New-York tribune., 1901-01-04
THE FRIARS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The Rev. Percy S. Grant, rector Of the Church
of the Ascension in this city, who visited the
Philippines some time ago with Bishop Potter
is giving the impressions OF his visit in a series
OF articles in "The Churchman." He is evil
IDENTIFY an impartial observer, and fully and
frankly states the facts as he saw them without
considering whose toes he may be treadng
upon. For instance, he declares that in govern
ing these islands we should be guided by the
teaching of history. by our own experience and
by common sense, and disregard priori prin-
ciples and the false philosophy of some of the
fathers of the Republic. Free institutions can
not be imposed offhand on lower races. Such
races he thinks unable TO govern themselves
Asiatic peoples especially seem indisposed TO
do so and this is particularly true of the
Filipinos, owing TO their diversity of race and
lack of training. IF America" he says, 'has
''in the Philippines a problem that will tax fits
strength, how can the Filipinos solve 1t alone?
If windlass will hardly pull man out of a
slough, can the man get out alone by pulling
lat his own boOtstraps?" But while it is thus
the duty of the United States TO govern these
islands, Mr.. Grant holds that thus far this
country has shown little aptitude for such
task. "There is" he declares, ga great career
''of high and stimulating sort for Americans
who intellgently and laboriously will give
'have come under the direction of the United
Estates as a result of the Spanish war;
1t is evident that Mr.. Grant regards the ques-
tion of the frars the real problem in the
Philippines. These orders he says are hated
by the natives, even those who are good Catho-
lies, and he quotes Cardinal Gibbons as saving:
"The Church in the Philippines is q branch of
1.-THE Catholic Church we are not proud Of
While in Manila Mr. Grant learned that the Fill
pinos value the Church but loathe the clergy
THE insurrection of 1896, under Aguinaldo. was
'incited by the land robbery and tyranny of
1.-The frars' The first formulated demand of
the rebels was for the expulsion of the frars
This animosity to the friars is because of the
belief that they have frauduently acquired the
best land in the islands. And he gives ii as his
solemn conviction that ''the United States will
never restore permanent order in the Philip-
'pines until Spanish frars expelled from
1.-The islands," This opinion from non Catholic
observer must, of course be taken for what IL
is intrnsically worth. But it should be borne
in mind that none of the American officials ON
the islands have committed themselves TO such
a drastic suggestion. II is undoubtedly true
that. either through their fault or their mis-
fortune, the .friars are disliked by the Fill
pinos. 1t may possibly become the duty of the
American Government TO investigate the causes
of that dislike. If, as the result Of such an i'm
partial investigation. it should appear that the
frfars are in possession of property or lands TO
which they are not entitled they should be COM
PEELED TO make restitution; and we believe that
American Catholics would be among the first tn
approve such an act But if. on the other hand
the charges against them should be proved
baseless, the American Government will surely
defend and protect them in all their rights. In
either event it is improbable that wholesale