The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-26
AssAULTING THE FRIARs.
Growing Intensity of Quarrel Be-
tween FiIipinos and Priests.

tween FiIipinOs and Priests.
From the New York Evening Post.
Manila, July 1.-THE friar question
Is becoming acute. Thus far the quar-
rel has been between the people and
the priests, but If it continues to grow
in intensity, the government will be
drawn into it. At Calasiao, Pangasinan
province, the other day, two Domini-
can friars and the native local priest
were mobbed by the people. 1t was
the feast day of SITS. Peter and Paul,
and the native cure had invited the
two friars from Manuog to participate
in the festivities. When the friars APP
peared and one of them attempted to
address the gathering in the plaza,
they were hooted at and showered with
eggs, tomatoes, mud, and stones. The
cure attempted to stay the storm, but
the missiles were rained on him. and
the three priests raced before the mob
to the parish-house for shelter. Then
the decorations were torn down. the
festivities abandoned. and the people,
gathered in front of the priests house,
waved the American flag while the
band played the Star Spangled Ban
ner."
On the same day, in Cebu, the con-
gregation left the church when an Au-
gustine monk assembled the pulpit to
address them. Marching thence TO the
home of the Alcalde, they presented a
petition to the Governor asking for
the removal of the religious corpora
lions from the island. The Governor
stated that it was beyond his power
to take action. but he would be glad
to forward their petition to Gov. Taft
He advised them to use no violence,
and ignore the friars entirely, explain
ing that now they had religious liberty
and they did not require to support or
recognize any teacher they did not de-
sire.
Demonstrations like these will prob
ably be repeated elsewhere in the ISL
ands. In Dagupan, Benguet, and other
provinces secret meetings of the ma
tives have been held on the subject,
and plans made formally to warn the
WARS to leave the country. The demon
Stration is not against the church, but
against the friars. AS one educated
Filipino explains 1t: This is a fight
400 years old on these islands. and now
that we feel free we feel strong, know
ing that the troops will not shoot US
down when we make our peaceful pro-
tests. Why do we oppose the friars?
Read the history of the Philippines.
They have been our real oppressors.
They were government" Acting under
advice from high quarters, it is said
that there will be no violence.
Upon receipt of the news from Gala
siao, the federal party issued through
the Democracia a proclamation, which
reads in part as follows:
The hostile demonstration with which
the inhabitants of Calasiao received the
two friars whose insolent visit they
could not countenance is approved gem
orally by the press in Manila.
The Federal party does not interfere
in religious matters. but 1t affirms that
the friar question is purely political.
and particularly as the friars continue
to claim authority over the people and
seriously prejudice the progress, peace,
happiness, and liberties of our people.
The action OF the people is Endorsed
by the Federal party. and such action
may serve as an example and prece-
dent to be observed when persons OPP
posed to peace attempt to repeat out
RACES on the people of other towns.
Do not use violence, but by more
peaceful NANTES tations demonstrate
to the American people that the Filipi-
nos appreciate and will preserve the
liberties which American sovereignty
confers.
FL Nuevo Dia of Cebu, a paper which
has not been looked upon as inimical
to the frlars, thus comments on the
affair in that place:
This is the beginning of q lawsuit i'm
volving the rights of a people on one
side, and on the other the demands OF
a few friars and monks. Inc p.Js-.
authority will decide which weighs g.
most in the scale. The populace here
have done we'll they have Expressed
their desire in peaceful manner, and
as though accustomed to 1t, habituated
to political usages, have for the first
time petitioned the government in
correct way, and in a manner that
can meet with no reproach. The au-
thorities have conferred on us bless
ing and have said that their duty Is
TO foster and not throttle the exercise
of an inviolable right--that of petit
ton. The people await decision.
--Economy-Mrs. Newbride-How