The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-09-20

Now in session at the Hague are
the arbitrators who are to adjust the
most unique, longest continued and
least heard of international dispute
that ever arose. 1t involves a vast
sum of money, and calries with it the
touching story of the rise and fall OF
one of the most remarkable of Amer
cas- historic religious institutions-th
chain Of Franciscan missions that
stretched along the western coast,
where its magnificent ruins are crumb-
ling today, pitiful reminders of the
glory of the past.
The controversy is between the
United States and Mexico over what
is known as the "pious fund.-" For
six decades this fund has been over
whelmed in the vortex Of the Mexican
treasury, but eight months ago the
State Department took up the case,
and a final settlement seems assured.
Sir Edward Fry of England and A.
Demartens of Russia are the arbitrat-
ors for the United States, and Mex
ico's representatives are Pagana Cue
mas Chilli Of Italy and Sovarnin Leh-
mann of Holland. At this meeting
they will select a fifth arbitrator, and
it is believed that before the end of
the month the full tribunal will have
completed it's task.
Intricately interviewer with the he
roic history of the early Spanish mis-
sions is this strange tale of the 'pious
fund of the CALIFORNIA;" Founded
more than two centuries ago to aid
the Jesuits in converting the Indians
on the Pacific slope and the southern
peninsula, it survives the vicissitudes
of time and the greed of pilfering moll-
archs.
Continued efforts by the Roman
Catholic Church in California for more
than quarter of century failed to
provoke response from the Land of
Manyana" until 1875. In that year
Mexico paid to the United States ac.
crued interest amounting to nearly
$1,OOO,OO0. 1t was asserted by the
dons that this payment extinguished
the claim, but now interest amounting
to more than another 81 100000 is due.
Payment of principal and interest is
to be arbitrated. Archbishop Riordan
of San Francisco has gone to The
Hague to present the Catholic Churcn's
claim.
Regarding the actual amount of the
pious fund no one can speak with cer-
tainty. The most reliable estimates
place it at $3,OOO,OOO, and upon sum
apploximating this figure the interest
is understood to be calculated. There
are varying estimates, however, of the
original value.
Mere figures can convey no idea of
the religious fervor, apostolic zeal and
human suffering that is bound up in
the history Of this fund. Its origin is
shrouded in the glamor of antiquity.
Great men Of the seventeenth century
freely gave of their worldly store to
hasten the evangelizaticn of the Span
ish possessions. Mighty conceptions
Of religious conquest spurred those
proud and naughty hidalgoes.
Few endowments have left such
lasting imprints ON civilization as that
of the dons. Fortified by this fountain
of wealth the Franciscan Fathers
pushed through the wilds of Califor-
MIA, establishing in the unexplored
country complete chain Of missions.
They braved the savagery and super
stitions of the natives and sent their
expeditions from Mexico as far north
as San Francisco.
Many tribes Of Indians We're gath
cred into the fold and transformed by
their labors into neophyte children of
the church. What great hopes, trials
and sorrows were experienced by these
intrepid men amid their almost super
human labors! But for the pious fund
these expeditions by land and sea
would have been impossible.
At a later period, fer want of its
golden strength, the missions-monu-