Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-18
IAFT'S Visit 10 ROME
He Goes to Interview the Vati-
can Relative to Philippine
Friars.
Will Endeavor to Have Them
Transferred and Foreign
Priests Substituted.
Protests Of the Protestants in
America Based on Misin-
formation.

Washington, April iS.--The Protest
ant churches are beginning To send
protests to Washington against what is
called diplomatic relations with the
holy see in Rome .,acause Governor
Taft is to visit Rome and have an au-
dience with the pope before he returns
to the Philippines
These protests seem to be based for
81 large part on misinformation. The
administration has no idea of orening
up negotiations of purely diplomatic
character with the holy see, nor will 1T
enter into any negotiations with the
Catholic church for the purchase of the
friars' lands. All such negotiations will
be conducted in Manila by the COM
mission, and with the representatives
of the church societies who hold title
TIC the lands.
The visit Of Governor Taft to Rome
is of an advisory character. He goes
to present to the pope dlsinterestcd adj
vice relating to the character of priests
who shall be sent to the Philippines to
quiet the hostility there is now against
the friars. 1t is not a question relat-
ing to other religious sects. for there
are none other than Catholics in the
Philippines.
The disposition OF the friar; and
their lands in the Philippines is one of
the delicate questions before +ile adj
ministration. The Philippine commits
sion has recommended that it be given
the power by congress to issue bonds
for the purchase of the friar lands, be-
cause by careful investigation, it is the
judgment of the commission that the
religious societies in the Philippines
have good title to their lands They
make this recommendation because of
| the absolute hostility of the Filipino
people. to the friars, so that it is not
safe to allow them 70 return to their
| parishes.
| In the rebellion against Spain there
were about fifty of the friars killed.
There were about 800 imprisoned who
were released by the American troops.
These friars are still il Manila. They
do not care to return to their parishes
for they would be murdered. The Phil
ippine commission is, therefore. con-
fronted with the delicate task OF set
ting this question without resorting to
force. Governor Taft hopes that the
purchase of the friars' lands will open
the way for the removal of the friars to
other countries and the introduction of
other Catholic priests who viii not
arouse the hostility of the people and
lead to disorders.
The question before the commission
and before the administration in
Washington is the removal of the friars
from the Philippines without the APP
pearance of hostility OH the part IF this
government to any particular church.
AS a government the United States has
no power to compel the friars to leave
the islands. 1t is this question which
makes it seem advisable that Governor
Taft should visit Rome and have an
audience with the pope before he re-
turns to the Philippines. 1t is believed
that he can so present The situation to
the pope as to convince him that it is
to the interest of the church as veil as
to the government that the friars now
in the Philippines should be sent else
where and that Catholic priests TO take
places should be sent from the United
States or from Europe.
Governor Taft has had interviews
with Archbishop Ireland. Cardinal Glib
hons and other Catholic dignitaries in
this country. and he has Convinced
them that his plan is the only one to be
adopted that will allow the church to
continue its work in The Philippines
without seriously embarrassing the
civil government there. Archbishop
Ireland is said to believe that the ques
ton can be so presented to the pope
by Governor Taft that ne will authorize
the removal of these FRI ars.