Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-09
VISIT BY TAT
WILL SETTLE
QUESTION
PHILIPPINE GOVERNOR IS EN-
DEAV0RINe TO SETTLE CUES
TON OF CHURCH AND STATE
IN THE ISLANDS.

WASHINGTON. d. G, June 1-The
news comes BIZ cable fom Rome that Gov.
Taft has been received by the Pope and
has foosened q food OF stories In the
United States as 70 the object Of the visit,
most o. which are erroneous. The question
Of the church in the Philippines is dell
cate one and Is being handled with care by
the administration. The object OF GOV
erne- Tafts vlsit, however, is very Tar
from Establishing relations between the
church and the state In the philippines
on the contrary Il is TO secure the COM
plete separation OF church and state ar
fairs and 70 arrange for the Just ana
haruonlous settlement OF all questions
The object~of Governor Taft seeing the
Pope Is merely one Of business and In no
sense Is IL a diplomatic one. This VIII
Be made very plain by reading the letter
OF instructions from Secretary Root 70 the
governor.
done IN the Philippines which can only be
accomplished satisfactorily through direct
communication with Rome. The settle
ment OF all question affecting the lands or
the friars and the disposition OF the friars
themselves Is dependent upon the head or
the church. who alone Is competent 10 de-
eide X The friars, owing 70 the hostile
attitude Of the Filipinos and the attitude
az the United States are now all In Ma
Mia. and several hundred Of them are
now dependent upon this government for
their livelihood. The question OF the dis-
position Of the land held BY the friars
and the removal from the islands Of those
dependent upon the government are thei
most prominent Of the questions which
the government Is seeking a solution.
Both Of these questions must be passed
upon BY the church authorities az Rome,
and the visit Of Governor Taft is expected
TO save THIS government much emoarrass-
ment in the time 70 cone
Under Spanish rule the functions OF
church and state In the philippines were
almost one. The friars not only we're the
religious heads OF their communities ana
parishes, but they performed the civic dut-
les as well IL was the bad exercise OF
their powers that promoted the native re.
volt against Spanish authority, that caused
the murder Of many Of these friars and
drove hundreds Of them into Manila
where they are now under the protecting
wing q this government
The question Of the title TO large areas
Of land and 20 many buildings. churches
hospitals and schools. in many parts OF the
archipelago is q very important one and
has not had the attention " should have
received in the United States. IL Is he
cause of the advent Of the Americans In
the archipelago and the separation Of
church and state that the question Of title
has arisen Nearly ali Of this property was
designed for use in charity and education.
But since the Affairs Of church and state
hsve been sepspted. these, lands
buildings have ceased 70 be means 20
this end Hence a remedy Is necessary.
II Ia the object OF this government to
settle this and without long and injurious
litigation This vexatious question was
settled In CutA and Porto Rico and IL Is
believed that through the Efforts Of the
Pope the matter IN the PHILIPPINES can be
adjusted without any trouble.