The Portland daily press., 1901-02-07

abolished forthwith. The FarIbault plan
sas device OF Archbishop Ireland and
was q sort of compgomise between the
Protestants who opposed all religious in
structions in the schools and
the Roman Catholics who wanted such
instruction made a part OF the curricu-
lum, Under this plan priests and minis
tors are allowed several days in the
week 20 enter the public schools and
give religious Instruction TO this pupils
who desire IT, The Philippine commits
sion has recently applied this s,hems to
the schools OF Manila, It IL
needless to say that both Baptists and
Methodists condemned unstintsdiy the
suggestion OF the commission that the
United States psy the Catholic church
S2O, ,OOO, GOO for tho relinquishment OF the
rights Of the friars.
Doubtless very simple and
effective method OF settling the
troubls rs far as buzon Is concerned
would be the Methodist method of Danish
ment. But there ars some ssri-
GUS difficulties In the way of applying
1t. In the first place there Is
the treaty OF Paris by which we are
bound to protect the friars both In their
persons and their property. Practically
In this treaty we have recognized their
right to be In the Philippines, and
promissi them protection, and we have
also recognized the validity of the
titlss to the Isnd which they hold, and
promised to defend them also. It may
be that they sare disturbing element,
that many OF them are corrupt, IL may
bs that their land was acquired In
crooked ways. The time to look into
those questions was when the treaty was
in process of negotiation. II we did not
do it then we cannot do 1t now. For by
signing the treaty we waived ali questions
of the character of the friars and OF the
methods by which they had acquired their
vast estates, and bound ourselves to
protect both their persons and their
holdings. 10 Danish them either be-
cause the Filipinos do not like then or
Protestant denominations do not think
highly OF them woulu be an exhibition
OF bad faith that no enlightened nation
in the twentieth century could afford
to be guilty OF. One reason then, and
sufficient one, why we can't appls
the Methodist remedy is that we are
solemnly bound by treaty not to. But
there is another one, and one that Will
prove quito as potent with our Congress
as tnat growing out OF the treaty. This
is the fact that these friars are identified
with a religious faith that numbers
among Its sdherents millions OF voters
In this country. The last thing that the
average politician or statesman in this
country, or any country where univsr-
sal suffrage prevails, is likely
to do is to atfr0nt q large mass
OF voters. The question OF alb
stract right or wrong Is OF small conss-
quenee alongside the question OF what
the voters want or do not want, and IT
is pretty safs to say that II a. great mass
of voters don't want a thing done 1t viii
not be done unless greater mass OF vnt-
ers are very insistent that 1t shall be
done For this reason, IL there were no
treaty In the way, there would be little
cha noe OF the banishment plan being
adopted.
This problem or the friars is by far the
most perplexing OF any we have
encountered or are likely to
encounter In the island. Really the
most feasible, and on the whole,
the fairest way to settle 1t, Is that sug-
gestsd by the commission OF buying the
lands and then selling them to the Fill
plnos. But 1t is hardly possible to do
this in face of the strong opposition of
the various religious bodies in this
country. Congress would no more sp-
propriate $4,000, 600 for tat purpose
in the face of the united opposition OF
the Protsstsnts than 1t would Danish
the friars In face OF the united oppo-
sition of the Roman Catholics. Yet all
accounts from the Philippines agree that
some sort OF q settlement must te
reached that will be acceptable to the
natives If we are ever to really pacify
the country.