The Washington times., 1902-07-21
Makes Editorial Comment
on Proselyting in
Philippines.
AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT
Claims to Print Certain Views of s
"High Official of the Government
Declares Action of Catholic Press [
Based on Misinformation. |
The New Century" Roman g

The New Century" Roman
Ollie weekly paper published in thlsl,
/ regarded as usually well informed
matters pertaining to the Roman catf-
ollie Church. in its last issue presents
10 its readers "an authoritative state
ment" en- the Philippines question
purported to have been made by "a high
official Of the United States Govern
meut.' The statement in part is as Y
lows: Eve sincerely regret that
word expulsion has been imported int
this question. We have not. and eer
tainly do not. seek the forcibIe exclu
sion of the friars from the archipelagoA
What we desire is that the property
constituted authorities should secure
the peaceful removal of the members Of
the four orders. within period of time
10 be agreed upon by the Interested
parties What that time limit is I am not
able to state
1T must also be borne in mind that
the withdrawal of the friars is in no
sense the outcome of a demand OF citi-
zens in the Urited States; our repre-
sentatives have endeavored to act in
rigid conformity to the desires of the
Catholic Fflipinos. We have endeavored
to ascertain their wishes and to arrive
at this result we have obtained data
that can only be regarded as represent
attire of the peoples mind. The Govern
nent of the United States does not OBJ
iect. nor can any set of practical cir
cunistances be conceived when it would
object. to the presence of the friars in
the islands, in embodying in Governor
Taft's Instructions a request for their
withdrawal we are merely echoing the
wishes of the Filipino people, who are
so unalterably hostile to them that they
will not allow them TO return to the >
parishes. The feeling against the frairs
is solely political and does not diminish
in any way the respect and tenderness
with which the Filipino regards the
Catholic Church. We do not ask whether
this hostility be well founded or not;
we look only at the fact that civil tran
quillity would be impossible should the
friars return to the parishes in the face
Of this far-reacbing popular resentment.
Reckless Perversion of Facts.
With regard 10 the public school sys-
tem much misinformation has filtered
ITO the minds of the people through 1
reckless perversion of facts.
The Hon. Elihu Root. Secretary OF
Var. desires to state through the New
century that not only were Catholics
appointed as teachers, but that their
appointment was sought by this Gov
,rnment as being in harmony with the
general policy of conforming to the
wishes OF the Catholic FiIIpinos. In
act. two Catholic superintendents were
.2pointed. but both were dropped from
he rolls for good and sufficient rea-
on. The causes OF dismissal are With
\ easy access OF those who desire the
1t must also be remem-
cred that hve Catholic Institutions
fere invited TO send for examination
heir members or graduates. All Cath
lies who fulfilled the mental require
1ents OF the examination were appoint-
a.
Commenting editorially on the state
nent," the New Century under the
aption, rs 1t Honest?" severely CEN
ures and rebukes the Catholic press
nd says IN part as follows:
Editorial Comment.
During the past few weeks there
as been gust Of passion passing over
he Catholic press in this country that
as left its impress upon Catholic bod
IS, and has done much TO arouse the
eIigious intemperanee of the past 1t
as charged in a letter that appeared in
ne Catholic Citizen Of Milwaukee,
nd in letter that emanated from the
Catholic Truth Society,
hich attained wide currency through
ne Catholic press. that an active prose-
-tism was the order of the day in the
hilippine Islands. and that the Admin
tration either designedly. or through
kitty, was permitting the public schools
the PHILIPPINES to be used as the
yencies OF a Protestant propaganda.
These assertions rather surprised
any of US who believed that the off,
,rs of the International Catholic Truth
ociety were too scholarly TO repeat
lything so damaging. without. at least.
personal examination OF the docu-
ents in the case.
'It is quite evident from the results
nat further inquiry have ELECTED that
lis grave and portentous charge was
ade without scrutiny. impartial and
iequate. The New Century has moth
lg to do with politics. as politics. It
not the partisan of any political par
CONTINUED on Fifth PaSe)