The Delawarean., 1901-02-02
THE PHILIPPINE FRIARs.
IN. Y. TIMES, Jan. 20. 1901 \

1lE PHILIPPINE ERlARS.
IN. Y, TIMES, Jan. 20, 1901
The report of the Taft commission
recently sent TO Congress by lthe Presi-
DENT contains the first statement ait all
full and definite as to the problem of
THE friars in ghe Philippines It is
! apparently a very candid statement of
"a complicated and difficult problem, as
to which THE commission submits only
suggestions, not having arrived at a
final opinion of the best course ito be
pursued.
There were in the islands, almost en-
6irely in the Province of Luzon, some
| 1,150 friars, of the Dominican
Augustinian and Franciscan Orders
which orders have come into posses
sion of some 100000 acres of land
mostly agricultural. exempt, unde
H Spanish rule from taxation, and rented
! TO natives. AS these friars remained
in their cures practically for life, as
their orders and the Church has great
influence with the Government of
Spain, and as THE average tenure of
the Spanish officials civil or military,
lin the Ilslands was less than four years,
1.-The friars managed to secure almost
complete control of all affairs in their
I, respective parishes. The commission
is convinced that in the exercise of this
power the friars have incurred the
rooted animosity of the great body of
he Filipinos. This luminosity is not
Eilipinos remain attached to that
Church; it is in its nature political
and personal, and is based ON the ex
I.ontionaIte policy of the friars, and to
some extent ON their individual mis-
conduct
In the instructions of 1896 and 1898
the friars were dispossessed, some of
them were killed, some taken prisoners
and some have left the islands. 1T is
estimated by our commission that less
THAN 500 remain "a large number of
whom appear not to be exercising their
functions. The United States is bound
by ihe treaty of Paris to project the
property interests of the frians. For
the most part these have been trans
ferred ito various persons and corpor-
a.ions, but THE title remains in the
friars. Two questions arise from this
state of affairs. One relates to the re-
turn of the frlars to their cures. Over
that the Government of the UNITED
States can have no direction, it being
a matter solely of the policy of the
4 Church. The second relates to the
disposition of property. Tt seems to be
the view of the commission that if the
4 Dat.er can be adjusted, the former will
be treated satisfactorily by the Church.
! The suggestion lis therefore made that
Z the property of the friars be purchased
by the Government and sold ait fair
prices ON easy terms to THE natives
who are or would be tenants.
Unquestionably there are very grave
difficulties in the way of the adoption
/; of this suggested plan. The money
would have to be advanced by the
United States. 1t would be regarded
by a considerable part of the people
of the United States as a contribution
to the Catholic Church, and would be
, resented. There is not now any
definite authority in any branch of oul
Government Ito engage the Nationa,
credit for such a purpose. All these
matters should be carefully studied
. and it lis to be remembered that the
; commission does not commit itsel.
wholly TO the plan. But if it be feas
ible, it has certain essential and lasting
advantages Ut meets the obligation
of the United States to deal honorably
: with the property rights of the Church
lit leaves open to the Church The re.
placement of the obnoxious friars by
priests better suited to their task. ii
will tend TO create IA class of self-sup-
porting natives owing their prosperity
to the policy of the American Govern.
ment. 1t will probably associate the
American Government intimately in
the minds of THE natives with all that
lis most helpful and desirable in their
lives Tit will promote a class closely