The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12
PROSECUTING
NOT ALLOWED
Wright Answers The
Catholic Times.
INVESTIGATION IS MADE
Schools of Manila on Nom
Sectarian Basis.
Head Of Normal School Was Never
Clergyman and Never
Occupied a Pulpit in Manila
or Anywhere Else.

Washington. July u.-Secretary Root
has addressed an Identical letter to per-
sons complaining that teachers in the
Philippines have been PROSECUTING and
attempting to convert Catholics to the
Protestant faith. It is as follows:
Il beg to advise you that on the NTH
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 circulated, that
official positions in the public school SER
vice in the Philippines have been used
for proselyting purposes, especial refer.
ence being made to an article which had
just appeared in the Catholic Times.
THE following dispatch has been re-
ceived from Governor Wright:
Manila, July y
Secretary of War, Washington:
Referring to telegram from your office
of sixth instant. charges made by Catho-
lie Times unfounded in every essential
particular. Untrue that nearly all
American teachers are Protestant
preachers and proseIyters. The fact Is
one division superintendent was preach
ing in the United States a short time.
then became teacher; possibly two or
three similar instances among teachers.
Bryan Not a Clergyman.
Bryan, head of normal school, was
never clergyman, and never occupied
pulpit here or anywhere. There are now
two American Catholic teachers in the
school of instruction Normal school),
and FIVE IN Manila city schools Native
teachers In city number one hundred and
forty, all Catholic. Untrue that teachers
of normal schools are PROSECUTING ana
that school graduates only Professionals.
Exceptional that any graduate Is other
than Catholic. Untrue Filipino 10 taught
that Professionalism brings enlightenment
and Catholicism ignorance and tyranny.
No reason to suppose that Stone. superin-
tendeht and Oliver. principal Manila
schools, bigoted or anti-Catholic Both
deny IL. as also the statement that
graduates of Catholic University have
been refused place in Manila and sent
into the wilderness Private secretary OF
Commissioner Moses, Catholic. also
private secretary of Atkinson, general
superintendent of public instruction, also
three division superintendents.
Have shown your cable to Rev. w. ID.
McKinnon. Catholic priest. a member OF
the Advisory Board of General lnstruc-
ton, who confirms this statement OF
facts made by me above.
Law to inaugurate public school sys-
tenn forbids religious instruction in
schools or school buildings. by priests
or preachers, out of school hours, upon
request of parents (see sectin is, act 30
this intended as concession to Catholic
sentiment.
All of Them Catholics.
q snn
employed in the isfands, all of whom
are Catholics. Teachers selected without
reference to religion and not allowed to
preach or teach religion in schools. No
discrimination against Catholic teach
ers. Wright
You will observe that the. statements
of this dispatch were confirmed by Fa-
Their McKinnon. a priest offieially con-
rected with the public school system. and
having the most thorough familiarity
with the existing conditions in the Phil
ippines. and who was formerly secretary
to Archbishop Chappelle. the direct rep
resentative of the Holy See in the Phil
ippines. The statements of the dispatch
appear to be further confirmed by re-
marks which are published in the news
papers at a convention of the National
Educational Association at Minneapolis"
The Secretary then quoted from the
address of Archbishop Ireland and con-
tnues:
None of the prelates of the Roman
Catholic Church, whose duty it is to safe
guard the interests of their church and
who are familiar with facts, have made
any such charges as are referred to in
the inquiry addressed to Governor Wright
and in his answer above quoted.
TT is the purpose of the Philippine
government to maintain in the archipel-
ago the same kind of free non-sectarian
instruction which exists in the United
the interest of religion and all religions.
No Discrimination.
THE Government means so far as II
possibly can, to give education to the
people of the islands, and 1t 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 or Protestant.
The laws already enacted in the Philip
pine Islands contain the following provis-
ions:
No teacher or other person shall teach
or criticize the doctrines of any church.
religious sect or denomination. or shall
attempt 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 vio-
late this section he or she shall. after
due hearing be dismissed from the pub
lie service
Conformity to this provision. in the
spirit as we'll as in the letter will be
strictly required. think the government
Of the Philippines is entitled to ask that
citizens of the United States shall not
assume or believe upon mere rumors and
improved statements, that the govern
ment is not in good faith enforcing this
law which 1t has made"