Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-08-08
DEFENDS THU FRIARS
Bishop McFaul Addressed Catholic
Societies on Philippine Question.
ATTACKS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Said Its Introduction Was Just Cause
For Alarm, AS It Contributed Largely
to DEMONSTRATING America-Frlars
Educated the Natives.
Chicago, Aug. 6.-The American
Federation of Catholic Societies met
yesterday afternoon and evening at the
Young Mems Christian Association
Hall In the afternoon, after the ad-
dress Of welcome by DR.. H. S. Taylor,
on behalf of Mayor Harrison, and M.
+. Hirten, on behalf of the Catholic
societies of the city. the convention
went into executive session. It was
evident from the tenor of the remarks
made in the afternoon that the conven-
ton would not regard the manifesto
OF Archbishop Ireland, warning them
against a discussion Of the administra-
tons methods in the Philippines.
At last evenings meeting Bishop
McFaul, Of Trenton, N. j., was the
principal speaker, and directed his at
tentiOn to the treatment of the friars
and the school question in the Phil.
ippines The bishop said in part:
The calm, intelligent observer must
admit that some of the statements
made in the public press regarding
the situation in the Philippines were
either incorrect or exaggerated. There
was nevertheless a very substantial
foundation of truth in most OF the re-
ports. which amply justified the strict
ures made upon those accountable for
the abuse of power When the news
arrived that the Catholic churches in
the Philippines were desecrated and
looted officers of high rank in the
army attempted to refute the charges,
yet the Dissertation and footing Of
these sacred edifces are now so Ger
tain that claims for damages will be
accepted by the government
Reports, too, of the frightful spread
of drunkenness and immortality after
| the occupation of Manila by the Amer
lean army were vigorously assailed.
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 issued
by an American general. The perpe-
| tration of these outrages was unknown
Tor time; they were, however, so fla
| grant that it was impossible to keen
them from the knowledge of the pub
lie.
The introduction alone of the pub.
lie school system was just cause for
alarm, as the system has been one OF
tie chief factors in leaving millions
Of Americans outside the boundaries
OF any religious organization and that
H. fact, has contributed largely to the
Notwithstanding of America.
The impression has gone abroad
that America is furnishing educational
facilities to the Filipinos for the first
time, and that the people were in q
state Of dense ignorance. This is an
other calumny. During centuries the
friaTs dwelt with the tribes of the
Philippines, and it is to them that they
are indebted for whatever they pos
sess Of education and religion. They
are a chaste and a pure people, un
aware of many of the vices of civiliza
ton until American soldiers occupied
their soil. The friars civilized anC
Christianized the Filipinos, and thel
; had not done their work with the rife
as too often had been the case in oEl
treatment of the Indians"
The speaker then declared that tn,
Federation is deeply interested in OBJ
tanning just treatment for the friar
in the Philippines, who had suffered
so many cruel calumnies."
Bishop McFaul also charged that II
selecting the school teachers for tn
Philippines discrimination had beef
practiced against the Catholics, be
cause of a total of 967 teachers who
he said. had been sent to the islands
but IS or 10 were Catholics.