The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-02

The reckless ISLANDERS hurled at the
religious orders in the Philippines by
reckless agitators have received Of
fetal sanction, to degree, from Mr..
McKinley's commission, body COM
posed exclusively Of Protestants. The
charges against them are, chiefly, that
they are rich, immoral, dishonest,
grasping and disloyal. A writer, who
signs himself "a Traveller and Mis-
sionary returning from China" sends
to a New York paper spirited and
logical defense Of these maligned min
listers of God. In the interest of truth
and justice we reproduce his letter,
which is as follows:
So much has been said and written
in this country concerning the Philip
pine friars that has astonished me that
felt, as a matter of justice, should
say my word also. I claim certain
right to do so, having attentively stud
led the question in The far east, where
I have seen and conversed with good
many of these friars, now exiled in
China. 1 have also met some lay Fill
pinos, and 1 know the opinions of
many others.
What first surprises in certain Amer
ican newspapers is to see them eagerly
welcoming all possible calumnies
against the members of the religious
orders, who in the Philippine islands
had charge Of the dioceses and of most
of the parishes. With satisfaction and
ill-disguised Joy they print any accu
sation brought against the friars.
These calumnies are given to the pub
lie as the expression of the very truth,
and what today is published in one
paper is copied tomorrow with enthus-
iasm by many others.
Catholics had right to feel uneasy
when they heard that the American
commission going to the Philippines
was made up entirely Of Protestant
members. AS was to be expected, it
has echoed the c]amors Of the Filipino
ing that the return of the pastors
among their focks was not desirable.
It is the opinion Of the wolf, who de-
clares that it is not desirable the
shepherds should return to their sheep.
The commission had not word Of
blame for the valiant American SOL
diers who looted the Catholic churches
of the Philippines deprived of their
pastors; no reproof for the host Of
Protestant ministers who, as soon as
Dewey had sunk the old Spanish
ships, fell like birds of prey on Manila,
insulting mdecently the Catholic
church in every kind Of way, publish
ing everywhere that at last the priest
ridden islanders would be evangelical.
The friars must not return to their
parishes, for the government could not
effectively protect them and would not
= answer for what might ht/happen. 1 re-
ply that if the government is so weak,
lose all hope of it's ever being able
to put it's hands on Aguinaldo. AS for
what would happen, I am justified in
saying that the friars would be re-
ceived with joy ard in triumph; for
the people suffer from their absence
and sigh for their return.
If this commission had not been
blinded by it's prejudices it would not
have seriously given us to understand
that the few hundred Filipino Masons
represent the opinion of the Philip
pines. There are at least 100000 OF
100000 Catholics in the archipelago,
probably more, who long for their
priests; there are only some few hun
/; dreds of rabid Free Masons and Amer
lean Protestant ministers who do not
affairs.
But this does not prevent the Mason
ic and Protestant world. and certain
newspapers of this country, from say
ing that the Filipincs do not want the
friars. They hope by continually re-
peating this falsehood it will be at last
accepted as the truth. Is there any
Silogic in this, any fairness, justice or
seven common sense? In order to in
Z fluence public opinion at any price,
they go on repeating the old calumnies,
though they have been refuted hun
dreds Of times. The friars are not
wanted, they say, because they arc
Spaniards, because they are scandal,
ously rich and would drain the coun-
try; because they are robbers. With
out ever specifying any precise fact,
they accuse them openly of immortality,
Of laziness, of negligence, avarice
gluttony, etc. Of what are they not