Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-11
OBSERVING THE LAW
Proselyting Not Attempted
in the Philippines.
CHARGES UNFOUNDED
STATEMENT OF ACTING Gov
ERNoR WRIGHT.
Denied That There is Discrimination
Against Catholics-Testimony
in Confederation.
CHARGES UNFOUNDED

Secretary Root has prepared a circular
letter for use in replying to the many COM
plants which have been made to the War
Department recently regarding alleged
PROSECUTING in the Philippines. The text
of this letter is as follows:
July 10, 1902.
Dear Sir: l 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 bear
ing upon the charge, which has recently
been extensively circulated. that official
positions in the public school service in the
Philippines have been used for PROSECUTING
purposes, especial reference being made to
article which had just appeared in the
Catholic Times.
Gov. Wright's Telegram.
The following dispatch has now been re-
ceived from Gov. Wright:
"MANILA, July 0, 1902
Secretary of War; Washington.
Referring to telegram from your office
of 9th instant. charges made by Catholic
Times unfOunded in every essential partic
ular- Untrue that nearly all American
teachers are Protestant preachers and pros
elyters. The fact is, one division superin-
a short time. then became teacher. Posi-
bly, two three similar instances among
teachers. Bryan, head of Normal School
was never clergyman and never occupied
pulpit here or anywhere. There are now
two American Catholic teachers in School
of instruction Normal SCHOOL, and five in
Manila city schools. Native teachers in
city numbering 40 all Catholic.
Untrue that teachers of normal schools
are PROSECUTING and that school graduates
only Protestants. Exceptional that any
graduate is other than Catholic. Untrue
Filipino is taught that Professionalism bring
ing enlightenment and Catholicism ignor-
ance and tyranny. No reason to suppose
that Stone, superintendent, and Oliver,
principal Manila schools. bigoted or anti
Catholic. Both deny it, as also the state
ment that graduates of Catholic Univer-
sity have been refused place in Manila and
sent into the wilderness. Private secretary
of Commissioner Moses is Catholic, also
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 member of
the advisory board general instruction, who
confirms the statement of facts made by
me above, The law to inaugurate the pub
lie school system fOrbds. religious instruc-
ton in schools or school buildings by teach
erS, but allows same three days per week
in school buildings by priests or preacher
out Of school hours upon request of parents.
(See section Is, act ~ This intended as
concession to Catholic sentiment. There
about 3 400 native teachers employed in
the islands. all of whom are Catholics.
Teachers are selected without reference to
religion and not allowed to preach or teacn
religion in schools. No discrimination
against Catholic teachers. WRIGHT"
You Will observe that the statements of
this dispatch were confirmed by Father Nc
klnnon, a priest officially connected with
the public school system, and having the
most thorough familiarity with the exist
ir1cr 1a DI1i1i
was formerly secretary to Archbishop Cha
peie, the direct representative of the holy
see in the Philippines.
The statements of the dispatch appear to
be further confirmed by the following re-
marks which are published in the newspa-
pers this morning. as made by Archbishop
Ireland in a speech delivered at a conven-
tion of the National Educational Associa-
ton at Minneapolis yesterday:
Arch bishop Ireland's Remarks.
How unguarded and reckless and how
reprehensible many statements published
at the present time as from the Philippine
Islands. purpOrting to tell of dreadful deeds
of cruelty and injustice, for which on close
examination, no foundation in fact is
found. / shall name in this connection
one instance. which / am particularly
pleased to cenSure. \ little while ago Ger
tain Catholic newspapers raised the cry
that proselytisn was the order of the day
in the schools of Manila, the chief off
Gals, it was said, and the teachers In the
normal being regularly ordained ministers
who divided their time between the multi
plication table and tract reading The
matter was investigated and It was dis
covered that the chief officials and teach
erS in the normal Were not minister's and
that their own good sense, as well as the
strict rules of the government, held them
strictly to secular Matters
None of the prelates of the Roman Catho-
tC TO lfor II
the interests of their church, and who are
familiar with the facts have made any
Sucn charges as are referred to in the in
quiTE addressed to Governor Wright and
IN his answer above quoted. / am confident
that they know better what the true facts
are than the unknown and irresponsible
sources OF these adverse statements.
Aim of the Government.
1t is the purpose of the Philippine gov
eminent to maintain in the archipelago 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. The government
means, so far as it possibly can to give
education to the people of the islands, and
II Will do this without any discrimination
for or against any church or sect 1t does
not mean that any officer or teacher Of the
public school system shall use his position
to build UP or pull down any church what
ever, whether Catholic Protestant The
laws already enacted in the PHILIPPINES
contain the following provision:
NO teacher or other person shall teach or
criticise the doctrines of any church reli-
gious sect or denomination, or shall at
tempt to influence the pupils for or against
any church or religious sect in any public
school established under this act If any
teacher shall Intentionally violate this sec
ton he or she shall, after due hearing, be
dismissed from the public service"
Conformity to this provision, in the spirit
as well as in the letter, will be strictly re-
quired. 1 think the government of the Phil
ippines Is entitled to ask that citizens of
the United States shall not assume or be-
Heve upon mere rumor and improved state
ments that the government is not in good
faith enforcing this law which it has made
(Signed) ELIHU ROOT.
Secretary of War