New-York tribune., 1902-07-08
GOV. TAFT ON FRIARS.
PROBLEMS OF THE RELIGIOUS sITUA-
TION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The Tribunes special correspondent in Rome in
cabling the other day about Governor Taft's nego-
tiations with the Vatican the purchase OF the
friars' lands said that the Spanish Dominicans in
Rome. being informed that the principal points ad-
duced by Governor Taft for negotiation were in
cuded in the article civil government in the
Philippines which Governor Taft published in The
Outlook May 81, and which was translated into
Italian. have set to work to contradict it.
In this article Governor Taft said among other
things;
A somewhat perplexng complication has arisen
by the transfer of the title of the lands by the
the purpose of their sale or cultivation, but IL is
that the rars Ia have thus far
The lands, and that they may il they desire sell
the landS 10 the government.
Again, under the Spanish rule in the Philippines
the frtars discharged most important civil func-
for the work WSch they dG % in me the
a&Echpelag9 are and n bringing about the ciyizasi91
century the Spanish Government, apparently with
tensive civil duties in connection with municipal
and provincial governments, until substantially all
ments BECAME absorbed by the friars, The frar
priest In each parish became the Chief OF Police
and the chief of detectives in government work
Every man who was punished especially If he were
agency OF the friar. and The deportations and exc
cuuons which went under Spanish rule were all
people of the puebIos the friar was the Crown of
SPAN ana every oppression pr s by the spanish Coy
litical power had far outgrown that exercised by
fore deep hostility was manifested by the ihsur
gents against The frIars They had 70 fee for their
GTed Of them were iFRprisSRed and during heir
Ing indgnities and 70 the greatest suffering The
feeling Of the people against the friars was wholly
and enjoyed and wished for the sacraments of
the christian Fipnos With % per cent cent SO densey
ignorant, speaking eight or ten different languages
lie opinion such as we understand it, but 10 this
genera general remark must be made .hs execution on mat
gious orders which Rave been under discussion
Justice of tbs feeling Il exists and must be reck-
oned with by those who are charged with the re-
Islands The friars We're driven out OF ali the @ psr
shes In he.archpeiago except those Of the city OF
been, few Of their number have returned 10
nce Of cagayan but the great body Of them the si
remain in Manila, and are unable TO return 10 the
people II they should attempt 10 return in any
numbers. Il is quite likely that the result would he
Such religious worship as is now carried on in
IN The Spanish tines the ASSISTANT. or deputies
OF the friars There are not enough OF these
II they were entirely satisfactory 20 the Church.
2zed in the san8s he dcuy 'Rh Which fbe
has or @ 4S Il 2a Priests s ha
ted TED or ~ It would accord with the views Of
be sent to the Islands because their high staadard
and gain strength Under government in Which the
church and state are entirely separate would as
sist much In establishing the order OF things
with the people, But IL is said that there is no
supply OF American Catholic priests which can I'LL
this demand.
The question which Is presented 10 the civil gov
ernment OF the islands is whether there is not
some means OF avoiding the lawlessness and riot
which the frtsrs return 10 their parishes is GER
tain to involve. or course the civil government
has nothing 20 do with the ministTatiOns OF re
ligion with the personnel of the agents selected
by the Church 10 conduct its worship so long as
they are lawabiding and do not preach treason
able doctrine. but IL cannot but give the greatest
concern to the civil government If a church shall
adopt the policy Of sending among the people
priests whose very presence Is sure 10 involve dis
turbanee OF law and order. With a people SO ig-
norant and having knowledge only of Spanish
methods OF government, the return OF the friars
will necessarily be regarded due TO an affirma-
tive policy the part of the government and the
burden Of hostility which the friars now bear will
necessarily be shared by the government. II the
Inent of all the other questions arising between
the church and the state should include a with
drawal OF the friars from the islands. ID would
greatly facilitate the harmony between the govern
the