Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-06-07

TAFT'S INSTRUCTIONS
Root Sends to Congress the
Orders, In Which He Deals
With Vatican.
I'd AND STATE SEPARATE.
fold He Must Not Forget This In His
Negotiations For the Friars' Lands.
Full Compensation lntended-con-
gress Must Approve Deal.

washington, June 7.-Secretary
Root yesterday sent to the Philippines
committee of the senate and house
textual copies of the instructions
given by him, for the president, to
Governor Taft for his guidance in
dealing with the vatican respecting
the acquisition by the United States
of the friars lands in the Philippines.
These instructions were exhibited
Thursday by Governor Taft to the
vatican officials and served the pur-
pose of credentials. They were dated
May 8. 1902 The text was in part as
follows:
You are accordingly authorized, in
the course of your return journey to
Manila, to visit Rome and there as
certain what church authorities have
the power to negotiate for and de-
termine upon a sale Of the lands of
the religious orders in the Philippine
islands, and if you find, as we are in
formed, that the officers of the church
at Rome have such power and author
ity you will endeavor to attain the
results above indicated. Any nego-
tiations which you may enter upon
are always subject to granting Of
power by congress to follow the ne
gotiations by binding action. In any
conferences and negotiations you will
bear in mind the following PROPOSE
lions, which are deemed to be funda-
mental. and which should be fully
and frankly stated to the other side
in the negotiations:
Separation of Church and State.
First-One of the controlling prin-
ciples of our government is the com
plete separation of church and state,
with the entire freedom of each from
any control or interference by the
other. This principle is imperative
wherever American jurisdiction lex
tends and no modification or shading
thereon can be subject to discussion
Second-It is necessary now to
deal with the results of establishing
? government controlled by this prin-
ciple in the Philippine islands, which
have for centuries been governed un.
der an entirely different system, with
church and state closely united, and
having functions of the one exercised
by agents Of the other; where th>
church has long controlled and acted
virtually as the agent Of the state in
the field of public instruction and
public charities, and has from time to
time acquired large properties held by
1t or by its subordinate corporations
or officers for these public uses. A
novel situation has been created I'M
der which the adjustment of means
to ends appropriate to the former
system entirely fails to produce the
intended result under the new system,
and the separation of church and
state requires to be followed by re-
adjustment and Encouragement in the
interests both of church and of state,
and for the attainment of the great
ends Of civil government, of educa-
ton, of charity and of religion
Orders Can't Do Public Duties.
Thirdly reason of the separation
the religious orders can no longer
perfortl in behalf of the state the du-
ties in relation to public institutions
and public charities formerly resting
upon them and the power which they
formerly exercised through their re-
lations to the civil government 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 of the
people of the parishes against them
as representatives of the former gov
eminent, that they are no longer
capable of serving any useful purpose
for the church. No rents can be col
lected from the populous communi-
ties occupying their lands unless it
be by the Intervention of the civil
government with armed force. Speak
ing 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 return
ing. They will not be voluntarily ac-
cepted again by the people and can
not be restored to their positions ex.
cept by forcible Intervention on the
part of the civil government, which
the principles of our government for
bid
Landed Proprietorship Should End.
1t is manifest that under these con.
ditions it IS for the interest of the
church, as well as of the state. that
the landed proprietorship Of the re
ligious orders in the Philippine
islands should cease. and that if the
church wishes. as Of course it does
wish. to continue its ministration
among the people of the islands and
u conduc. in its own behalf a sys-
tenn of instruction with which we
have no desire to interfere, it should
seek other agents therefor.
Fourth--lt is the wish of our gov
eminent, in case congress shall grant
authority, that the titles of the re.
ligious orders to tho large tracts Of
agricultural lands which they now
hold shall re eytnguished but that
fun and fair alton shall be
made therefor.
Fiftb--It is ~ however. deemed