities are not willing to ac
cept 1t. they are not patriotic The Fed
eral party may disintegrate after civil gov
eminent Is generally established in the
Philippines, but the principles of peace
under American sovereignty will not dis
integrate."
Senior Tavera asserted that the Federal
lists who had relatives and friends among
the prominent insurgent leaders were en-
deavoring by correspondence to induce
them to surrender, although thus far with
out result
Some employers of native labor allege
that the natives are gathered by the Fed
eralists wholesale, without any explana-
ton of the principles TO which they are
subscribing. Ordinarily the natives are
the movement for peace with the United
States has authority and great moment,
and Ii Is now generally understood and ap-
proved by the natives.
Chaplain Fitzgerald administered the
oath of allegiance to 200 Ilocanos at "a
church In Vigan, on Feb. q. and a parish
priest at Santa Catalina administered a
similar oath to 200 natives on Feb. "a.
Lieutenant West, with detachment of
the crew of the gunboat Laguna de Bay,
attacked 200 insurgents under Caballos,
near Cavinta, province of La Guna. After
a hard fight of forty minutes the insur-
gents were dispersed. losing six killed and
fourteen captured
A detachment Of the Forty-seventh Vol
unteer Infantry encountered body of in
surgents in the province of Albay. killed
eighteen and subsequently another body,
killing nine. The Americans had no cas-
ualties.
"A squad of the Eighteenth United States
Infantry surprised a band OF Ladrones ut
Hoosin. Island of Panay. killing six. The
Americans captured five rifles.
The peace commission is negotiating with
the insurgents in northern Panay and
there is a prospect Of an early surrender.