New-York tribune., 1902-08-06
PHILIPPINE FRIARs DEFENnrn
BISHOP MFAUL's STRUCTURES ON rur
ARMY AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS


ARMY AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
Chicago, Aug 5.-The American Federation a.
Catholic Societies met this afternoon and even
ing at the Young Mems Christian Associatio
Hall. In the afternoon, after the address :,
welcome by DR.. HI. s. Taylor on behalf a,
Mayor Harrison, and NJ F. Girten. on behalf a,
the Catholic societies of the city, the convention
went into executive session and organizad
Short addresses made by Bishops Mess
mer. of Green Bay. Wis. McFaul. of Trenton. n
j. and by the president of the federation. II
was evident from the tenor OF the remarks mads
in the afternoon that the convention would not
regard the manifesto of Archbishop Ireland
warning the delegates against a discussion of tn.
administrations methods in the Philippines
At the evening meeting Bishop McFauI wa,
the principal speaker and directed his atten-
ton 10 the treatment of the friars and the
school question in the Philippines. The Bishop
said in part:
The calm. intelligent observer must admit
that some of the statements made in the pub
lie press regarding the situation IN the Philip
pines were either incorrect or exaggerated
There was nevertheless. very substantial
foundation of truth in most Of the reports
which amply justified the structure made upon
those accountable for the abuse Of power.
No one is foolish enough to admit that IN
affairs of so important nature mere details
are conclusive, particularly when made by in
terested parties We mad already been warned
TO be on our guard by previous contradictions
of reports which were afterward proved true
and found worse than at first suspected When
the news arrived that the Catholic churches in
the Philippines were desecrated and looted, off,
GERS of high rank In the army attempted to re-
fute the charges. yet the Dissertation ana loot
ing of those sacred edifices are now so certain
that claims for damages to ecclesiastical prop
erty viii be accepted by the government
REPORTS too of the frightful spread Of drunk
enness and immortality after the occupation OF
Manila by the American army were vigorously
assafIed Is there any one who has the
audacity 10 question their truth? Since then
we have all heard of the water cure and the
murderous orders issued by an American gen.
eraI The perpetration of these Outrages was
unknowu for a time; they were. however. so
fagrant that it impossible to keep them
from the knowledge of the public. The intro
duction alone OF the public school system was
Just cause for alarm
The speaker then declared that the Federation
is deeply interested in obtaining just treatment
for the friars in the Philippines. who had suf-
fered ne declared $50 many cruel calumnies"
Bishop McFaul also charged that in selecting
the school teachers for the Philippines discrim-
ination had been practised against the Cath
oIics. since in. a total Of '96T teachers who, he
said, had been sent to the islands only eighteen
or nineteen were Catholics. Continuing. he said
The impression has gone abroad that America
is furnishing educational facilities 10 the Fill
pinos for the first time. and that the people were
in a state of dense ignorance. This is another
caIumny. During centuries the friars dweIt
with the tribes of the Philippines. and it is to
them that they are indebted for whatever they
possess of education and religion They are
the vices of civilization until American soldiers
occupied their soil