Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-17
TAFTtS INSTRUCTIONS
Text Of Secretary Roots Let
ter Made Public.
AS TO FRIARS' LANDS
MATTER SHOULD BE SETTLED IN
MANILA.
Election Of Priests Demanded by
Philippine Cathoics-Courtesy
From Vatican.
AS TO FRIARS' LANDS

Secretary Roots final instructions to Gov.
Taft. at Rome. regarding the terms for the
acquisition of church lands in the Philip
pines and the withdrawal of the friars, was
made public at the War Department this
afternoon. The following is the text Of the
dispatch:
July IA, 1902 e
Taft. Hotel Quirinal. Rome.
Il am much gratified by the expression
or intention on the part of the holy see to
Lake measures which are indicated by car
0lnal Rampolla's memoranda of the I'D of
June and of the 10th of July to recall the
religious in the Philippine Islands to the
life proper to their Institutes, and to an eX-
elusive devotion to spiritual ministry, alb
staining from any kind of interference with
things appertaning to the civil authority,
and to introduce much as possible the
religious of nationalities other than Span
ISM, and particularly the religious OF Amer
lean nationally, and to concede to them pa
rochial ministry as soon they shall be
sufficiently instructed in the language of
the country.
These measures, so plainly indicated as
wise by the recognized facts in the Phillip
pine archipelago, quite Independent of
any business monetary consideration,
and L feel that such contribution as you
nave been able to make to full under
standing of the facts, and the development
of the purposes described, is sufficient COM
pensation for your visit to Rome. 1t is be-
ieved that there will result sure basis of
mutual consideration and just treatment
In the future relations between the church
and state in the Philippines in regard to all
specfice questions which will have to be
settled there.
Voluntary Withdrawal Asked.
Regarding the withdrawal of the men,
bers of the religious orders from the
Philippines, it should not be understood
that the Philippine government Is asking to
modify or in any manner affect the conduct
Of religious matters on the part of the holy
see, or on the part of the heads of the
orders, or for any compulsory exclusion or
proceeding whatever.
1T is rather that the Philippine govern
ment desires social results which 1t deems
of great Importance to the welfare of the
Philippine people, and which can be ac
comDlished only by the withdrawal of this
class of persons, who have fortuitously
been thrown into special and antagonistic
political relations with the people.
That government has proposed ar
rangement (which 1t supposed to be very
advantageous to the church, and worth it's
own While to carry out, II the ecclesiasti
cal authorities having the direction of the
religious orders should see fit voluntarily
to withdraw them from the islands. Such
a voluntary withdrawal cannot be consider
ed a violation Of any rights under the
treaty Of Paris or otherwise. any re-
Election either upon the nation or upon the
orders TO which the persons Withdrawing
happen to belong.
Question is Not Religious.
The reasons making the withdrawal de-
sirable are not religious or racial. but arise
from the political and social relations which
existed under the former government. and
which have created personal antipathies
menacing to the peace and order of the
community Such voluntary withdra wal
would not involve any confirmation of any
accusations against the persons withdra W
ing or the orders to which they belong: and
1t Is to be observed that we have made no
such accuse tons.
1T would simply recognize the existence
of the conditions which for several years
past have been and now are preventing
these particular agents from serving the
church in the stations to which they were
assigned and which would make their
employment injurious to the community.
In this matter the United States repre-
sentatives in the Philippines are merely
endeavoring to meet the wishes. as well as
the needs, of the Philippine people.
TT is not the United States government
which objects to the presence of the friars
1t is the Catholic population Of the Philip
pine Islands. The lay Catholic population
and the parish priests Of native and nom
Spanish blood, are practically a unit in de-
string both to expel the friars and to con-
fscate their lands out of hand.
This proposed contiscation without COM
the fundamental policies of the insurgent
government under Aguinaldo.
Recognizing the intensity and practical
unanimity of this feeling among the Fill
pinOS, and at the same time desiring to
avoid causing loss to the church, the
United States government representatives
proposed to pay for the lands out of the
public funds If the friars would retire from
the island and give place to other religious
of their own faith who might be able to
accomplish for their religion what they
themselves had so Signally failed to ac-
complish.
Benefits Churches Only.
In making this proposal the United States
representatives were well aware that finan-
cially it was only of benefit to the church,
for the lands are unproductive and held in
adverse possession b ythe natives, who re-
fuse to pay rent; while the former congre-
cations of the objectionable friars now re-
fuse to receive them, and they could only
be restored to their parishes by such af
firmative governmental action as under our
Constitution cannot be taken.
1T is not the desire to accomplish the re-
moval of this cause of disturbance and dis
cord that has led to approve that clause of
your proposal which would involve the gov
eminent of the Philippines in a large and
underlined obligation for the purchase of
Hent of their values and of the estimated
prices which we can reasonably expect to
receive from them when we in turn offer
them for sale; and to the clauses which
would anticipate the authority Of Congress
in regard to the ascertainInent of rentals
and damages In the course of occupation
and the conveyance of church lands pro-
vided for in your proposal.
Should Be Settled In Manila.
IF this objectSis not to be assured, then
the arrangement sought should be quite
different In form, and should more closely
follow the suggestions of Cardinal Ram
polla in his memorandum of June %:
wherein he says that an estimate of the
value of the lards conformable with the
prin ciplas Of 11Stfce and oo,,i+,y 10 - -