Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-23
Warning to Certain Catholics.

among certain classes of Catholics in
America a cessation Of movements and
declarations such as we have had recent
occasion 10 near of regarding religious mat
ters IN the Philippines. The pope teaches
THESE tathollcs to trust the American gov
ernmeht, as they seemingly have been here
tofore unwilling to do. In his converse ton
win GOV. Taft he expressed the highest es-
TEEN Tor American methods of treating
church matters, and rema rked that he had
more than once pointed toward the United
states as setting an example we'll worth
copying.
His words ought to signify something to
those who profess to take him as their
leader and guide. At any rate the direction
OF catholic affairs is his business not of
iltspohslple church societies or newspaper
edltors: and when he informs Catholics that
any one matter is in his hands, thew ought
plohptlV 10 step aside, and allow him to
nave charge of 1t. The question of religion
IN ,he fhi1ppines is now formally and Off
clally ms own; and it should be considered
as such. A few there NAV remain who X ~
sun nelleVe that they have a better UNDER
stahding OF it than he has and will insis-
on telling him how to handle it; but such as
t t,,ose are lew and at least it will be clear
catholic body at large
me agitation, such as it was in certain
Nathollc quarters. did no honor to those
w ~ participated in it. AS is now proven
l.
euse, ana certainly, without proper regard
III me government of their country They
s t nrst have been absolutely certain
ma lnjust1ces had been done to their CO.
ieisioHlsts. and, next, If injustices had
9 9e zone, they should have sought a RENE
o oia, ior them by appeal to the proper Off
oials before raising in public irritating
NO intention to Prose1yte.
maj IN the vast alterations made in the
hlippines by the transfer of the islands
i''i' SPAN TO American Sovereignty serious
eoh pilcauons We're sure to arise in reli-
sious matters, as they did in social and
e''ii matters, was naturally to be expected;
as ~ was also to be expected that time
viii ne required to regulate things prop
elly, ana that meanwhile suffering in one
r rodi ~ OF another was to come to interests
MOST secret and vital Patience then hay-
ing peen had, no haste should there have
peei 10 lay blame upon the government,
MhGh was doing its best to bring order out
~ chaos, and, above all. no charges should
nave been made against the intentions of
tne government. 1t was rankest rashness
ana rankest Injustice to intimate that the
eminent intended to proSelytize in the
ihlilppines or to do aught to detach the in
hapitants from the Catholic faith.
10 Know in the slightest degree Mr..
Roosevelt Mr.. Root or Mr. Taft is to be
certain that nothing of the kind could have
peeH tnought of or could have been toler-
aIeo. never did there reside in the White
rouse man more fair-minded and impair
tial IN religious matters, more resolute to
give all classes of citizens the religious
rights granted them by the Constitution
ana an 10 protect them jim those rights than
Theodore Roosevelt, During his admins
tratlon it is unaualifiedly absurd to imagine
that governmental acts could be such as TO
deny or fmIiair the religious rights of any
can flag.
AS to Mr.. Taft, 4 quote from letter
when received hut yesterday from 4
Catholic priest living in the archepiscopal
palace IN Manila, Rev. w. d. McKinnon:
can assure you nothing could be more
unjust than the criticisms of Governor
Taft appearing In some Catholic papers.