The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-07
The FRIARS MUST GO
NsTRUCTIoNS TO GOV. TAFT MADE
PUBLIC.
UNPLEASANT NEWS FOR POPE.
THEIR DAYS IN PHILIPPINES ARE
NUMBERED.

with which Gov. Taft Goes to the
Vatican-SecretaryR Root Sets Forth
Plainly the Reasons for This
Course-COmpIete Separation of
Church and state and the Removal
of a Certain Cause of Friction the
Two Objects in View.
Washington, June 6.-Secretary Root
to-day sent to the Philippine commit
fees of the Senate and House textual
4 COPIES of the Instructions given by
him to Gov. Taft for his guidance in
dealing with the Vatican respecting
the acquisition of friars lands in the
i Philippines by the United States. The
Instructions are dated May g. 1902, and
after referring to prospective legisla-
Il ton respecting friar lands, direct Gov.
Taft to take up the subject tentative
" with the ecclesiastical superiors,
who must ultimately determine the
friars' course of conduct and endeavor
to reach at least a basis of negotia-
tons along lines which will be salts
factory to them and to the Philippine
8 government, so that when Congress
shall have acted the business may
4 proceed to a conclusion without de-
lay
The Instructions proceed:
You are accordingly authorized, in
the course of your return journey to
Manila, to visit Rome and there ascer-
tain what church authorities have the
power to negotiate for and determine
upon a sale of the lands of the rel-
4 glous orders in the Philippine Islands
4 and if you find, as we are informed,
4 that the officers of the church at Rome
4 have such power and authority you
& will endeavor to attain the results
4 above Indicated Any negotiations
which you may enter upon are always
4 subject to granting of power by Con-
4 gress to follow the negotiations by
binding action. In any conferences
y and negotiations you will bear in mind
the following propositions, which are
A deemed to be fundamental and which
should be fully and frankly stated to
Il the other side in the negotiations
First. One of the controlling prin-
ciples of our government is the com
pete separation of church and state
with the entire freedom of each from
any control or Interference by the
OlilcI Inns is imperative
II wherever American jurisdiction eX-
tends, and no modification or shading
thereof can be subject of discussion.
status of the Friars.
Second. It is necessary now to deal
with the results of establishing a gov
eminent controlled by this principle in
the Philippine Islands, which have for
centuries been governed under an en-
tlIelN different with nbt1rpI1 nd
state closely united, and having fnnc-
tons OF the one exercised by agents
OF the other; where the church has long
controlled and acted virtually as the
agent of the state in the field of public
instruction and public charities, and
mas from time to time acquired large
properties held by it, or by it's subor-
innate corporations, or officers for these
public uses.
Ihlrd. By reason of the separation
me religious orders can no longer per-
form IN behalf of the state the duties
III Telaton to public instruction and
puoIlc charities formerly resting upon
mem and the power which they for
HIeIi exercised through their relations
10 me civil government, being now
WIthdraWn, they find themselves the
ooJecls OF much hostility on the part
OF Lhelr tenantry against them as land
NtN O4l TIE part OI the people OF
me parishes against them as represen-
tatVes of the former government. that
my are no longer capable of serving
any use1ul purpose of the church No
tTIuS can be collected from the pop
ulouS communities occupying their
ANUS unless it be by the intervention
UI me civil government with armed
IoIce' Speaking generally for several
SedIS past the friarS, formerly installed
o1er the parishes, have been unable to
.5Hlain at their posts. and are collect
nope of returning. They will
b hu' De voluntarily accepted again
lhe people, and cannot be
fSCQIed to their positions except by
49, lpie intervention on the part of the
o a' Il government, which the principles
~ our government forbid 1t is mani
f. mat under these conditions it is
a. .ne interest of the church as we'll
a. OIL the state that the landed pro-
~ 10Ishlp of the religious orders in
me Philippine Islands should cease
CO.. +lu mat If the church wishes, as of
n1i..ee II does wish, to continue its
;sil -'-SlIdtlon among the people of the
b a1t and to conduct in it's own be-
~ w. d system of instruction, with
f. H l(, we have no desire to interfere,
LIQUID seek other agents therefor.
- III. - IS the WISH OF our gov
stIiIent' IN case Congress shall grant
ee{uaInorlty, that the titles of the reli-
T;c, us orders to the large tracts of ag-
s tbSII1ural ladies which they now hold
- 'al De eXtinguished, but that full and
60 improvisation shall be made there
Friars Must Not Return.
70 mn. 1t is not. however. deemed
- '7 ior the interests of the people of
Fhlhppine Islands that in thus
tr-uSlormlng wholly unproductive
us OF land into money capabl of
he 'uuuctlve investment, a fund should
IHereby created to be used for the
Hpted restoration of the friars of
So parishes from which they are now
hparated with the consequent distur-
zee OF law and order
oINth. The titles to the great
a. unit OF church lands and buildings
ref. ne Islands. other than those of the
ot7lous orders and now apparently
fsf.l by the state should be settled
fo 'eVenth- Provision should be made
aScertaining what rentals II any,
-AHt 10 be paid for converts and 9TH
,nurch buildings which have been
"pied by United States troops dur
.- me instruction. this being OF
~ subject TO further specific ac-
g by Congress
Lishth. The rights and obligations
lining under the various specific
,,.- Tor education and cha rity.
d, are now IN doubt and controver-
40 'lght 20 be settled by agreement
f-sslple rather than by the slow and