The courier., 1902-08-23
Tbe Friars
wby tbegDNMsf &o

er Of this article, served as secretary
to the first United States commission
to the Philippine islands Because of
his experience and a special study he
has made Of the subject he is particu-
larly well qualified to pass an impartial
verdict upon the troubles with the
friars in the Philippines. Under the
title Of "Friars and Filipinos," Mr.. Can
nett translated DIR. Jose Rizars great
Tagalog novel, "Noli Me Tangere," a
work pronounced by President Schur-
man of Cornell to be the best book ever
written on the Filipinos. 1t has been
perused with interest by President
Roosevelt at his home at Oyster Bay)
Although Governor Taft has said
farewell to the pope and has left Rome
for Manila, the negotiations between
this government and the vatican in re-
gard to the friars and friars' lands in
the Philippines have not been conclud-
ed. The subject will be taken up again
from Manila and the probabilities are
that for months 1t will be one of the
most important questions before the
American people. The fact that re-
ligion enters into the problem has
aroused the interest of the whole ma
ton.
For the American people it is diff
cult to appreciate just what is the sit
uation in the islands that our govern
ment, through its representative, should
request, yes, almost demand, the with
drawal of the priests who are men,
bers of religious orders. But when
the facts are carefully studied it viii be
seen that the move, If carried out, will
do more to promote peace in our far Off
possessions than anything that has oc-
Cured since Admiral Dewey sailed into
four years ago.
But at the outset 1t must be under
stood by all that the action taken by
our government Is not intended as a
blow at the Catholic church. 1t is not
a step to promote the Protestant relig-
ion in the islands. Rather it is a step
which will first of all promote Cathol-
icism in the islands and when the
members of the Catholic church real
ize the exact situation they will, II is
safe to say, not object to the step taxi
en- by President Roosevelt, but will
agree that Archbishop Ireland, who
has made a careful study of the case.
was right when he said this was not a
time for criticism.
In the first place the Filipino is
devout Catholic He loves the Catholic
religion; the Catholic service appeals
strongly to his nature. 1t is to his
mind not so prosaic as the teachings of
the Protestants ,and if he can have it
from the hands of fathers whom he
holds in esteem and regard he will take
no other religion.
But the Filipino objects TO the Span
iards who now dominate the church in
the islands, and it is in Difference to the
wishes Of the native that the United
States government has taken decisive
steps in the matter. The protest is not
against the Dominicans, Augustins, Re-
coletos and Franciscans as religious o.
ganizations; it is not against native
priests, it is not against Catholic priests
of French, American, German or any
other nationality. The protest is against
the Spanish priests-the men who are
at present in the islands. the last ves-
tige of the cruel and corrupt govern
ment which has kept the Filipino from
developing apace with the other nations
of the globe.
The history in detail of the various
o-dorS of Tho friarS in the PhiliDDineS
would be quite as extensive as the
annals of the islands themselves. In
1565 the first missionaries of the