New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-17
THE AMERICAN ATTITUDE.
NO MORE GENEROUS TERMS CAN BE Of
FERED TO THE vATICAN-WHY
FRIARS MUST GO
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.I
Washington July 16.-The tenor of the note
Governor Taft has just delivered TO the Vatican
is embodied in the following statement au-
thorized to-day by a high official of the govern
ment:
in seeking through Governor Taft to secure
the peaceful removal OF the friars of the four
orders from the Philippine Islands. IL must De
borne in mind that the American representa-
tives in the Philippine Islands have merely been
endeavoring faithfully TO carry out the wishes
OF the people. for which they feel themselves
peculiarly bound TO stand Ii must always be
remembered that ii is not the United states
Government which in any way objects 70 the
presence of the friars In the islands: IT Is the
Catholic population OF those islands The lay
Catholics. almost TO a man. and pracucaIlE All
of the parish priests are violently opposed to
the friars that they will not permit them 20
come back TO the parishes and. as matter Oh
fact hold their lands in hostile possession
One OF the avowed objects of the insured
tionary government under Aguinaldo was 10
confscate the friars lands without any COM COM
pensation TO the Church. The United states
authorities. recognizing the intensity and Dit
terness of this feeling among the F1llpinOs, ana
at the same time being deSirous OF acting with
the most scrupuIous fairness toward the Church,
were willing TO arrange for the purchase OF the
Church lands by the government II the Church
authorities would withdraw the friars, who are
not now and for years have not been. perform
ing their religious functions among the people.
and would replace them by other members oil
the Church. who might take up win greater
success the highly necessary religious work
which they are no longer able to perform
TAFT TO START NEXT WEDNESDAY.
This declaration is calculated 10 remove any
doubt that may exist in Rome as to The likeli-
heed of the United States tempOrizing with the
matter and to convince the Vatican that Secre-
ta-y Roots original instructions To Governor
Taft contained the most generous terms this
government could offer for the settlement OF the
problem. If they unacceptable Judge Taft
may as well continue his journey TO Manila, and
trust TO time bring about realization al
Rome of the hopelessness of any plan 10 restore
the friars to favor with the Filipino people
Just a week remains before Governor Tafts
departure from Italy, according to his itinerary.
which the authorities here do not propose TO
modify again, having already extended the
negotiations by term of two weeks 1t is un-
derstood here that the contract 10 be signed for
adjusting all the differences between church
and state is ready to be signed except that
clause relating to the removal of the four or
ders of Objectionable friars
If before the departure of Governor Taft for
Manila the Vatican has decided to accept the
terms respecting the sale OF the friars' lands
and the withdrawal of the friars themselves
from the Philippines. the papers will be signed
by Governor Taft and the arrangement will be
regarded as closed. If. on the other hand. the
the question is unable to accept the terms Of
fered or if it is not prepared 20 make a final
answer the Governor will still proceed on his
way and the negotiations will be suspended.
This decision on the part of Secretary Root
probably is the most important outcome or his
recent trip to oyster Bay, where the subject
was discussed with the President
STATUS OF FRIARS UNCHANGED.
1t does not follow that Governor Taft's re-
sumption of his journey without signing the
papers of sale and withdrawal means the abso-
lutte abandonment of the negotiations. Techni-
cally they will be regarded as merely suspended,
and so open 10 resumption at any moment when
either of the principals has had change OF
mind sufficient TO warrant a new proposition
Meanwhile there will be no change of the status
of the friars in the Philippines. Their lands viii
remain in the possession OF the insular govern
ment and the several hundred friars who are
tarrving in Manila charity charges upon
other ranches of the church probably VIII re-
main there or gradually find their way to an
other country IL is regarded as certain by the
adIninistratio that they will not undertake 10
return TO their Individual parishes in the Philip
pines.