Evening star., 1902-03-04
THE FR|AR. PROBLEM
Attitude of the Vatican to
the Question.
THE POPE'S POSITION
CHURCH OF ROME LOOKS
AsKANCE AT TAFT COMMISSION.
The Sacred College Inclined to Support
the Troublesome Ecclesiastics
in the Philippines.
THE POPE'S POSITION


The settlement of the Philippine question,
which is in large part religious and eccie-
siasticai, is at present the most important
problem which the Vatican has before 1t.
After the termination of the Hispano-
American war. when the Philippines came
under the supremacy of the United States,
the Washington government saw at once
the necessity Of an understanding with the
Vatican so as to facilitate a definite set
tlement Of the affairs of the islands. Mr..
Mckenna. then Attorney General was
charged by President Mckinley to take
the necessary steps to this end, and he
found In Cardinal Gibbons. to whom he
turned. willing. enlightened and patriotic
medium for the laying of the desideratum
of the executive before the holy see.
The chief point in this problem consisted
In the withdrawal of the frairs, to whom
all the evils of the unfortunate Filpinos
are attributed. The negotiations with the
Roman Curfa were ably conducted by
the archbishop of Baltimore that they
were. on the whole. most satisfactory. and
the Vatican appeared to agree with the
views expressed from Washington. How
ever, from that moment dates the first
hitch. due to the different methods of pro-
cedure on the part of Washington and
Rome. and to different readings of yes
and no" To the Americans yes meant
that the friars would leave, if not at once,
at least within a limited period, while to
the Vatican 1t signfied a lengthy process
to be consummated in an unlimited time.
Appointment of Chapelle.
When a prelate came to be appointed to
carry out in the Philippines the plans which
on both sides 1t was believed had been
agreed upon Cardinal Gibbons proposed
Monsignor Chapelle. a great favorite of
his. whose career he has been instrumental
In flrthering, although by many the arch
bishop Of New Orleans was not SO highly
considered. The cardinal however, it
seems made this choice for-besides his per-
sonal liking-two reasons: Because Mon
s1gnor Chapelle, during his sojourn in
W washington as pastor of st. Matthew'S.
had become socially acquainted with the
people OF the highest standing in politics,
and because, although an American citizen
and archbishop. he is French by birth.
Cardinal Gibbons thought to thus please
the Vatican, which. notwithstanding the
universal character of the Roman Church,
leans toward the Latins. and looks askance
at the modern ways and ideas of the An
glo-SaXOns whom she desires to curb by
the appointment of Latin prelates to the
higher positions.
The manifestation Of this tendency began
with the sending of Monsignor Satolli. now
cardinal as papal delegate to Washington,
followed by Monsignor Martinelli. still
the choice of Monsignor Chapelle as apos-
tolic delegate to Cuba and the Philippines,
and that Of MOnsignor Sbaretti as arch
bishop of Havana, who is now to replace
Monsignor Chapelle at Manila. while the
same attitude is seen in the already am
nounced nomination of Monsignor Falconio,
another Italian. TO succeed the present del
egate at Washington. =
Strained Relations.
Monsignor Chapelle who has never
ceased to be archbishop of New Orleans,
and was already apostolic delegate in Cuba,
when appointed in the same capacity to
the Philippines. asked to come to Rome be-
fore going to fill his new post. The Amer
lean government was somewhat surprised
that when starting for Manila Archbishop
Chapelle was appointed apostolic delegate
there. thus being in direct dependence on
the holy see. The divergence in the reading
of the agreement supposed to have been
decided upon became more evident when
the new apostolic delegate entered upon his
duties.
He thought he was faithfully following
the instructions received from Rome. while
the American officials considered him almost
a traitor. Meanwhile his posit ion soon be-
came untenable. Monsignor Nozaleda de
Villa. the Spanish archbishop Of Manila
quarreled with him and accused him of in
tentiona!ly ignoring the rights granted to
the friars by the treaty of Paris. which
ceded the archipelago to the United States;
the military authorities accused him Of con-
spring with the insurgents, and the COM
plants went to such lengths that General
Otis threatened to have him arrested
Meanwhile the Vatican was not entirely
satisfied with his work because of the an
tlpathieS he aroused and the management
of the difficulties he encountered, SO he was
recalled, and kept in Rome for about a
year. so that advantage might be taken Of
the knowledge Of men and things he had
acquired during his sojourn in the Philip
pines. and thus more favorable condition
OF affairs be prepared for his successor.
Cardinals Divided.
At the Vatican. even among the cardinals
opinions are divided as to the best policy to
follow with regard to the friars. Some
have openly declared the advisability of re-
moving them as soon as possible from the
islands. Among these are Cardinal Satolli,
who because of his long service in the
United States. Is more competent to judge
the feelings and wishes of the American
people than the other members Of the
Sacred College: Cardinal Agliardi. one Of
the cleverest. most enlightened and pro-
gressive Of the princes Of the church. who
distinguished himself as papal nunco at
Vienna: and. finally. Cardinal Cavagnis,
Who. speaking Of the Philippines, said Obi
SOgna fare casa Ova,' chara cterstic
phrase which means "We must clear the
house" However. the party favorable, IL
not to the maintenance Of the religious
orders. at least to the recall Of the friars in
such a gradual way as to take a very long
f..lyy