The Washington times., 1903-12-20


The questions asked covered all the
charges which had been made against
the triars. the feeling OF the people TO-
Waru them, the extent of their proper
~. The part they took i'm politics and
6he government of the islands under
Spain and the possibility Of their re-
urn TO the parishes. Other witnesses
Tnllppine laymen. American Catholic
priests. army officers, Catholic and Prot
eStant, and newspaper correspondents
We're examined IL - eat numbers.
Friar as Parish Priest.
This investigation revealed the fact
that the friar as Il parish priest was
usually the only man of intelligence and
education in his parish who knew both
the native dialect and the Spanish Ian
guage. His position as the spiritual
guide of the people necessarily led to
his acting as intermediary between
them and the rest of the world in secu-
lar matters. In only few of the
parishes was there any other Spanish
representative of the government of
Spain than the friar priest
At first actually, and afterward by
law. he came to discharge many civil
functions and to supervise. correct. or
veto whatever was done or sought TO
be done in the pueblo which was his
parish. The priest. therefore. was not
only the spiritual guide. but was in
every sense the municipal ruler.
The archbishop and bishops formed
part of what was known in Manila as
the board of authorities. The duties of
this board were principally to investi-
gate matters of urgent moment, and ir.
times of crises to advise the governor
general The participation of the friars
in the affairs of the parish, provincial.
and insular governments was much
more effective to secure entire control
of the political situation than if the
priests had been merely secular and
not bound together with the close as
ISOLATION of the monastic orders.
Government of Priests.
The truth is that the whole govern
ment of Spain in those islands rested
on the friars. To use the expression OF
the provincial OF the Augustinians. the
friars were the pedestal or foundation
of the sovereignty of Spain i'm these isl
ands.' which being removed. the whole
structure would topple over" The num-
Der OF Spanish troops in the Philip
pines did not exceed 5000 until the
revolution. The tenure Of Office Of the
friar curate was permanent. Once set
tied in a parish, a priest usually con
tinued there until approximation. He
was. therefore a constant political fac
tor for genera ton.
OF the four great orders. one. the
Franciscans. was not permitted to own
property. with the exception of con-
vents and schools This was not true
OF the other three They owned valU-
able property in Manila and had money
to loan. But the chief property OF these
orders was in agricultural lands Tho
total amount owned was approximately
10000 acres. This land was usually
rented on shares in small holdings
Leases were given for three years, and
no assignment was permitted without
the consent of the order. Tenancy usu-
ally continued I'm the same family, and
the tenant right seems sometimes TO
have been considered valuable During
the revolutionary period the friars did
not attempt 20 collect rents from the
persons occupying their lands On the
other hand, agents Of the insurgents.
claiming title by virtue of confiscation
acts of the sO-called Malolos govern
ment from time to time made collec-
tons from the tenants.
Not Religious Question.
AS set forth in the report OF the Phil
ippine Commission. this was not a rcli-
gious question. The Philippine people
love the Catholic Church. The soIemnity
and grandeur Of its ceremonies appeal
most strongly to their religious motives.