The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-07-25

should be Forever Grateful for the
Presidents Noble Action.
st. Paul, July 23.-Archibishop Ire
land. in an interview with the Asso-
ciated Press today, reviewed at some
length the progress of negotiations be-
tween Judge Taft and the vatican, and
took to task certain Catholic %DrganiZa-
tons that have assumed to question the
fairness of the administration toward
the cor-religionists.
The archbishop reviews the progress
of the negotiations at the vatican, and
the success attending them, emphasizes
the denial already made that the pope
is displeased at the action of the car
dinals, and confirms the report that the
, pontiff is entirely satisfied with the re-
splits thus far. He pays a high tribute
to Governor Taft's ability and sense of
justice. Then he pays his respects to
those who have alleged ~proselytizing of
the Catholics was being allowed in the
Philippines. and says:
And now it is to be hoped that there
will be among certain classes of Cath
olics in America a cessation of move
ments and declarations such as we have
had recent occasion to hear of regard
ing religious matters in the Philip
pines. The pope teaches those Catholics
to trust the American government, as
they seemingly have been perfectly un-
willing to do. In his conversation with
Governor Taft he expressed the highest
esteem for American methods of treat
ing church matters and remarked that
he had more than once pointed towards
the United States as setting an example
Up11 worth pnnyinO HE words niIoht
to signify to those who profess to take
him as their leader and guide. At any
rate the direction of Catholic affairs is
his business. not that of irresponsible
church societies or other PERSONS; and
when he informs Catholics that any one
matter is in his hands they ought
promptly to step aside and allow him
to have charge of it. The question of
religion in the Philippines now is for
mally and officially his own, and It
should be considered as such.
"A few there may remain who will
still believe they have a better under
standing of it than he has. and will in
sist on telling him how to handle it;
but such as those are the few, and at
least it will be clear that they hold no
brief whatever from the Catholic body
at large.
Agitation. such as it was in certain
Catholic quarters. did no honor to those
who participated in it. AS is now
proven. they smoke and acted without
due knowledge, and certainly without
proper regard for the government OF
their country"
The archbishop suggests that those
who have been finding fault should first
have been certain that the abuses really
existed. then proceed in a proper man
ner in seeking a remedy. 1t was to be
expected in making such radical
changes as were necessary in trans
ferring the government of the islands
to the United States there would be
some hardships. But lit was the rank
est rashness and rankest injustice to
intimate that the government intended
to proselytize the Filipinos or to do
aught to detach them from the Catholic
faith"
IN continuing, Archbishop Ireland
SAYS: ITO know in the slightest de-
gree President Roosevelt, Secretary
Root and Governor Taft is to be certain
that nothing of the kind could have
been thought of or could have been
tolerated. Never did there reside in
the white house a man more fair-mind-
ed and impartial in religious matters,
more r~esolute to give all classes of citi-
zens the religious rights granted them
by the Constitution and protect them
in these rights than President Theodore
Roosevelt. During his administration
it is unuualifiedly absurd to imagine
governmental acts could be such as to
denv or impair the religious rights of
any people or tribe over whom f1oatS
the American flag"
He Their quotes the letter of Father
McKinnon, now residing in the arch
episcopal palace at Manila, to prove
Governor Taft had no. the slightest
trace Of bigotry. Archbishop Ireland
admits there may have been individuals
who did the things complained of, but
they in no manner represented the gov
eminent, and if their w~rong-doing had
been reported to the government it
, would have been summarily reproved.
2 what stronger proof of the fair
m%indedness in settlement of the re-
ligious question in the Philippines
, could the administration have given
than to respond graciously to the wishes
, of the vatican that a messenger from
the American government should go to
Rome to discuss matters directly with
the pope and his advisors?" asks the
archbishop. and continuing says:
The American Catholics should be
forever most grateful to President
. Roosevelt for his noble action in this
regard.
= "And as to schools in the Philippines
= why not-when the presence of non
= Catholic teachers is talked of-state
. that II of a total of 5000 teachers
$500 are Filipino Catholics? Why moi
state Father McKinnon is a member Of
e the school board of Manila?"
9 In concluding the archbishop says
e But, / repeat, the agitation | am re
e proving only ZONES from the few
: American Catholics as a body trust the
d government-and in the present issues
e trust the holy see and hold their souls
u in peace"