The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-12

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 11.-Sec-
rotary Root has addressed an Identical
letter to persons complaining that
teachers in the Philippines have been
PROSECUTING and attempting to convert
Catholics to the Protestant faith. 1t
is as follows:
81 beg to advise you that on the 9Th
of July, Vice Governor Wright, the
acting governor of the Philippines,
was requested to report by cable the
facts bearing upon the charge, which
has recently been extensively circulat
ed, that official positions in the public
schools service in the Philippines have
been used for PROSECUTING purposes,
especial reference being made to an
article which had just appeared in the
Catholic Times. The following dis
patch has now been received from
Gov. Wright:
Manila, July .9.-.secretary OF, War,
from your office. of the 9Th instant. the
charges made by the Catholic Times
We're unfounded In every essential par,
American teachers are Protestant
preachers and proselyters. The fact is
one division superintendent was preach
ing in the United States a short time,
then became a teacher. There are pos
sibly two or three similar instances
among; teachers. Bryan, head of the
and never occupied a pulpit here or any
where.
Teachers Mostly Catholic.
" There are now two American Catho-
lie teachers in the school of instruction
schools. the native teachers in the city
numbering 140, all Catholic It is I'M
true that teachers of normal schools are
PROSECUTING and that the school graduates
RrOCoStdntS. GXCPntlOn9l
any graduate is other than Catholic 1t
is untrue that the Filipino is taught that
and Catholicism ignorance and tyranny.
There is no reason to suppose that
Stone, superintendent and oliver, prin-
cipal, of the Manila schools, are bigoted
or anti Catholic. Both deny it, as also
the statement that graduates of the
Catholic university have been refused
erness. The private secretary of Com
missioner Moses is a Catholic, also the
private secretary of Atkinson, general SUI
perintendent of public instruction; also
three division superintendent.
have shown your cable to Rev.
William ID: McKinnon, Catholic priest, a
instruction, who confirms the statement
or facts made by me above. The law to
lhnaugurate the public school system for
bids religious instruction in schools or
school buildings by teachers, but allows
the same three days per week in school
e eTb1Idng So by priests or preachers out of
s..
This IS intended as a concession to
Catholic sentiment. There are about
$ s1aOaI native teachers employed in the
Teachers are selected without reference
TO religion and not allowed to preach or
teach religion in the schools. There is
ers.' 'o''0i-
Quotes Archbishop Ireland
You will observe that the statements
OF TINS dlSpatch We're confirmed by Rev
Father McKinnon, a priest officially con
nected with the public school system.
and having the most thorough Familiarity
with the existing conditions in the Phil
ttppl1nesi ana who was formerly secretary
resentative Of the holy see in the Phil
lpplnes. The statements of the dispatch
appear to be further confirmed by re-
marks which are published in the news
papers this morning as made by Arch
Dlshop ireland in speech delivered at a
convention of the National Educational
Inc secretary quotes from the adj
dress of Archbishop Ireland, and con
tinues:
None of the prelates Of the Roman
S lang &C church whose duty it is to safe
guard the interests of their church and
who are familiar with the facts has
m mace any such charges as are referred
70 Wrid IN the inquiry addressed to Gov.
wright and in his answer above quoted.
l am confident that they know better
what the facts are than unknown and
- - GoPOhoiole sources OF these adverse
statements.
No Religious Discrimination.
ut is the purpose of the Philippine
government to maintain in the archfpel-
ago the same kind of free non-sectarian
instruction which exists in the United
states, and which has proved to be for
the interest of religion and all religions.
Inc government means, so far as it pos
sIbly can, to give education to the peo-
pie. of the islands, and it will do this
without any discrimination for or against
any church or sect. 1t does not mean
mat any officer or teacher of the public
ScnOol system shall use his position to
build up or pull down any church what
eyer, whether Catholic or Protestant.
Inc laws already enacted in the PhiIip-
vision: W
=" No teacher or other person shall
teach or criticise the doctrines of anv
church, religious sect or denomination.
or shall attempt to influence the pupils
Tor or against any church or religious
sect IN any public school established un-
der this act: II any teacher shall in
shall, after due hearing, be dismissed
from the public service
CONFORMITY to this provision, in the
spirit as we'll as in the letter will he
strictly required l think the govern
ment OF the philippines is entitled to ask
that citizens of the United States shall
not assume, or believe upon mere rumor
eminent is not in good faith enforcing
this law which it has made
NO FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS.
H.. -. ar