The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-07
ROOTS INSTRUCTIONS
TO TAFT MADE PUBLIC
Government Anxious to Separate Church and State
in the Philippines.
United States Will Pay Rent For Church Buildings Used to Quarter
Troops During War;

IL AsHINGTON, June. 6.-Seeretar,
w Root today sent 60 the PhiHppin,
committees Of the senate and hous,
textual copies of the instructions given
by him to Governor Taft for his guidance
i'm dealing with the Vatican respecting
the acquisition by the United States OF
the friars' lands In the Philippines.
These instructions were exhibited yes
terday by Governor Taft 20 the Vatican
officials and, as viii be perceived from
their context, served the purpose of ere
dentials. The text follows.
May g. 1902. Sir-It is now apparent
that congress will not have acted upon
the Philippine commissions recommended
tons regarding the purchase Of friars'
lands before time for your departure for
Manila, which cannot be longer delayed.
You cannot, therefore, as we had hoped.
receive definite Instructions and proceed
TO take such steps, I'm the absence of
specific authority from congress, as
should properly be taken before your re-
turn TO Manila. The committees OF both
houses have, however. reported favOrably
upon the commissions recommendation.
and IL appears probable that congress will
confirm their action. i'm view, therefore,
of me critical situation of this subject
in the Philippines and of the apparent inn
possibility OF dispOSing of the matter
there by negotiation with the friaFs them
selves the president does not feel at lib
action afforded by your presence in the
west.
To Negotiate With Those in Power.
tie wishes YOU to take the subject up
tentatively with the ecclesiastical super
iors who must ultimately determine the
friars' course of conduct and endeavor
70 reach az least q basis of negotiations
along lines which will be satisfactory TO
them and TO the Philippine government.
a "a N an
both sides of the case. and the views and
purposes of the parties 10 the negOtia-
tious. 50 that when congress shall have
acted the business may proceed To- con-
clusiOn without delay.
You are accordingly authorized. i'm the
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 a 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 al Rome have such power and
authority, you viii epdeavor to obtain
the results above indicated. ANY negOtia-
tlnns which you may enter upon are al
ways subject to granting of power by
congress to follow the negotiations by
binding action. In any conferences and
negotiations YOU viii hear in mind the
following points, which are deemed TO
be fundamental and which should be
fully and frankly stated to the other side
In the negotiations:
Insist on Separating Church and State
81 One of the controlling principles Of
our government is the complete separa-
ton of church and state. with the entire
freedom of either from any control or in
reference by the other This is fmpera-
tive wherever American jurisdiction eN-
tends. and no modification or shading
thereof can be a subject of discussion.
2- Tt is necessary to deal now with the
results Of establishing a government
controlled by this principle lon the Phil
ippine Islands. which have for centuries
been governed under an entirely differ
ent system, with church and state closely
united and having functions of the one
exercised by agents of the other. where
the church has long controlled and acted
virtually as the agent of the state i'm the
field Of public Instruction and public
charities and has from time to time ac-
guired large properties held by it or by
Its subordinate corporations or officers
for these public uses. A novel situation
has been created, under which the adj
iustment OF means 60 ends appropriate
10 the former system entirely fails 10
produce the intended result under the new
system. and the separation of church and
state requires 20 be followed hy a read
iustment and Encouragement I'm the inter-
ests both of church and of state, and for
the attainment Of the great ends of civil
government of education, of charity and
OF religion.
90. BY reason Of the separation the re-