The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-23
VATICAN is SATISFIED
Continued From First Pace.


and vital. Patience, then, should have
been had; no haste should there have
been to lay blame upon the govern
ment, which was doing it's best to
bring order out of chaos, and above all,
no charges should have been made
against the intentions of the govern
ment.
Tribute to Roosevelt.
ut was the rankest rashness and
rankest injustice to intimate that the
government intended to proselytize in
the Philippines, or to do aught to de-
tach the inhabitants from the Catholic
faith. To know in the slightest degree
Mr.. Roosevelt, Mr.. Root or Mr.. 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 falr-minded and impartial
IN religious matters, more resolute to
give to all classes of citizens the re-
ligious rights granted them by the
constitution and to protect them in
those rights. than Theodore Roosevelt.
During his administration it is unquaI-
1f1edly absurd to imagine that govern
mental acts could be such as to deny
or impair the religious rights of any
people or tribe over whom floats the
American flag. AS to Mr. Taft I quote
from letter which I received but
yesterday from Catholic priest, living
in the archiepiscopal palace in Manila,
Rev. w. D. McKinnon: I can assure
you nothing could be more unjust than
the criticisms of Gov. Taft appearing in
some Catholic papers,
GOV Taft has not particle of big
otry IN his make up. In all his acts
mere L defy one to say that he has
SHOWN himself prejudiced in the least"
Al Al TINS GOES not mean that here and
there individuals connected in one way
or another with the government of the
islands did not say or do things un-
fair to Catholics; what 1 wish to en-
phasize is that such individuals, so
far as men of the kind may have been
found, did not in what they were say
ing or doing represent the government,
and that if their wrong doing had been
duly reported to the government it
would have been summarily reproved.
Respected Vatican's Wishes.
What stronger proof of fairminded-
ness in the settlement Of the religious
question of the Philippines could the
administration have given them to re-
spond 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 advisers? American
Catholics should be forever most CRATE
full to Mr.. Roosevelt for his noble ac-
ton in this regard, and should see in
itzthe assurance that whatever may be
done in the Philippines a spirit of high
mindedness and justice is sure to be
the dominant inspiration. Other gov
ernmentS would have gone to work in
their own way without a word being
said to the head of the church or a
counsel asked from him.
If the American government sin
cpT0IV hal hn
religious orders of the Philippines,
those that had been for centuries init
mately linked in with the Spanish
regime, its agents and representatives
were an obstacle to the pacification of
the islands, why see in this an opposi-
ton to the whole church, as if those
four orders were specifically the
church, and the native priests, the Jes-
uits, Capuchins and Lazarists, who are
not disturbed, did not also represent it,
and as II others, as well as the govern
ment officials, were not of the opinion
that the peace of the islands would be
much enhanced by the absence of the
landlord orders? And as to schools in
the Philippines, why not when the
presence of on-Catholic teachers is
talked of, state that out of total of
5000 teachers, $500 are Philippine
Catholics? Why not state that Father
McKinnon is a member of the school
OOdIu VI MduIld. ana why, Wnen
mention is made of non-Catholic teach
ers, allow the false impression to go
abroad that many of these were minis
tiers and active proselytiZers? And
why not remember that by the law of
the islands clergymen who are minis
ters in any place Of organized congre-
cations, may three times a week teach
religion in the school of the place, the
condition that they be ministers of or
gained congregations, virtually con-
filming the privilege to the Catholic
priesthood? Perhaps ideally something
more might be desired; but the condi-
tons within which the government is
confined must be considered; and, at
least, when disadvantages to religion
are quoted, the advantages that are al
lowed should also be set forth
But, / repeat, the agitation am re-
proving, only comes from the few
American Catholics as a body trust the
government-and in the present issues
trust the holy see, and hold their souls
in peace"