Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-12
TEACHERS NOT PREACHERS
No Attempt Made in Philippines TO Change
Religion Of School Children.
GOVERNOR WRIGHT REPLIES TO CHARGES
strongly DenOuAcet Statement 'that
American InstfuctOts I'm Manila
schools Are Trying 10 Com
vertsthe Catholics.

WASHINGTON, July 1l.-secretary Root
has addressed an identical letter to per-,
sons complaining that teachers in the Phil
ippines have been. proselytipg and attempts
ing to convert Catholics to. the Protestant
faith, 1t is as, follows: p.
1 beg to advise you that on July g vice
governor Wright, the acting governor OF
by cable IKE facts T Bearing UPON the charge,
which has recently been extensively clrcu-
lated, that official positions in the rnoIc
school service in the Philippines have been
reference being made to an article Whtch
had Just appeared in the Catholic Times
ceived from Governor Wright: i.
MANILA, July O. 9O2:-secretary OF
War. Washington: Referring 20 the tee,
gram from your Office of the 9Th. inst. OF
charges made by the Cathoi lie Times. will
say they are unfounded in every essentiail
particular. It is untrue that nearly Al
ers and proselyters. The fact is only one
division superintendent, who was preaching
a teacher. There are possibly two or three
similar instances among the teachers.
Bryan, head OF the Normal school,, was
never a clergyman, and never occupied "a
There are now two American Catholic
teachers in the schooi OF instructon
city schools Native teachers, numbering
lao, are all Catholic. 1t is untrue that
teachers of Normal schools are proselyting
and that school graduates, are only Protes-
tants. 1t is exceptional that any graduate
is any other than Catholic 1t is untrue
that e Filipino Is taught tina 9testan1 nra
and tyranny. = There rs no rreason to sup
pose that Stone. superintendent. and oliver,
P BotS denS OF i, the ~ as ANA s tSn s sre StsG tSS;;
graduates of the Catholic university haye
been refused places in Manila and sent into
c eHs NJ Mc res Rris " 'eat sseoITie.sr az Il
the private secretary of Atkinson, general
superintendent of public instruction; also
three division su~perintendents. have
shown your cable to Rev. William D. Nc
kinnon. a Catholic priest, who confirms
/ the statement OF facts made by me nbove.
system Fna I nav forbfds sHf tefESio6s instruction qGct Po in
schools or school buildings by. teachers,
but allows the same three days per week
ers, out OF school hours, upon request of
parents. (See section IS, act az This Is
intended mtst TS as 2 concession sSes a.. to S sns tso s Shsr.
employed in the islands. all, Of whom are
Catholics. TEACHERS are selected without
reference to religion and are not Allowed
to preach or teach religion in schools There
Is no discrimination against Catholic teach.
ers. t-i-" -a Nsc WRIGHT"
Confirmed by FatheF McKinnon.
You will observe that the statements OF
this dispatch were confirmed by Father
McKinnon, a priest connected with the
school system and having the most thor
ough knowledge of the existing conditions
in the Philippines. and VINO. was formerly
secretary to Archbishop Chappelle, the di-
rect representative Of the holy see In the
None Of the prrelates or the Roman
Catholic church, Whose duty It is to safe;
guard the interests tof their church, and
who are familiar with the facts, have made
any such charges as are referred to in
the inquiry addressed to Governor Wright
and in his answer above quoted 1 am. con-
tdent that they know better what the true
facts are than the unknown and irresponsi-
BILE sources~of these adverse statements.
II is the purposegof the Philippine govern
ment TO, maintain in, the archipelago the
same Kind of free non-sectarian instruction
which exists m the United States. and
which has proved to be for the interest OF
religion and all religions. The government
means, SO far,tas It possibly can. to give
education to the people, OF the islands and
It will do this. without any discrimination
for'or against any church or sect. 1t does
not mean that any officer or teacher OF
the public schools shall Suse his power ia
build up OF pull down any church what
ever. whether Catholic or Protestant.