The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-12
Catholic PreIatcs Are Well Satisfied
with Conditions I'm the Islands,
and other. should BE.
CoURT-MARTIAL OF CAPT. RYAN
III Is CONCLUDED WITH EVERY EX-
PECTATIoN OF ACQUIITAL.
Defense of the "water Cure--RebeI
Generals Sentenced TO Impri.OB-
ment and Fine for High Treason.

WASHINGTON. July 11.-secretary Root
has addressed an identical letter TO persons
complaining that teachers in the Philippines
have been PROSECUTING and attempting 10
convert Catholics to the Protestant faith.
II is follows:
Il beg To advise you that on tho Fourth
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 ex-
tensively circulated, that official positions
in the public school service I'm the Philip
pines have been used for proselyting pur-
poses. and especial reference being made
to an article which had just appeared in
the Catholic Times. The following dispatch
has now been received from Governor
Wright at Manila. under date of July ?:
" Referring TO telegram from your Office
OF 6st inst, the charges made by the Cath
olic Times unfounded in every essential
particular. 1t is untrue that nearly all
American teachers are Protestant preachers
and proselyters. The fact is. one division
superintendent was preaching i'm the United
States short time then became A teacher.
There are possibly two or three similar in
stances among the teachers Prof BRYAN.
!
clergyman and never occupied a pulpit here
or anywhere.
" There are now two American Catholic
teachers in the school Of instruction Nor
NAL SCHOOL,. and five i'm Manila city schools
Native teachers i'm the city, numbering la.
are All Catholic II is untrue that teach
erS OF normal schools are proselyting and
that the school graduates only ProtestantS.
II IL exceptional that any graduate Is other
than Catholic. II is untrue that the Fill
pino is aught that Professionalism brings en-
lghtenment and Catholicism ignorance and
tyranny. There is no reason TO suppose
that Stone superintendent. and Olive.
principal. of the Manila schools are bigoted
OF anti-CathoIic. Both deny h. also the
statement that graduates OF the Catholic
University have been refused places In
Manila and were sent into the wilderness.
The private secretary Of Commissioners
Morse is a Catholic. also the private secre-
tary of Atkinson. general superintendent Of
public instruction. also three division super
intendents.
81 have shown your cable TO the Rev.
w. u. McKinnon. Catholic priest and
member of the advisory board general in
struction, who confirms the statement Of
facts made by me above. The law 10 in-
| sugurste the public school system forbids
religious instruction I'm schools or school
buildings by teachers, but allows the same
three days per week I'm school buildings by
priests or preachers. out of school hours,
on request of parents. fSee Section Is Act
TAI This Is intended as "A concession 10
Catholic sentiment There are about 340
native teachers employed in the islands,
all Of whom are Catholics. Teachers are
selected without reference TO religion. and
are not allowed TO preach or teach religion
in schools. There is no discrimination
against Catholic teachers
You will observe that the statements OF
this dispatch were confirmed by Father
/ McKinnon. n priest officially connected
| with the public school system, and having
the most thorough familiarity with the ex-
listing conditions In the philippines. ana
I ,.rf.~ 70 AFna afnHr
! Chappelle the direct representative OF the
I Holy See in the Philippines. The state
/ ments of the dispatch appear 10 be further
! confirmed hv remarks which are published
| i'm the newspa pers this morning made
/ by Archbishop Ireland In speech de-
! livered at a convention Of the National
1 Educational Association at Minneapolis.
The secretary then quotes from the ad-
dress OF Archbishop Ireland. aud contin-
ucs:
! Catholic Church. whose duty II rs 10 safe
! guard the interests Of their church. and
| who familiar with facts, have made
4 any sLch charges as are referred 20 IN
| the inquiry addressed 20 Governor Wright
/ and I'm his answer above quoted am cor
] fdent that they know better what the facts
I are than the unknown and irresponsible
! sources Of these adverse statements.
''It is the purpose OF the Philippine gov
/ ernment 90 maintain I'm the archipelago the
same kind of a free. nonscctarian instruc-
ton which exists in the United States.
and which has proved 10 be for the in
! Ierest Of religion and All religions. The
government means. 50 far n possibly
/ can. 10 give education 10 tho people OF the
I islands and IL will do this without any
discrimination for or against any church
F or sect II does not mean that any officer
! or teacher Of the public school system
+ shall use his position 20 build up or pun
down any church whatever. whether
Catholic or Protestant. The laws already
enacted I'm the Philippine islands contain
the following provision:
- NO teacher or other person shall teach
or ctiticise the doctrines OF any church.
religious sect or denomination. or shall
attempt 10 influence the pupils for or
against any church or religious sect IN any
public school established under this act.
+ II anv teacher shall Intentionally violate
this section. h. or she shall, after due
hearing. be dismissed from the public
service.
i Conformity 10 this provision an the
spirit q : well as i'm the letter viii he strict
p w required. I think the government of
the Philippines is entitled 10 ask thar citi-
. zens Of the United states shall not as
sumo or believe upon mere rufnor and un-
proved statements. that the government
is not in good faith enforcing this law
F which n has made.