New-York tribune., 1901-02-26
PADRES OPPOSE FEDERALISES
CHURCH JEALOUSIES IN THE PHILIP
PINES -REBEL BANDS PUNISHED.

Manila. Feb 25-The Rev. Father McKinnon
who was formerly private secretary to Mon
signor Chapelle and who is pastor of the
Ermita Catholic Church. informed representa-
tive Of The Associated Press to-day that there
were upward Of eight hundred native priests in
the Philippines opposed to the Federal party
and that these would refuse to administer the
sacraments to Federasts 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
foundation and destined TO crumble soon.' and
asserted that the Methodist and Presbyterian
missionaries were using unfair means to induce
Filipinos to leave the Catholic Church He as
sailed the character Of Sehor Buencamino and
other evangelical leaders and contended that
only by securing the cooperation and good VIII
Of the padres could the Americans make perma-
nent progress in the Philippines.
Seior Tavera president of the Federal party.
when the views of Father McKinnon were
brought TO his attention. replied: so much the
better. as it Will bring the matter TO an issue"
When asked II the members Of the party would
not leave II If they learned that membership in
VOWED their Church standing, Sehor Tavera re-
piled
They probably would II that were the truth:
priests would exclude people from their Church
privileges for such a reason. We FiLpinos did
not make an issue Of separation Of Church and
State. This deCreed by the United States
Constitution. Nothing else is tolerated under
American sovereignty. Whether Federalsts APP
prove or not, they cannot be loyasts and yet
oppose that doctrine.
If the Catholic authorities are not willing to
accept it, they patriotic. The Federal
party may disintegrate after civil government is
generally established In the Philippines, but the
principles Of peace under American sovereignty
VIII not disintegrate.
sehor Tavera asserted that the Federalists
who had relatives friends among the promi-
nent nsurgent leaders We're endeavoring by cor
respondence to induce them TO surrender, al
though thus far without result.
Some employers Of native labor allege that the
natives are gathered by the Federalsts whole
sale. without any explanation Of the principles
which they subscribing. Ordinarily the
natives are easily led by their accustomed lead
ers. but the movement for peace with the United
States has authority and great momentum. and
It is now generally understood and approved by
the natives.
Chaplain Fitzgerald administered the oath OF
allegiance to 1900 1locanOs at a church in
Vigan on February %, and parish priest at
Santa Catalina administered a similar oath to
100 natives February n.
Lieutenant West. with detachment Of the
crew OF the gunboat Laguna de Bay. attacked
two hundred insurgents under Caballos near
Cavinta Province OF Laguna. After hard
fight OF forty minutes the insurgents were dis
persed losing six killed and fourteen captured.
detachment or the Nth Volunteer Infantry
encountered body of insurgents in the Prov
ince Of Albay. killing eighteen, and subsequent
ly another body. killing nine The Americans
had no casualties.
squad of the 18th United States Infantry
surprised a band of ladrones at Moos. in the
Island of Panay. killing six. The Americans
captured five rifles.
A commission negotiating
insurgents in Northern Panay, and there is a
prospect of an early surrender.