The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-23

Archbishop Ireland, asked yesterday
concerning the negotiations between
Gov Taft and the pope, at Rome, spoke
at some length on the situation. He
said:
Yes, the news from Rome is quite
satisfactory, and / am sure quite COR
rect. Private advices coming to me
from the most reliable sources con-
flrm in all respects the dispatches
given by the Associated Press. The
sovereign pontiff and other Roman au-
thorities are delighted with Gov. Taft
personally and with the negotiations in
course of progress between him and
the Vatican. Reports sent out by the
correspondents of certain London
papers to the effect that the pontif
was displeased with the manner of act
Ing of the commission of cardinals ap-
pointed to treat with Gov. Taft We're
absolutely unfounded. AS stated in
this mornings Roman dispatches, the
pontiff assured Gov. Taft that he was
most satisfied and happy at the results
so far obtained, and that he was con-
fident the negotiations begun in Rome
would be the starting point of a COM
plete and satisfactory solution of the
question under discussion. This state
ment resumes in the most exact man
ner the situation as the Vatican views
it, and as it really is.
Satisfactory Outcome Assured.
"That the negotiations havs not vet
reached final conclusions and are to be
transferred from Rome to Manila Is
what might have been expected from
the beginning. Gov. Taft is in a hurry
to return to the Philippines and could
not prolong his stay in Rome; and, on
the other hand, the problems to be
solved are so complicated, especially
from the Vatican standpoint that time
in the work is of prime necessity. The
Vatican and Gov. Taft came easily and
quickly to a substantial agreement;
the question for the Vatican is what
practical methods are to be adopted to
put the agreement into execution. With
little time certain matters, now
seeming to offer great difficulties, will
be made by quiet skillful touches Of
pontificial diplomacy to work them
selves out without friction or excite
ment; and so when in Manila final con-
clusions are to be reached things will
have been ripe, and will turn out all
right. This is the Vatican method OF
proceeding; it Is a wise and prudent
method.
"Mr. Taft understands the matter,
and leaves Rome thoroughly satisfied
and hopeful. He carries away with him
the pontiff's statement that the negO-
IldlOIlS
have been the starting point of a COM
plete and satisfactory solution of the
questions at issue, and that much he
considers to be quite sufficient for the
moment. There can be no doubt but
that the active cooperation of the
Vatican is now secured to the AmeriU
can government in its task Of paci-
fication in the Philippines, and that in
the results sure to come the admins
tration at Washington will have ample
reason to felicitate itself for having
sent Gov. Taft to Rome.
Opposition Must subside.
"And now it is to be hoped that there
will be among certain classes of Cath
olics in America cessation of move
ments and declarations such as we
have had recent occasion to hear OF
regarding religious matters In the
Philippines. The pope teaches those
Catholics to trust the American gov
ernment, as they seemingly have been
heretofore unwilling to do. In his con-
versation with Gov. Taft he expressed
the highest esteem for American meth
DDS Of treating church matters, and re-
marked that he had more than once
pointed towards the United States as
setting an example well worth copy
ing. His words ought to signify some
thing to those who profess to take
rate, the direction of Catholic affairs is
his business, not that of irresponsible
church societies or newspaper editors;
and when he informs Catholics that
any one matter Is in his hands they
ought promptly to step aside and al
low him to have charge of it. The
question Of religion in the Philippines
is now formally and officially his own;
and it should be considered as such.
A few there may remain who will still
believe that they have a better under
standing of it than he has, and will in
sist on telling him how to handle IL;
but such as these are few, and at least
it will be clear that they hold no
brief whatever from the Catholic body
at large.
Agitation Was Wrong.
"The agitation, such as 1t was, in
certain Catholic quarters, did no honor
to those who participated in 1t. AS is
now proven, they spoke and acted
without due knowledge, and certainly
without proper regard for the govern
ment of their country. They should
first have been absolutely certain that
injustices has been done to their CO.
religionists, and next. IL injustices had
been done, they should have sought a
remedy to them by an appeal to the
proper officials before raising in pub
lie irritating clamors. That in the vast
alterations made in the Philippines by
the transfer of the islands from Span
ish to American sovereignty serious
complications were sure to arise in re-
ligious matters, as they did in social
and civil matters, was naturally to be
expected; so 1t was, also, to be expect
ed that time would be required to reg
ulate things properly, and that, mean
while, suffering in one form or another
was to come to interests most secret