The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-08-13
TH CATHOLIC FEDERlTloN.
A Grand Reunion IN Chicago of
Catholic Societies.

Chicago, Aug. 5The American
Federation of Catholic Societies met
this afternoon and evening at the
oung Mems Christian Association
Hall. In the afternoon, after the
addresses OF welcome by Dr. >.
Taylor. On behalf of Mayor Harrison,
and III GsrSen, on behalf of the
GathoIc societies of the city, the
Convention vert into executive session
and oragnized. Short addresses were
made hy Bishops Messmer. OF Green
Rav Wis, McFanl, OF Trenton, N. j.,
and by the president of the Fedora
tom It was evident from the tenor
OF the remarks made In the afternoon
That the Convention would not regard
tne manifesto of Archbishop ireland,
warning against a discussion OF the
Administrations methods IN the
Philippines
the evening meeting Bishop Nc
Fanf Wss Che principa speaker and
directed his attention TO the treatment
ssof the friars and the school question
Il The Philippines. The Bishop sasd
IN part
Tine calm, intelligent observer
g,ss,ss admit that some OF the state
naents made IN the public press re-
Uard3ino TIE situation IN She Phillip
1ines were either incorrect Or exagger-
ased. ..
There was, nevertheless, very
substantial foundation OF truth IN
most OF the reports, which amply
Justified the sttfctures made upon
those accountable for the abuse OF
power.
lo one Is foolish enough 20 admit
that In affairs Of SO important ma
sure mere denials are conclusive, par
icularIy when made by interested paEe
I'VE ties.had already been warned to
bg on our guard by previous contrad1c-
lions of representations which were
afterwards proved true and found worse
than at hrst suspected. hen the
news that The Cashelic churches IN the
Philippines were desecrated and looted
was told, officers Of high rank In the
army attempted to refute 5he cnarges,
vet the: desecrasIon and lootlng OF
those sacred edi6ces are socertasn that
claims for damages TO ecclesiastical
property viii be accepted by the Coy
eminent. zs. !.
Reports, too, Of the frightful
.saread Of drunkenness and immoral
FL after the occnpation of Mania by
the American army were vigorously as
sailed. Is there now anyone who mas
the audaeitY to qaession their trnSh9
Since thenw hare all heard OF the
water cure and The murdeTous orders
issued By an American general. Ihe
Derpetration of these oItrages was un-
known for q time they were, ho9ev-
;er. SO dagrant that it was impossible
IS keep them from the knowledge Of
6ha public. The introduction alone Of
the public school system was Just
cause for alarm. =
The speaker then declared that the
Federation is deeply interested IN OBJ
tanning just treatment for the friars
IN the Philippines, who had suffered,
he declared, so many cruel calum-
MES.
Bishop McFaul also charged that In.
the school teachers for the
Philippines discrimination had been.
practsced against the Catholics, be-.
causesof total OF nine hundred and
sixty-ssven teachers who, he said, had
been sent to the islands, but eighteen
Or nineteen we're Catholics.
The Impression has gone abroad, -
The Bishop said. that America is
furnishing educational fslci hties to the
Filipinos for the first time and that
the people were in state of dense ig-.
norance. This is another calumny.
Dnring centuries the friars dewitt with
the tribes Of the Philippines and it is
TO them that they are indebted for
whatever they possess of education.
and religion. They were chaste and
pure people, unaware Of many Of the.
vices of civilization until American.
soldiers occupied their SOIL