The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-17
WHAT MAY BE EXPECTED NOW
1t Is the FiIipinos and Not the United
States That Object to the Friars.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 16-One
week from tomorrow Gov. Taft will
sail from Italy, resJvning his journey to
Manila. If the Vatican by that time
has concluded to accept the terms re-
specting the sale of the friars' lands
and the withdrawal of the friars them
selves from the Philippines, the papers
will be signed by Gov. Taft and the ar
rangement will be regarded as closed.
If, on the other hand, the cardinals
committee which is dealing with this
matter is unable to accept the terms
preferred or if it is not prepared to
make a final answer, the governor will
still proceed on his way and the nego-
tiations will be suspended.
1t does not follow that Gov. Taft's
resumption of his journey without
signing the papers of sale and with
drawal means the absolute abandon
ment of the negotiations on those
points. Technically they will be re-
garded as merely suspended, to be re-
sumed at any moment when either of
principals has had a change Of mind
sufficient to warrant a new proposition.
Meanwhile there will be no change OF
the status of the friars' orders in the
Philippines. 1t Is regarded as certain
by the administration that they will
not undertake to return to their indt-
vidual parishes in the Philippines. for
there is not sufficient power in the in
sular government to protect their lives
from the natives.
A high official of the government
makes the following statement con-
corning the negotiations: 1t can be
authoritatively stated that substantial
ly the facts contained in this state
ment were cabled to Gov. Taft in the
latest instructions as a basis Of his re-
ply to the Vatican:
I'm seeking through Gov. Taft to Sc
cure the peaceful removal of the friars
of the four orders from the Philippine
islands it must be borne in mind that
the Philippine islands have merely
been endeaVoring faithfully to
carry out the wish of the people, for
which they feel themselves peculiarly
bound to stand. 1t must always be re-
membered that 1t is not the United
States government which In any way
objects to the presence of the friars IN
the islands. 1t is the Catholic popula-
ton Of those islands. The lay Catholics
almost to a man and practically all of
the parish priests are so violently OPP
posed to the friars that they will not
permit them to come back to the par
ishes, and, as matter Of fact, hold
their hands in hostile possession.
zone of the avoWed objects of the
insurrectionary government under
Aguinaldo was to confiscate the friars'
lands without compensation to the
church. The United States authorities,
recognizing the intensity and bitter
ness Of this feeling among the Filipi-
nos and at the same time being desir-
ious Of acting with the most scrupu-
lous fairness toward the church, were
willing to arrange for the purchase of
the church lands by the government If
the church authorities would withdraw
the friars (who are not now and for
years have not been performing their
religious functions among the people)
bers of the church who might take up
with greater success the highly neces-
sary religious work which they are no
longer able to perform"