Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-15

to teach it. If the friars have committed
crimes and disturbed the peace of the Phil
ippines, the Catholic Church has never up
held them in so doing. The Catholic re-
iigfon is one of peace, and breaches and
enforces obedience to all lawful authority.
If its priests have been immoral, or dis
turbers of the peace, they should be pun
ished the same as other offenders against
the law, but it is no justification for putting
a stigma upon all because some have vio-
lated the law.
The Star refers to Senate document 100
of the second session OF the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress evidence that the friars of the
Philippines guilty of the charges it
brings against them. l leave it to any
biased mind that the document referred to
does not prove the friars are guilty OF the
charges there preferred against them. There
is no statement in the document that sin
gle witness was sworn, or that any was
present to cross-examine any of them. 1t
appears that in most instances some men,
Der of the Philippine commission, assisted
by clerks, and probably stenographers, in
tervieWed the parties, as reporters would
say. The questions were in the most part
written and not few copies Of these were
given to persons who answered them at
their leisure. The testimony, if 1t may be
called testimony, for the want Of a suitable
word. would not be received in any court
Of justice in any civilized country And
even If the testimony had been given in
good faith, man has put his name to it
so as to become responsible for the state
l.
transmits the document to the President,
who transmits to the Senate. Neither one
voucheS for the truth of the statements
therein contained, and from the words of
Secretary Root it might be inferred that
his letter had been appended to the wrong
paper.
The witnesses quoted as mpeaching the
morality of the friars are certainly not to
be believed, for their language Is too ex-
travagant and too general. If they could
be believed, all the friars were immoral
Such a statement could only come from an
enemy Of the church. Had 1 the space, |
would show from the record that these wit
nesses were not entitled to belief
You say Catholics were the only ones who
testified against the frfars. 1 beg leave to
differ with you A Catholic, however he
might condemn man, would never con-
denim a sacrament Of hts church, and it is
plain to any one who knows his faith that
the greater number of the witnesses before
the commission. opposed to the friars, have
lost the faith If they ever possessed it, To
go to them for evidence against the friars
would be like going to A. P. AS for evil
dence against Catholics in this country No
men in the United States can be condemned
unheard upon such testimony, and they
will not be- cannot understand why the
government and those supporting its oppos,-
ton to the friars ground their action upon
the fact that the frtars are disturbers of
the peace and Immoral men. There are
other reasons for their being persona non
grata to the government. They are mostly
SpanfardS, ana1 nave Deen q part of the
Spanish government Of the Philippine
Islands. If they, continue in their missions
there, the people may conclude that though
their government has been changed, the
same methods will be continued as of old
Such opinions might bring about complica-
tions which w9uld not appear under the
ministration. Of other missionaries. The
friars have the same rights in the Philip
pines which the Constitution of the United
States guarantees to all residing under its
jurisdiction. Those rights cannot be lightly
set aside without grave danger to the per-
sonal liberty of persons everywhere under
the jurisdiction of the United States Be
sides, the treaty with Spain protects the
Spanish friars In remaining in the country
Paris treaty reads Spanish subjects, ma
tives of the peninsula, residing in the terri
tory over which Spain, by the present
treaty, relinQuishes or cedes her SOVEREIGN
ty, may remain in such territory, or NAV
remove therefrom. retaining in either event
all their rights of property. including their
right to sell or dispose of such property or
of its proceeds; and they shall also have the
right to carry on their industry Commerce.
and profession. being subject In respect
thereof to such laws as are applicable to
other foreigners"
Why should the government wish to de-
prive the friars of their rights under the
Constitution and this treaty? Is there not
some other way for the settlement of these
matters than the forced withdrawal of the
friars? An attempt Is being made to settle
this question with the Roman curia But
the friars have rights under the law of the
church which cannot be set aside, The
orders have been instituted by the church.
and they may not be suppressed without
override those rights. whatever they may
be- to accomplish any other desired end