The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-07-23
JUDGE TAFTss LAST NOTE.

Rome. July is. At noon today MAJ.
Porter of the Judge advocates depart
srnsnt of the army at Washington, per
senally delivered to Cardinal Rampolla
the Dapal secretary of State, the last
note oa Judge Taft, governor OF the
hillippine isands, on the subject OF
( The rev Withdrawal Of the friiars from the
islands. which viii presumably END the
governors negotiations here. as MAJOR
Porter simultaneously presented aieS-
Ter from Judge Taft asking for fare
wei audience of the pope.
The following is, In part, Judge
gpaft,s note to the Vatican. 1t IS ad-
iIresssd to Cardinal Rampona, Papal
sscretary of State, and begins, thus:
.eIn reply to the two notes OF your
Eminence Of June q and July 8. 1
hlaye inst received Communication
! from the Secretary Of War, Mr. Root,
IN nyecise and exhaustive terms, which
arg hsre reproduced integrauy. Sec
retary Root says he is glad TO see by
4hs two notes received from the ,Vati-
can THAT the Holy Seesis animaJed Dyi
the best intentions TO come 70 an m
dersSanding with Washington ABOUT
the relations between Church and State
IN the Philippines; that ycur Emil
nence has declared the Vatican to be
disposed to give clear and precise
instrucsions to the friars TO occupy
tTlamselyes with religion only, abstain
inc entirely from politics, and that the
Holy See proposes TO introduce, little
fby little. ecclesiastics Of other ma
S;onalities especially American. Sec
retary Root adds that he cannoS 90
less than acknowledge the wisdom ef
these propositions, but he must OBJ
serve that they wonld not solve the
question.
The United States has 40 desire to
violate the treaty of Paris and seeks
not a forcible, but a voluntary with
draEal of certain persons, who happen
"a, be Spaniards, and whose previous
eyneriences in the islands had thrown
them into antagonistic relations with
fhe people and with the Catholic laity
and native clergy, many of whom have
left their parishes and can only De
reinstated by using material force,
which the United States cannot permit.
This proves that the Government OF
t9,e Philippines has no intention to
propose measures contrary to the IN
+erests of the Vatican, and, IN fact, It's
interest in the Church. If the cues
tion of withdrawal be left unsolved,
now that the Washington Government
has persuaded the ecclesiastical au-
thorities to see the necessity OF carry
cont this step, the later withdraw
al Of the friars under order Of the reli,
gious d superior could not be regarded
ss ANYTHING but voluntary, and would
not Violate the treaty Of Paris; nor
coIsId con such order be regarded as affirm
;Sp or admitting any accusations
aos;nst s the friars because the Amen-
eaa eG Government made no such accusa-
ton. tier The United States did not
desire s. the withdrawal fcr itself.lt was
;n6iferent md. to the presence OF the
fr;ars f But, in the interest OF the
whole people of the Phillpplnes' VINO
were = bitterly opposed to their pres
0sI 1T was thought, by the generous
nrnnosal of a contract which would
hind the Philippine Government TO
certain financial and other obilgaglons,
to secure the much ,longed-for oeslLe
.oi ~ tSe Philippine people in the Wlsn,
drawal Of the friars. Now snas 1 see ae.
Vatican does not see It's way clear 20