The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1902-06-13

moved.
Washington, June 7.-Secretary
Root yesterday sent to the Philip
pine committees of the senate and
house teXtual copies of the instruc-
tions given by him to Gov. Taft for
his guidance in dealing with the
vatican respecting the acquisition by
the United States of the friars' lands
in the Philippines. These instruc-
tions were exhibited Thursday by
Gov. Taft to the vatican officials, and,
as will be perceived from their con-
text, served the purpose of creden-
tials. The text is as follows:
May 9, 1902.
''Sir: 1t Is now apparent that congress
Will not have acted upon the Philippine
commissions recommendations regarding
the purchase of friars' lands before the
time of You departure for Manila, which
can not be longer delayed. You can not,
therefore, as we had hoped, now receive
definite instructions, and proceed to take
such steps, in the execution of specific
authority from congress, as should prop
ery be taken before you return to Ma
Mia. The committees of both houses have,
commissions recommendations and it
appears probable that congress will con-
firm their action. In view, therefore, OF
the critical situation of this subject In
possibility of disposing of the matter
there by negotiation with the friars them
selves, the president does not feel at lib
erty to lose the opportunity for effectiYe
action afforded by your presence in the
west. He wishes you TO take the supJect
up tentatively with the ecclesiastical su-
periors who must ultimately determine
the friars' course of conduct, and en-
deavor to reach, at least q pasls OIL
negotiation along lines which will be sat
i. iSfactOry to them and to the Ph1npplne
government, accompanied by the full un-
hOth Ct0PS of tn1 facts ana
of the views and PURPOSES OF II the parties
TO the negotiation, 20 that wnen ccnsitss
ceed to a on clusiUn without delay.
You are accordingly authorized, In the
course of your return journey to Ma
nila, to visit Rome and there ascertain
what church authorities have the power
to negotiate for and determine upon a
sale of the lands of the religious ORDERS
in the Philippine islands, and II you ma:
as we are Informed, that the officers of
and authority. you will endeavor to at
tain the results above indicated. Any ne
gotiations which you may enter upon are
ALWAYS subject to the granting of power
by congress to follow the negotiations by
binding action. In any conferences ana
negotiations YOU Will bear in mind the
Following propositions, which are deemed
to be fundamental, and which should pc
fully and frankly stated to the other Slde
One Of the controlling principles of
our government is the complete Separa-
tion of church and state, with the entire
freedom of each from any control or IN
terferenCe by the OIner.- 1nlS pIIIClpIG II
imperative wherever American jurisdic-
tiOn extends, and no modlncatlon or
shading thereof can be subject for dis
cussion.
results of establishing a government con-
trolled by this principle in the Philippine
islands, which have for centuries been
governed under an entirely different sys-
tenn. with church and state closely unlte1,
and having functions OF the one eXer7
cised by agents of the other; Where the
church has long controlled and acted VIZ
tually as the agent OF the state III the
field of public instruction, and pubic
charities, and has from time to time ac-
quired large properties held by 1t or by
its subordinate corporations or ofhcerS
for these public uses. \ novel situation
has been created under which the ADJUST
ment of means to ends appropriate to
duce the intended result under the new
system, and the separation of church ana
state requires to be followed by read
justment and Encouragement i'll the in
ferests both of church and of state and
for. the attainment OF the great etlas b,ta ol
and of religion.
3. BY reason of the separation, the re-
ligious orders can no longer perform, IN
behalf of the state, the duties in relation
to public instruction and public charities
formerly resting upon them, and the
through their relations to the civil gov
ernment, being now withdrawn, they find
themselves the objects of such hostility
on the part of their tenantry against
them as landlords, and on the part Cf
the people OF the parishes AGAINST them
as representatives of the former govern
ment, that they are no longer capable Gf
serving any useful purpose for the
church. No rents can be collected from
the populouS communities occupying their
lands unless it be by the intervention of
the civil government with armed force.
Speaking generally, for several years past
the friars, formerly installed over the
parishes, have been unable to remain at
their posts and are collected in Manila
with the vain hope of returning. They
VIII not be voluntarily accepted again by
nFaf laeA -fFass.ag
their possessions except by forcible in
tervention on the part of the civil gov
ernment, which the principles of our gov
eminent forbid. 1t is manifest that under
these conditions it is for the interest of
tIe church. as well as Tor the state that
the landed proprietorsh1p OF the rellSlouS
orders in the Philippine islands should
cease and that if the church wishes. as,
of course, it does, to continue its minis
trations among the people of the islands
and to conduct in its own behalf sys-
tenn of instruction, with which We have
no desire to interfere, it should seek
other agents therefor.
i 1t is the wish our government in
case congress shall grant authority, that
the titles of the religious orders to the
large tracts OF agricultural lands which
they now hold shal be eNtlngulshed, but
that a full and fair compensation shall be
made therefor
3. 1t is not, however. deemed to be for
the interests of the people of the Philip
pine islands that in thus Transforming
wholly unproductive tracts of lands into
money capable of productive investment,
q
used for the attempted restoration of the
friars 10 the parishes from which they
are now separated, with the consequent
disturbance of law and order.
G. The titles to the great amount of
church lands and buildings in the islands,
other than those of the religious orders,
and now apparently owned by the state
should be settled fairly.
Z Provision should be made for ascer-
tanning what rentals, if any, ought to be
paid for converts and other church build
ings which have been occupied by United
state troops during the insurrection, this
being of course, q subject for the Spe-
cific action for congress
6 The rights and obligations remaining
under the various specific trusts for ed
ucation and charity, which are now in
doubt and controversy, ought to be set
tied by agreement, if possible, rather than
by the slow and frequently disastrous
processes of litigation, so that the beneh-
cent purposes of these foundations may
not fail.
g. Your errand will not be in any sense
or degree diplomatic in its nature. but wiz
be purely business matter of nego-
tiatilg by you, as governor OF the Phil
ippiries for the purchase OF property from
the owners thereof, and the settlement OF
lands il such a manner as 10 contrib
ute to the best interests OF the people OF
the islands.