Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-17

gladly receive as ministers of the Roman
Catholic religion any but those who are to
them the embodiment of all in the Spanish
rule that was hateful. If the friars return
to their parishes though only under the
same police protection which the American
government is bound to extend TO any other
Spanish subjects cOmmorant in these
islands, the people will regard it as the act
of the government. They have so long
been used to have every phase of their
conduct regulated by governmental order
that the coming again of the friars will DC
accepted executive order to them to
receive the friarS as curateS, with their
old, all-absorbing functions. 1t is likely to
have the same effect on them that the re-
turn of Gen. Weyler under American
commission governor of Cuba would
have had on the people of that island
Those who are charged with the duty Of
pactfyng these islands may, therefore,
properly have the liveliest concern In a mat
ter which, though on its surface only &C.
clesiastica, is, in the most important phase
of 1t. political and fraught with the most
critical consequences to the peace and good
order OF the country in which 1t is their
duty to set up civil government. We are
convinced that a return of the friars to
their parishes will lead to laWless violence
and murder, and that the people will charge
the course taken to the American govern
ment thus turning against 1t the resent
ment felt toward the friars. 1t is to be re-
membered that the Filipinos who are in
sympathy with the American cause in these
iSldluS DIS bitterly opposed to the fr,arS
as the most irreconclable insurgents, and
they look with the greatest anxiety to the
course to be taken in the matter 1t Is sug-
gested that the friars, if they returned
would uphold American sovereignty and be
ef1ic!ent instruments in securing peace and
good order, whereas the native priests who
now I'LL the parishes are, many of them
actlVe lnsurgent agents, or in strong SYM
pathy with the cause. 1t is probably true
that considerable number of the F'ilipinO
priests are hostile to American sovereignty
largely because they fear that the Catholic
Church VIII deem it necessary, on the res
toTation OF complete peace, to bring back
the friars, or to elevate the moral tone of
the priesthood by introducing priests from
America or elsewhere. But it Is certain
that the enmity among the people against
the American government caused by the re-
turn OF the frars would far outweigh the
advantage of efforts to secure and preserve
tne arrogance OF the people to American
sovereignty which might be made by priests
who are still subjects of a monarchy With
which the American government has been
lately at war, and who have not the Slight
est syiiIPalhy WIN the political principles
OF civil liberty which the American governs
ment represents.
Issue Not to Be Ignored.
We have set forth the facts unon +his In,
| portant issue, because we do not think
they ought to be or can be ignored. We
earnestly hope that those who control the
policy Of the Catholic Church in tbese
islands, with the same sagacity and nre
! vision which characterizes all its imnortant
| policies, will see that It would be the most
unfortunate for the Philippine Islands. for
the Catholic Church and for the American
government to attempt to send back the
LrlarS, ana that some other solution of the
dlfhcuities should be found. The Question
Ior the prelate and statesman is mot
Whether the bitter feeling toward the friars
! Is justified or not, but whether ii EXISTS r.
| does not seem to u.s. therefore to aid in
| reaching conclusion to point out that all
the civilization found in the Philipnines Is
! Que TO the friars. Be 1t So Ought thew
| on TINS account to return to their parishes
! IN the lace OF deep, popular feeling
! against them? A popular bias or prejudice
/ ueep seated IN an ignorant people, Is not
| the test OF reason or evidence 1t must he
| reckoned with. 1t would, of course. he
OF much assistance to the American cause
II the catholic Church were to send among
| the people American priests with the love
| OF their country that they have ALWAYS
| shown and with that clear understanding
OF ciVu hnerty and conservative popular
! government. but 1t is said that such priests
, are not available for the work. This is a
| question OF purely church policy with
| which we have nothing to do 1t is enough
| TO say that the political question will he
| eliminated II the frtars are not sent back !
Property Of the Friars.
The friars have large property interests
| In these islands, which the United States
government is bound by treaty obligations
| and by the law Of it's being to protect. It
| Is natural and proper that the friars should
feel desire to remain where SO much az
their treasure Is Nearly all Of the Inn