The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-27
PHILIPPINE FRIARS
DIsPosITIoN OF THEIR LANDS A
 DELEGATE QUESTION.
h Causing the Administration Much Worry-Governor Taft Win Wis 1t Rome and Urge the Pope
 to Order Withdrawal

Washington Special to New Orleans Pic-
 ayunes
 The disposition of the friars and their
 lands in the Philippines is one of the delicate questions before the administra- tion it has diplomatic, as well as legal.
 complications. The Philippine Commis-
 sion has recommended that Congress give
 1t the power to issue bonds for the pur- chase of the friar lands. The hostility
 of the Filipinos to the friars makes 1t
 unsafe for the latter to return to their
 parishes. Governor Taft told the com-
 mittees of Congress that he did not be-
 rassment in the transfer of the lands.
 which approximate 100000 acres. The
 most serious yhase of the question ,s
 what shall be- done with the friars them
 selves. Governor Taft says it Is not a
 religious question. but one of politics. All
 the Christian tribes in the Philippines
 are adherents of tho Roman Catholic
 Church. but they are Intensely hostile to
 the friars because of the political power
 which the priests usurped in the last
 fifty years. The friars were the police
 men of Spain. They exercised absolute
 power in every municipality within their respective parishes, and they were blamed
 by the people for every act of oppression,
 individual or general. which the Fill
 pinos suffered.
 In the rebellion against Spain. prior to
 the war of 1898. about fifty of the friars
 were killed About 300 who were in pris-
 ons were released by the American troops.
 Those are still in Manila. They do not
 dare to return to their parishes. for they
 would be murdered if they did. The
 Philippine Commission Is, therefore. con- fronted with the delicate task of settling the question without resorting to force Governor Taft hopes that the purchase of. the friar lands will open the way fer the removal of the friars to other coun- tries. The question before the adminis- tration in Washington is the removal of the priests from the Philippines without the appearance of hostility on the part of this Government to any particular power to compel them to leave the is- lands It Is that question which makes 1t seem advisable that Governor Taft should visit Rome and have an audience Philippines. It is believed that he can
 so present the situation to the pontin as to convince him that 1t Is to the interests of the Roman Catholic Church that the friars now in the Philippines should bs Governor Taft has had interviews with Archbishop Ireland. Cardinal Gibbons and other Catholic dignitaries in this country and he has convinced them that his plan is the only one that will allow the church to continue it's work in the Philippines without seriously embarrassing the civil government there. Archbishop Ireland. 1t is said. believes that the question can
 be so presented to the Pope by Governor Taft that the removal>of the friars will be authorized.
 The protests that are coming from the representatives of Protestant churches against this contemplated visit of Cover nor Taft to Rome seem to be based large ly upon misinformation. The administra- | ton has no idea of opening negotiations of diplomatic character with the pontin nor will it enter into any negotiations with the Roman Catholic Church for the purchase of friar lands. All such nego- tiations will be conducted in Manila by the commission and with the represent atives of the church societies who hold title to the lands. The visit of Governor 1 Taft to Rome is of an advisory charao- | ter. The United Sates can buy the lands | of the friars, but nobody except the Pope can cause the friars to withdraw