The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-06
Denounces Treatment of Catholics
in Philippines Before Ameri-
can Federation.
IGNORES ARCHBISH0P'S PLEA.
Asserts That of Hundreds of
Teachers Sent From United
States Only is or 10 Are
Not PrOtestants.

Chicago. Aug 5-The American Fedora
ton OF Catholic Societies met this after
noon and evening at the Young liens
Christian Association Hall.
In the afternoon, after the address of
welcome by Doctor H. s. Taylor, On be-
! half of Mayor Harrison, and NJ. F. Girten,
on behalf of the Catholic societies CO the
city, the convention went into executive
session and organized. Short addresses
were made by Bishops Messmer of Green
bay. Wis, McFaul OF Trenton. n. J., and
by the president Of the federation.
1t was evident from the tenor of the re-
marks made in the afternoon that the con-
ventiOn would not heed the manifesto Of
Archbishop Ireland. warning the delegates
against a discussion of the administration 3
methods in the Philippines.
AT the evening meeting Bishop McFaul
was the principal speaker and directed c-S
attention TO the treatment of the friars and
the school question in the Philippines. The
Bishop said. in part:
THE calm. intelligent observer must ad-
NIT that some OF the statements made in
the public press regarding the situation in
the philippines were either incorrect or eS-
aggerated.
Some Foundation in Truth.
There was nevertheless a very substan-
ports, which amply justified the structures
made upon those accountable for the abuse
OF power
NO one is foolish enough to admit that
IN affairs of 50 important a nature mere
denia!s are conclusive, particularly when
made BY Interested parties. We mad al
reauy been warned to be on our guard by
previous contradictions OF reports which
were afterwards proved true and found
worse than at first suspected.
s-Ny he the arrived that the Cath
olic churches in the Philippines were desc
Grated and looted officers OF high rank
charges yet the dissertation and looting Of
those sacred edificeS are now so certain
that claims for damages to ecclesiastical
property will be accepted by the Govern
ment.
Reports. too. OF the frightful spread of
drunkenness and immortality after the oc-
were vigorously assaiIed. Is there now any
one who has the audacity TO question their
truth?
Since then we have all heard Of the
water cure and the murderous orders is
sued by an American General. The
perpetration of these outrages were not
known for time. They were however. so
fragrant that it was impossible to keep
them from the knowledge of the public.
The introduction alone of the public
school system was iIst nfad eagse so for iaT alarm
The speaker then declared that the fed
Grafton is deeply interested in obtaining
just treatment for the friars in the Philip
pines. who had suffered. he declared. under
so many cruel calumnies.'
Bishop McFaul charged that in selecting
school teachers for the Philippines discriul-
ination had been practiced against the
Catholics because of a total of 967 teachers,
who he said had been sent to the islands,
but eighteen or nineteen were Catholics
THE impression has gone abroad. the
Bishop said, that America is furnishing
educational facilities to the Philippines for
the first time and that the people were in
a state of dense ignorance. This is another
During centuries the friars dwelt
with the tribes of the Philippines. and IL Is
to them that the Filipinos are indebted for
whatever they possess Of education and re-
ligion. They are a chaste and a pure peo-
pie unaware OF many of the vices of civil
ization until American soldiers occupied
their soil"