The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-22
Father Casanova's Views Written
in 1897.
MEASURES OPPOSED
REFORM
The Natives Regarded as sayages-
~. The Friars as Agents of
Spain. ~
'Fs : -s-g ~ sFsi st.-
Now York Ssss1 SnecEaS Service

Washington, July 22.-An important
document bearing on the Philippine friar
question has been discovered in the IL,
brary of congress-. 1t is letter from
FRA Gabriel Casanova, Franciscan, to
Senor Moret, at one time Spanish minister
for the colonies. This letter was pub
llshed In Madrid in 1897, by w. E. Retana,
at that time a member of the Spanish
cortes. AT the time of its publication
senior Moret was trying to have reform
measures i1augurated In the Philippines.
Father Casanova was held in high es-
teem oy his religious superiors and was
subsequently named as member Of the
college OF theology in Manila.
His attitude toward the Filipinos re-
hect slargely the opinion of them held by
the members Of the four church orders.
In official circles here it is said that
Father Casanovas letter explains fully
the method used by Spain to conquer and
hold in subjugation the natives Of the
islands. Casanova opposes the proposed
reforms and declares in substance that
the Filipinos are bestial savages. He
says:
Since l wrote you my last letter affairs in
the remote Philippine islands have continued
to improve visbly. Thanks to the activity,
the well aimed blows and the energy of Cen
eral Polaviejo, the principal leaders OF the In
surrection are paying with their heads for the
treasons committed by them against the
fatherland.
He then takes up Rial, the famous
Filipino patriot, and says .
If it had been the methods OF the friars and
the Jesuits. which, by their bad results, pro-
duced the war and placed the integrity of the
country IN danger, !Rizal would have said 50,
when, sincerely repentant, he prepared to
present himself before the tribunal of God.
Do you not think, Senor Moret, that If he had
anything to say against the friars he would
have said SO frankly? Why did he not do
so? All, Don Sigismundo, the answer is very
easy, because anyone who knows this country
OF oyergrown children, who looks at things
| without bias and with a desire to know the
| whole truth will see that in the Philippines
| the only policy is the policy of the cross
| the only policy which the friars pursue there
Who is our enemy here, Senor Moret? Does
| 1t not seem to you that 1t Is Masonry and
| those debauched spaniards who taught Rial
| and with him many other Indians, to hate
! the representatives of Catholicism whose ben
| eacent influence sustained the sovereignty O.
Spain in the Philippines? The only enernie!
| OF, the friars in the Philippines are the enc
mics Of Spain-s They hate them because the,
understand they are the greatest obstacl,
to be overcome before attaining their de-
| sires. =.
| This, it is asserted by certain officers
confirms the declaration that the root Of
all the trouble in the Philippines has
been the hatred of the natives for the
friars, and it is pointed out that Father
Casanova Acknowledges the existence O.
this hatred and at the same time admits
the close relationship between the Span
ish government and the religious orders
He confirms this joint control of the ma
tives by quoting as following from bool
by General Borrero on 1.-THE Policy o
Spain in the Philippines
4 AS the friar is the genuine representatiy
OF the fatherland in the archipelago, knowin
! the language Of the people ne lives anon
and the spirit and tendencies Of the native
l he is considered the principal obstacle to tn
! zealization OF the ideals OF the hlibusterer
ard on this is based the desire of the enc
mics Of Spain to get rid of the religious or
ders because they believe that IL this is don
| they will have covered half OF their journey
Father Casanova says that the weaken
ing of the moral authority Of the friar
in the archipelago is looked upon as tn
beginning Of the end of the Spanish do
minion in the Philippines, adding that a
! for carrying liberties and reforms there
"you see what he General Borrero) tell
us, such thought is an attempt agains
the sovereignty Of Spain in the Philip
pines.' Father Casanova then says:
The only liberty: which the Indians want
| the liberty OF savages. Leave them to thei
fighting cocks and their Incidence, and the
will thank You more than if you load ther
down with old and new rights.
These observations, rejecting as they d,
the opinion Of the friars of the natives
are said to show the cause for the opposi
tion Of the Fi1ipinos to the friars ant
for their expulsion from the parishes
;, where they ruled SO long as the repre-
sentatives OF Spain.