The Irish standard., 1902-11-29

pense to Catholic Spain. Millions have
been spent for the Christian civiliza-
ton Of these islands. All that God
did for His chosen people under the
old law did not satisfy them. They
were left to follow their own cravings.
We will leave the settlement of the
merits in the hands of God; for ''if
God is with us, who is against U.S."
We have the commentator of
Christ's Vicar. Should the Holy See
proclaim the native padres sufficient
for the spiritual needs Of the people
of the Philippine Islands, we will
gracefully acquiesce. In the mean
time, however, we must protest against
being charged with their shortcomings.
There are holy men among them. But
vice is bold and virtue is modest, and
hence vice is ever on parade.
Americans who have written upon
abuses that have crept into the Church
owing to the unsettled condition of the
country COMPOUNDED the native padres
and the friars. In the corrupt press
of Manila it is of almost daily occur
renee that disgraceful actions of native
padres are attributed to friars. These
offending papers have been repeatedly
Informed what constitutes friar.
They have been repeatedly challenged
to offer single concrete instance
where friar shed anything but lustre
upon his order and the Church. They
have never offered single proof, al
though they have INDUCED in dia-
tribes since their arrival in Manila.
eff the world hate you, know ye that
it hath hated me before you"
The servant is not greater than his
master" John XIV, 18 and 2O)
These words are consoling to those
who know they have labored faithfully
in the vineyard Of their Master. Many
Of the places where the friars labored
will have to be abandoned. We are
glad that we are not responsible for
taking the spiritual bread from these
poor people. The. sequel to religious
affairs in the Philippines will prove my
claims in their enllrety.
"It is not to the religious orders, as
SUCH" says Father Hart, "that they
(the people, are opposed, as I know
by very plain observation that they
show no opposition to the Jesuits, Lac.
artists or Capuchins; on the contrary,
to members of those orders they are
much attached"
What kind of observation must
Father Hart have to see Lazarists here?
There are not and there never were
Lazarists in charge of missions or par
ishes in these islands. The Capuchins
also have no parishes in these islands.
They minister to the spiritual wants Of
the people in the Carolines, very far
from here. 1 am glad to say that these
same Capuchins assure me that the
German Government treats them with
the courtesy and kindness that every
law-abiding person may justly en-
pect from civilized power. The Laz-
artists and Capuchns have reason to be
glad that they are where rights are
considered sacrcd-and not in the Phil
ippine Islands during these evil days.
Father Hart, according to his inter-
view. confined his travels to the Island
of LuZOn, especially the northwestern
provinces. He was ut Mnlalos. San
Miguel, San Isidro, etc. I know all The
country very we'll When Father Hart
was there things were in inverted or
der. Doubtless he heard from some
that talk Spanish, especially Chinese
mestZOs, much abuse of the friars.
The people in those days were threat
encd with torture and death by the
Katipuncro leaders if they did or spoke
anything favorable to the friars. Many
of these threats have not been recalled
to the present day. We do not know
whether we have peace or an armistice
1t does not change the situation to call
those in arms '1ndrones" instead Of
inS,lrrcctOs.
The Jesuits have no parishes in the
provinces visited by Father Hart
Their lahors are chiefly in Mindanao.
Despite the fact that the insurrectiOn
and the fury of the Katipuncros only
reached them in very mild form, the
Jcsuts We're made prisoners the same
as other religious. Two Jcsuits went
to Zambales province and We're also
imprisoned and later released the same
as other religious. When the civil COM
mission visited Zamboanga, the leader
of the insurrectos. General Capistrano
called on the commission with COM
mittee and requested the expulsion Of
the Jesuits. He told the commission
that permanent peace would follow
only when the Jesuits were expelled
from Mindanao.
eel Rcnacimicnto,' Filipino daily
paper published in Spanish, has just
concluded one of its many schemes
against the religious orders. 1t sent
out circular letter to all the conspicu.
GUS members of the Federal party, the
Masonic lodges and to few reputable
citizens. Two Of the questions asked
were: "What religious bodies do you
understand the term 'friars' to en-