Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-11
RODRIGUEZ COMING
VIII Appoint American Augustinians
60 Replace spanish order
In Philippines.

ROME. Aug. iO.--Thomas Rodriguez, gen
eral Of the Augustinians and supreme head
Of the whole order, wh''s Is very powerful
at Rome. will leave he ,orrow for Ma
pies. where he will n. steamship
Liguria sailing next W. ar New
York. Father Rodriguez Wiz d, ars,
visit to the United States.
TIE general Of the Augustinlans
a representative OF the Associated D.
today with great cordiality. As Il wal
known that his Journey to the Unitod States
was attributed to en- intention 10 send
American Aueustinians to replace thf
Spanish members Of the order now in the
Philippines. Father Rodriguez. when ques-
toned on this matter. said nothing definite
had been decided.
Nothing can be DONE" said Father
Rodriguez. while the negotiations are stiIi
pending between the holy see and the
United States. whoever is impartial y{sl
admit Il to be strange that. while WaA I
ington cannot OF will not expel the fria 4
from the Philippine archipelago, Il shouIt
request this to be done BY the vatican,
whose principal duty and interest is ID
protect the friars. both materially and mor-
ally.
"The truth h that the friars ara not
only By that fraction which wanted to GET
rid OF them in order to be left without
curb or law. This verified myself when.
in 1895, visited the islands from end tc
END. and have had confirmation Of this
statement in recent reports. which say
that friars have been called again 70 par
Ishes outside Of Manila which they left
after the revelation OF 1898, this being
partly due to their excellent work In the
present cholera seotrge.
THE result is that the Augustinians now
again occupy ten places outside Of Manila.
They would easily be able to return to ali
the abandoned interior districts, where
they formerly administered religion to g.
500. .00o FilipInos II the civil government OF
the islands showed more energy In re-
pressing the rebellious elements which are
against the Americans not less than against
the friars.
THE experience will convince Washing
ton" continued the head OF the kugustin-
ians, g of the necessity OF having the Phil
ippines under strict rule, as the natives
are entirely lacking in the natural quail
tiles Of political education to govern them
selves. II autonomy is granted them one
year win be sunacient to reduce the is
lands 70 anarchy. the most powerful Fili-
pines becoming the heads OF so'many tribes
or factions
with regard TO the substitution Of
American for Spanish Augustinians in the
islands. the difhculty is that whiie the
friara Of our order In the Philippines at
one time numbered over SOC ann even uvw
amount to 1s0. those in the United States.
who are mostly at villanova. Qtar Phila-
delphia. number only about 100 and Of
them scarcely ten could be spared.
Governor Taft shows great intelligence
and ability In bringing forward arguments
and evidence favorable to his plans. but he
ignored the other side. fntedned to con-
tradfct = pamphlet written By him. which
WAS translated into italian md Which Or
eulatea IN Rome. but Abandoned The idea
Ia view Of the little interest in this sub
ject taken here BY the generality Of the
public However. there is a book written
by an Augustinian which confItes the dif-
ferent publications by Governor Taft
against the friars.