The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-25
GOV. TAFT'S ADDRESS
A Text Of His Speech Issued by the
1nsular Bureau,

Washington, Sept. 25.-The bureau of
insular affairs furnished to the press cop
les of the speech made by Governor Taft
at the reception rendered him when he nr-
rived in the Philippines. In the course Of
it Governor Taft says: ~.
You can be assured that it will be
only course Of a year or SO when the
American duties on Philippine products
Will be reduced to so small a figure as to
make 1t practically free trade. Delays, in
congressional action on the tariff
are only the outgrowth Of a conservatiy-
Ism due to doubt on the part of many
as to the real conditions in the islands. a
doubt, / may say, which nothing will so
quickly dispel as a quiet prosecution of
agriculture and other pursuits and an
avoiding of useless political agitation for
the next year.
The many questions requiring settle
ment between the Philippine government
and the church led the president and
secretary Of war to direct me to visit
Rome for a conference with the pope to
see If basis Of settlement might be
reached. After the audience with the
pope, the instructions were referred to a.
committee of cardinals and an answer
was given me, agreeing generally with all
the purposes stated, in the Instructions
which included, among other things the
purchase Of the friars' lands by the gov
eminent. - .--.
This answer proposed that the further
negotiation be had between an apostolic
delegate and myself in Manila. With the
hope Of having less to do in Manila and
by authority Of the secretary replied by
suggesting to the pope the form of a con-
tract to be signed in Rome, sumbitting the
quest1onssat issue to g. tribunal Of arbi-
tration, to consist Of two members ap-
pointed by the pope, two by this govern
ment and the fifth TO be appointed by the
viceroy Of India. The questions were
First, the price to be paid Cor the friars'
land; second, the price to be paid for the
occupation of parish churches and con-
vents by American troops. and. third,
the disposition of educational and charit-
able trusts, including the San Jose college
case. The contrac included a covenant
that the members Of the four great re-
ligious orders, who were all Spaniards,
should leave the island in two years after
the first payment was made for the lands,
and that only secular priests or nom
Spanish members Of the regular clergy,
should act as parish priests. -.-
| 1.-THE vatican agreed to sign such a con-
tract, excepting the last covenant, which
! he declined to sign; first, because it re-
| lated to the administration OF religious
matters not the proper subject of a COM
| mercial contract; second, because the
| signing Of such covenant would give just
offense to Spain, whose subjects the friars
| were and as such were entitled to remain
| in the islands under the treaty OF Paris,
and because the vatican did not wish to
| give countenance to what were regarded
as the exaggerated charges against them.
| Instead Of this, however, the pope said,
| through Cardinal Rampolla, that he in
I>I %4 MI fhn -, u, %1,o
! islands, to recall the friars now In the
islands from political Intern eddling to the
| institutes of their order, to provide &C.
clesiastical education to the natives, so
that the priesthood ultimately should be
| entirely native. and now to introduce
| priests Of other nationality than Spanish,
| chiefly from the United States, into the
| islands. II - - zfs
He said that the money for the lands
would go to the church for the benefit Of
| the church In the Philippines, and not to
| the orders, and he finally reiterated, what
| had been said earlier In the correspond
ence, that no priest would be sent to any
parish in. the islands whom majority OF
| the Catholics OF the parish did not. wish
| to receive. '.sasssts
I'm view of the unwillingness of the
| vatican to enter into contract for the
definite removal Of the Spanish friars, the
secretary Of war was unwilling to enter
| into contract oblfgating the Philippine
government and the American govern
ment to pay such indefinite sums without
further investigation, and preferred to re-
cur to the original method of negotiation
proposed by the vatican, through an apos-
tolic delegate, who Is to visit the islands
with authority toesell the lands, to settle
the rentals due. and to negotiate the
charitable and educational trusts. This
basis was agreed on and the details are to
be settled on hereafter, all the necessary
data to be furnished by the church to tho
government. It will be seen that negotia-
lions on many subjects have only been
| begun yet on the sale OF the lands and
| the return Of the friars to the parishes the
matter is entirely in the hands of the
people of the parishes. by asquiet, peace
full expression Of their desire to receive
| or not any priest. - ISIS.