The Irish standard., 1902-12-06
FRIARs ARE LANDLORDS.
The Reply Of Manila Priest 10
Father Hart,

Ine cnlrSe mas Deen maze tnat
lere is Il parallel between the friars
nd the Irish landlords. writes FIR.
'ermin p. San Julian in Il letter from
ianila to the Philadelphia Catholic
tandard and Times.
Let me consider more closely the
lSt quotation from Father Hart. My
lea of Irish landlordism was hither-
coupled with a picture of an absent
ord, sometimes good, sometimes bad
generally Indifferent, entrusting the
objection of his rents and the regula-
ion Of his tenants to an unconscion-
BILE and INSCRIPTIONS agent. We are
amiliar with the tyranny and the sad
history of Irish evictions. | cannot
ee wherein the slightest resemblance
.Xists between Irish landlordism and
he tenant conditions of the religious
corporations in the Philippines. The
enants of the friars could at any time
purchase land from the government.
Many of them did. Former tenants Of
he friars are among the most pros
,erOus natives. Most of the estates of
he present generation We're founded
III profits derived from tilling the
'riars' lands. The friars were most
generous landlords, as their books will
ihow. 1t was seldom that they did
lot forgive a part of the small rent
hey asked. They expended large
sums putting and keeping their ha-
'iendas in order. thus rendering them
msier for labor and more productive.
These are few of the reasons why
tenants of the friars We're considered
fortunate and the friars We're constant
ly importuned for leases. The tenants
leserve but little blame for refusing
o pay their just debts to the friars at
present. They did not create the tur-
noil. 1t was forced upon them by the
Kntipuneros and members Of the Fed
'lal party. They We're not only told
hat they need not pay the friars,
'ut were threatened with dire venge
,nce il they paid. The tenants knew
hat the threats of these people We're
,ot empty words. They had wit
!essed their many assassinatiOns.
Then again agents of the Katlpuneros
,ftpn collected the rents for them
elves. No one cares to pay twice
/ the United States people We're told
hat they need not pay their taxes. ]
I'M sure threats would not be neceS-
iary; few would insist OH paying.
Therefore. do not blame the poor
enantS. When the lnudS arc sold,
heir conditions will be deplOrabe in
Iced
IN Pangasinan this year more than
ifty' tenants refused to pay their rents
md We're sued. They were under the
impression that the government was
| lcaling the same with all. They knew
he tenants of the friarS did .!or have
o pay their rents. SO they naturally
udge gave sentence in favor of the
landlord, but the landlord was not 1,
trinr.
AT Naic. cavite province. Il judge
ordered that tenants pay the friars
he money due them. The judge was
considered out of order ana dismissed
~ the commission. Felipe CAlderon
VI the Fcderal party. Informed thu
friarS' tenants in Cnvite that the!
should not pay. Governor Taft call
Calderon 1.-The brightest of the Filipino
lawyers" At Saguna, L. l. Pardo d
Pnvera. member of the United State
, Philippine Commission and first pres
dent Of the Federal party. gave simila
Instructions to the tenants.
The courts have been closed agains
he friars Even the tribunal of pul
= lie opinion has been prejudced wit
= = nonstrous calumnies and errors il
: Vulnerable. Governor Taft says OF
y statements cannot be accepted as a
;, .urate." AS sample of Mr.. Taft
accuracy read page % of his last l.
port, wherein he claims that the I
igiOus orders are stocked with mel
)ers brought from the peasant ella
=" ,f Andalusia, "whose education d
" not enable them to resist temptation
- Among the religious orders here the
'e but one from Andalusia. ana
IL .omcs from a noble family. So mu
or Taft's accuracy. TO proceed wi
~ Gather Hart's accuracy: The Franc
u ANS whom he includes among
III lunsi-Irish landlords do not posse
~ my land in the Philippines to re
Gather Hart must therefore abnnd
III 'is contention that the friars are IL
ee ,d because they We're landlords.
~ egards being "civil agents of the Sp;
Is sh government" in any substant
NJ 'ense we never were. We were Oft
Al 'onsulted by the government otticil
IN ,ut We're under no obligations to &
OIL Information, to make our reports, {
Titles were thrust upon us even
ux aw, but they carried no duties w
tn hem. The Jesuits that were in cha
on Of parishes occupied exactly the sa
IN lttitude towards the government t
a We did. During the past year ant
les ,alf that l have been in my pres
'ck parish have been asked by Ameri,
sed officials to explain their behests to
in people. I have also been asked
Information concerning the charat