The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-07
TAFT DID NOT GO
 AS 4 DIPLOMAT Root Sends Copy of instructions
 to Congress
AT THE VATICAN TO CONFER
Says 1t Is the Wish of the Government That FrIars RellnquIsh Title to Land, But Are to Be Paid
 Therefor,

Washington, June 6-Secretary Root to6ay sent to the Philippines committee of the Senate and House the actual copies of the instructions given by him to Gov ernor Taft for his guidance in dealing with the vatican respecting the acouisi- ton by the United States of the friars' lands in the Philippines These instruc- tions were exhibited yesterday by Cover nor Taft to the vatican officials, and as will be perceived from their context served the purpose of credentials The text Is as follows;
 May g, 1902: Sir-It is now apparent that Congress will not have acted upon the Philippines committees recommenda- tons regarding the purchase of friars lands before the time of your departure for Manila, which cannot be longer de- layed. You cannot, therefore. as we had hoped now, receive definite instructions | and proceed to take such steps, In the execution of specific authority from Con- gress. as should properly be taken before your return to Manila. The committee or both houses have, however, reported Ia vorably upon the commissions Iecom- mendatiobs, and it appears probable that Congress will confirm their action In view, ther refore, of the critical situation of this subject in the Philippines and of the apparent impossibiity of dispos- Ing of the matter there by negotiation with the friars themselves, the President does not feel at liberty to lose the op- portunity for effective action afforded by your presence in the west. He wishes you to take the subject up tentatively with the ecclesiastical supertors who must ultimately determine the friars' course of conduct and endeavor to reacn q tasis of negotiations along lines which will be satisfactory to them and the Philippines government, accompanied by a full understanding on both sides of the facts, and of the views and purposes of the parties to the negotiation; that when Cor gress shall have acted, the business may proceed to a conclusion without de- lay.
 To Visit Rome.
 You are accordingly authorized, in the course of your return journey to Manila, 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 Philippines, and if you find, as we | are informed, that the officers of the l church at Rome have such power and | authority, you will endeavor to attain
 the results above indicated. Any ne-
 gotiations which you may enter upon | are always subject to granting of power | by congress to follow the negotiations by | binding action. In any negotiations you 1 will bear in mind the following proposi- l lions which are deemed to be fundamen- I tai, and which should be fully and frank l ly stated to the other side in the nego- l tiations:
 l. One of the controlling principles of l our government Is the complete separa- tion of the church and state with the en- | tire freedom of each from any. control | or interference by the other This prtn- | ciple Is imperative wherever American jurisdiction extends. and no modification | or shading thereof can be a subject of | discussion.
 l g. It Is necessary now to deal with the
 results of a government controlled by 1 the people in the Philippine islands, 1 which have for centuries been governed 1 under an entirely different system, with
 church and state closely united and hay l ing functions of the one exercised by
 agents of the other; where the church
 has long controlled and acted virtually
 as the agent of the state in the field of 1 public instruction and public charities,
 and has from time to time acquired large properties held by 1t or by It's sub
 ordinate corporations or officers for
 these public uses novel situation has been created under which the adjustment | of means to ends appropriate to the for | mer system entirely falls to produce the intended result under the new system and the separation of church and state requires to be followed by a readjust- ment and encouragement in the interests both of church and of state, and for the attainment of the great ends of civil government, of education. of charity and of religion.
 Can No Longer Perform. B. By reason of succession the religious orders can no longer perform in behalf | of the state the duties Tn relation to pub l lie instruction and public charities for
 merly resting upon them and the power which they formerly exercised through
 their relations with the civil government | being now withdrawn, they find them
 selves the objects of much hostility on
 the part of their clans against them as
 landlords and on the part of the people 1 of the parishes against them as represent atives of the former government; that
 they no longer are capable of serving any useful purpose for the church. No rents can be collected from the populous com munities occupying their lands unless 1t be by the intervention of the civil gov ernment with armed force. Speaking generally. for several years past the friars, formally installed over the par ishesI have been unable to remain at their posts and are collected in Manila with the vain hope of returning. They will not be voluntarily again accepted by the people and cannot be restored to their possession except by forcible in- convention on the part of the civil govern ment, which the principles of our gov ernment forbid. It is manifest that un- der these conditions 1t is to the interest of the church as we'll as the state that the landed proprietorship of the religious orders in the Philippine Islands should cease and that if the church wishes as of course 1t does, to continue its minis