Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-26
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
And Politics in the Philippines Df-
vide acknowledgements Dis


MANILA, February 25.-Rev. Father
McKinnon, who was formerly private
secretary to Monsignor Chappelle
and who is now pastor of the Ermita
Catholic church, informed a represen-
tative of the Associated Press to-day
that there were upwards of 800 ma
tive priests in the Philippines oppos-
ed to the federal party and that these
would refuse to administer the sacra-
ment to federalists, because they be-
lieved the Federal party to be merely
a cloak for Protestant attempts to
weaken the power of the church of
Rome. He referred to the Federal
party as resting on an insecure foun-
dation and destined to crumble soon"
and asserted that the Methodist and
Presbyterian missionaries were using
unfair means to induce FiIiptnos to
leave the Catholic faith. He assa1ied
the character OF Senior ~Buencamino
and other evangelical leaders and con-
tended that only by securing the CO.
operation and good VIII of the Padres
could the Americans make permanent
progress in the Philippines.
Senior Tavera, president of the Fed
eral party, when the views of Father
McKinnon were brought to his atten-
ton 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 it if they
learned that membership involved
their church standing, Senior Tavera
replied:
They probably would if that were
true; but / believe only a small pro-
portion 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 under Ameri-
can sovereignty. Whether Federalists
approve or not, they cannot be 10y
alists and yet oppose that doctrine.
IF the Catholic authorities are not
willing to accept it they are not pa
triotic. The Federal party may dis
integrate after civil government is
generally established in the Philip
pines but the principles of peace
under American sovereignty will not
disintegrate."
Senior Tavera asserted that the Fed
eralists who had relatives and friends
among the prominent insurgent lead
ers were ~endeavoring by correspond
ence to induce them to surrender
although thus far without result.
Some employees of native labor al
lege the natives are gathered by the
Federalists wholesale, without any ex-
PLANTATION of the principles to which
they are subscribing. Ordinarily the
natives are easily led by their accus-
toned leaders; but the movement for
peace with the United States has au-
thority and great moment. and it is
now generally understood and APPROX
ed by the natives.
Chaplain Fitzgerald administered
the oath of allegiance to 200 I~locanos
at a church in Rigan. February 22nd.
and a parish priest at Santa Catalina
administered a similar oath to 700 ma
tives February oath.
Lieut.. West, with a detachment of
the crew of the gunboat La Guna de
Bay, attacked 200 insurgents under
Cabellos near Cavinta, province of
Laguna. After a hard fight of forty
minutes, the insurgents were dispers-
ed, losing six killed and fourteen cap
tured.
A detachment of the 47th volunteer
infantry encountered a body of insur-
gents in the province Of Albay, kill
ing eighteen and subsequently another
body, killing nine. The Americans
had no casualties.
A squad of the 18th Z. S. infantry
surprised a band of Ladrones at Moo
sin, island of Panay, killing six. The
Americans captured five rifles.
The peace commission is negotiat-
ing with the insurgents in northern
Panay and there is a prospect of an
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