The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-18
FATHER PAYA ON PHILIPPINE Con
DITT0NS

The Boston anti-imperialist organiza-
tion will place Father Paya, provincial of
the Domintcans in the Philippines, in the
category Of their saints, because Of his
nti-American discourse in Rome yester-
day. --.- -.
Father Paya, like his brethren of the
four religious orders in the Philippines,
is hostile to our government and nation
and he afarms that the FiHpfnos dislike
the Americans just as they disliked the
spaniards and it is not true at all that
they dislike the friars who are hated
"only by the native clergy and a fraction
of the people,
Father Paya has neglected to follow the
| course of history in the archipelago dur
| ing the last six or seven years. It is a
fact, which has never been successfully
| ipinos six or seven years ago was main
| ly directed against the friars, not as
religious body, for the Filipinos in revolt
| were all members of the same church
with the friars,, but the friars represented,
politically, the very worst features of the
Spanish regime as an depressing power.
They had assumed judicial and political
powers and abused them. 1t is matter
Of historic; record that the, insurrectos
killed a number of friars and captured
several hundred of~them, nearly all the
rest taking refuge in Manila. They left
their parishes and fed, Aguinaldo being
especially bitter against them during his
Dictatorship r:-@e.
Governor Taft, speaking for the Phil
ippine commission before the committee
of congress on the subject of the friars,
said: ..a. E,
! On that one issue substantially all the peo
pie are in accord. No country of that size
reducated or uneducated, was ever so unani
nous as the Filipino people are with respec
to the issue of the friars. It is not that th.
friars are justly charged with various of
fenses and interpretations in civil matters t.
the detriment Of the people. The 'importan
fact is that all the people believe it, an,
lprejudice, even-if unfounded If sdeep-seated
, every student of politics knows must b
regarded as fact. 1t exists and because
exists the position Of the commission, with
| out looking into the merits Of 1t, was tina
in every way possible we ought to avoid tn
!, dangers Of disturbances, which such preju
, dice would be sure to cause. It Is still al
element dangerous to the peace and pros
perity Of the islands. =, III. :: Z -~4
} We have the testimony of the non.
= partisan Philippine commission. bod.
! of reputable citizens of the United States
: who have personally and on the grount
!: acquainted themselves with the people
and their history, their characteristic
, and prejudices and needs. We hav
voluminous testimony from native sources
of the existence Of the prejudice and an
, tagonism referred to. We have the proc
: OF it in the flight of the friars themselve
} from their parishes. Y
+ The vatican itself recognizes the neces
l sity of withdrawing the friars, but pre-
: fers very gradual elimination OF tha
: element. No doubt, the anti-imperialists
? so-called in this country, will champion
3 the friars In their anxiety to go agains
: any policy Of the administration, but, il
i doing SO, they array themselves agains
= the FiHpinos as a people.