The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-07
INSTRUCTIONS
TO GOV. TAFT
Sent to Senate by Secre-
tary Root.
MISSION NOT DIPLOMATIC
Acts Merely as Business
Agent Of United States.
Situation Of the Friars in the Philip
pines Set Forth, and Necessity
for Purchase Of Their
Lands Shown.

w dSntDEJOHs JQn6 u~0cAlttdhS @hoS~
today sent to the Philippine Committees
of the Senate and House the actual copies
Of the instructions given by him to Gov
ernor Taft for his guidance in dealing
with the Vatican respecting the acQuisi-
ton by the United States of the Friars
lands in the Philippines. These instruc-
lions were exhibited yesterday by Gov
ernor Taft, to the Vatican officials. and.
as will he perceived from their context.
served the purpose of credentials. The
text is as follows:
May 9, 1902, Sir.-It Is now apparent
that Congress will not have acted upon
the Philippine Committees recommended
tons regarding the purchase of Friars
lands before the time of your departure
for Manila, which cannot be longer delay
ed oYu cannot. therefore. as we had
hoped, now receive definite instructions
and proceed to take such steps in the
execution of specific authority from Con-
gress. as should properly be taken before
your return to Manila. The committee
of both houses have. however. reported
favorably upon the commissions recon-
mendations and 1t appears probable that
Congress will confirm their action.
Critical Situation.
In view, therefore, of the critical situa-
ton of this subject in the Philippines and
of the APPARENT impossihility of disposine
of the matter there by negotiation with
the Friars themselves, the President does
not feel at liberty to lose the opportunity
for effective action afforded by your
r l. ILL.
take the subject up tentatively with the
ecclesiastical superiors who must ulti-
mately determine the Frisrs course OF
conduct and endeavor to reach at least
a basis of negotiation along lines which
will be satisfactory to them and to thu
Philippine Government accompanied By
a full understanding on both sides of the
facts and of the views and purposes oil
the parties to the negotiation, so thai
when Congress shall have acted the bust
ness may proceed to a conclusion without
delay.
You are accordingly authorized. II
course of your return journey to Manila
to visit Rome and there ascertain what
church authorities have the power to ne
gotiate for and determine upon sale Of
the lands of the religious orders in the
Philippine Islands. and If you find. as we
are Informed, that the officers of the
church at Rome have such power ano
authority. you will endeavor to attain the
results above indicated.
Subject to Congress.
ANY negotiations which you may enter
upon are always subject to granting pi
power by Congress to follow the negotia'
tions by binding action. In any con
ferences and negotiations you will bear ir
mind the following propositions which are
deemed to be Fundamental and which
should he fully and frankly stated to the
other side in the negotiations
First-One of the controlling principles
of our Government is the complete sepa'
ration of the church and State with the
entire freedom of each from any contro
or interference by the other. This princi-
pie Is imperative wherever American ju'
risdiction extends. and no modification OF
shading thereof can be a subject of dis
cussion.
Second-It Is nc cesEary now to deal with
the results of a Government controlled
by the principle In the PHILIPPINE Islands
which have for centuries been governed
under an entirely different system, with
church and State closely united and hav-
ing functions of the one exercised by
agents of the other: where the church sc
long controlled and acted virtually as the
agent of the State in the field of public
instruction and public charities, and ha:
from time to time acquired large proper
ties held by 1t or by its subordinate cor
porations or officers for these public uses
A Novel Position.
A novel situation has been created un
der which the adjustment of means ant
ends appropriate to the former system
entirely fails to produce intended results
under the new system, and the separa
ton of church and State requires to b.
followed by a readjustment and rear
rangement in the inter ests both Of churcl
and of State. and for the attainment o
the great ends of civil government. o
education, of charity and of religion.
Thirdly reason of succession, the re
ligious orders can no, longer perform II
behalf of the State the duties in relation
to public instruction and public charlie!
70 .merly resting upon them, and the pow
ers which they formely exercised through
their relations to tine civil government
being now Withdrawn. they find them
selves the objects of such hostility on the
part of their tenantry against them al
landlords, and on the part of the peopl,
of the parishes against them as represen
tatives of the former government. thai
they are no longer capable of serving any
useful purpose OF tne tHITcH. NO Tenls
can be collected from the populous com
munities occupying their lands unless II
be by the intervention of the civil govern
ment with. armed force. Speaking gen
orally, for several years past the Friars
formerly installed over the parishes, have
been unable to remain at their posts. and
are collected in Manila with the vair
hope of returning.
People Will Not Accept Them.
They will not be Voluntarily accepted
again by the people. and cannot be re-
stored to their possessions except ny
foIcibIe intervention on the part of tho
civil government. which the principles nj
our government forbid. 1t Is manifes
that under these conditions II is for th'
interest of the church AS we'll as thu
State that the landed proprietorship Of thu
religious orders in the Philippine Island
should cease and that If the churcl
wishes, AS of course il does. to continu
its minstration among the people of tn
islands. and to conduct In Its own behsl
system Of instruction. with which W