Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-06-12
INSTRUCTIONS 70 TAFT.
Mission of the Civil Governor of the
Philippines to Rome In No
Sense Diplomatic.
IT is PURELY A MATTER OF BUSINESS.
An Effort to Agree With the Ecclesiasti O.
Authorities at Rome On the Terms on
Which the Friar Lands May Be Ac-
CURED and . Source of Trouble Re-
moved.

Washington, June 7.-Secretary
Root yesterday sent to the Phlilp-
pine committees of the senate and
house textual copies of the instruc-
tions given by him to Gov. Taft Tor
his guidance in dealing with the
vatican respecting the acquisition by
the United States of the friars' lands
in the Philippines. These instruc-
lions were exhibited Thursday by
Gov. Taft to the vatican officials, nd
as will be perceived from their con-
text, served the purpose of creden-
tials. The text is as follows:
MAY 9, 1902.
"Sir. II is now apparent that congress
will not have acted upon the Philippine
commissions recommendations fesaruils
the purchase of friars' lands before the
time of you departure Tor Manila, wr not
therefore, as we had hoped, now receive
definite instructions, and proceed to take
such steps, in the execution OF speclnc
authority from congress. as should prop
erlv be taken before you return to. Ma
Mia. The committees of both houses nave,
however, reported favorably upon NE
commissions recommendatlons' ana ~
appears probable that congress VIII con,
firm their action. In view, therefore, o.
the critical situation of this subject. in
the Philippines, and of the apparent I'M
possibility of disposln ing OF 4ho fne Them her
selves. Hae president does not feel at no
erty to lose the opportunity Tor eHectSe
action afforded by your presence IN .ne
IN tentatively with the ecclesiastical su-
periors who must ultimately. determine
the friars' course of conduct, ana en-
deavor to reach. at least a pass OF
negotiation along lines which will be sat
isfactory to them and to the Phllpplne
government, accompanied by tlle lui VA
derstanding on both SIDES OF ne lacts anu
of the views and purposes OF the par.ies
to the negotiation, 80 that wnen congress
shalI have acted the business ray pre-
coed to a on .lusion without delay,
You are accordingly authorized, IN tne
course of your return journey to Ma
mia. to visit Rome and there ascertain
what church authorities have the power
to negotiate for and determine upon dar d
in the Philippine islands, and II you ma
as we are informed, that the officers OF
the church at Rome have, such power
and authority, you will endeavor 10 at
tain the results above Indicated. Any ne
potiations which you may enter upon are
always subject to the granting OF power
by congress to follow the negotlataons w
binding action. In any conferences ana
negotiations you will bear in nina me
Following propositions, which are deemed
to be fundamental, and which should pc
fully and frankly stated 10 the ollei siuo
in the negotiations: -.
!" I One of the controlling principles OF
our government Is the compress sepaia -
ton of church and state, with the entire
freedom of each from any. control or III
reference by the other. This prlnclple Is
imperative wherever American Juflsdlc-
lion extends, and no modification or
shading thereof can be a sup1ect LOT us
cuSsion.
2 It is necessary to deal now with the
results of establishing a government con-
trolled by this principle in the Philippine
islands, which have for centuries beeh
governed under an entirely dliIereht syS-
lem, with church and state closely united
and having functions of the one eXer-
cised by agents of the, other, Where tne
J church has long controlled and acted w
tually as the agent of the state IN tht
field of public instruction, and public
Charities, and has from time to time &C
quired large properties held by IL or ns
its subordinate corporations or olacers
for these public uses. A novel s1tuatlor
has been created under which the ad1ust.
, ment' of means to ends appropriate &c
= the former system entirely fans 10 pro
, duce the intended result under the new
: system, and the separation of church anc
state requires to be followed by a read
justment and Encouragement IN the IN
~terests both of church and OF STATE aiis
for the attainment of the great ends Of
civil government, of education, OF charity
= and of religion.
t 2. BY reason of the separation, the re
ligious orders can no longer PERFORM, II
behalf of the state, the duties In relation
to public instruction and public charltle:
formerly resting upon them, and tn,
power which they formerly exercised
!. eminent, being now withdrawn, they fin
themselves the objects of such hostilit
on the part of their tenantry agains
them as landlords, and on the part IT, {
as Representatives of the former govern
O ment, that they are no onger capable 9
:. serving any useful purpose FOR tn
8 church. No rents can be collected iron
= the populous communities occupying thei
lands unless it be by the intervention o
the civil government with armed force
b Speaking generally, for several years pas +
parishes, have been unable to remain a
II their posts, and are collected in Manil
!, with the vain hope of returning. The
Ii will not be voluntarily accepted again b
v the people, and can not be restored t
their possessions except by, forclble II
u PREVENTION on the part of the civil go'
" eminent, which the principles OF our &c,
eminent forbid. 1t Is manifest that und'
- these conditions it Is for the interest,
t1e church, as we'll as for the state, thu
40 the landed proprietorship of the religion
IL orders in the Philippine islands shou
es cease, and that If the church wishes, a
of course, 1t does, to ~continuel Its mini
trations among the people of the islant
and to conduct in its W behalf a sy
n. no desire to interfere, 1t should see
" other agents therefor.
4. 1t is the wish our government,
sx case congress shall grant authority, tn
~ the titles of the religious orders to t
a large tracts of agricultural n viii,
he they now hold, shall be e~Xtinguished, b
that a full and fair compensation shall
Us. made therefor. .
nh 1 It is not, however, deemed to be (
-. the interests of the people of the Phil
NJ pine islands that in thus transformi
wholly unproductive tracts of lands In
money capable of productive investmel
a fund should thereby be created to
'' used for the attempted restoration of
lin friars to the parishes from which tn
III are now separated, with the conseque
ms disturbance of law and order.
6. The titles to the great amount
church lands and buildings in the ISLAM
'ed other than those of the religious orde
H. and now apparently owned by the sta
49,. should be settled fairly.
ast Z. Provision should be made for asc'
tanning what rentals, II any, ought 10
maid for converts and other church bui
ings which have been occupied by Unit
state troops during the insurrection Z
TX being, of course, a subject FOR the 81
-, cifc action for congress.
or s. The rights and obligations remain
Ter under the various specific trusts for
ucation and charity, which are now
the tied by agreement, If possible, rather Il
by the slow and frequently disastr'
led processes of litigation, so that the ben
srs, cent purposes of these foundations II
get, O. Your errand will not he in any Sc
eat or degree diplomatic in its nature, but
far be purely a business matter, Of ne
ior tiating by you, as governor or the =
DER ippines for the purchase Of property Fl
he owners thereof, and the settlement
nay lands in such a manner as. to cont
nal ute to the best interests Of the people
rho the islands.
ne ANY assistance which you may de-
tic. whether on the part of the officers OF
civil government or of the military {
GERS, to enable you to perform the az
above described, in a manner. satisfact
ing to yourself, will be afforded; but the b
ness is left entirely in your hands, s
ace iect to such action as may be taken
fish suant to law upon your report.
ded ELIHU ROOT,
en-. Secretary Of Wa
don. WIi,iaIl =. Wa1stngton r. G