The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-12-26
THE FRIAR LANDS,

the FRlAR LANDS.
Catholics in the United States will re-
joice in the news that the friar land
question in the Philippines has been
settled. 1t means great deal to the
government and to the Church. That
the question was settled in way en-
tirely satisfactory to the Vatican does
not admit of doubt. Plus X is report
ed to have said when the news of the
settlement reached him that it was
''the best Christmas box l could have
had" There is no doubt but that the
friars in the capacity of landlords Gre
ated Il friction between the people and
themselves which was injurious to the
Church. We believe that the land
question in the Philippines had much
to do with the religious schism lately
inaugurated and that the settlement
of the land question will do much to-
ward healing the trouble. 1t is par
ticularly fortunate that the question
has been settled to the entire satisfac-
ton Of all concerned. Much credit is
due Mgr. Guidi, the papal delegate
who had charge of the negotiations on
behalf of the Church and to Governor
Taft for the satisfactory settlement.
1t has never been questioned that the
friars owned the land, and such being
the fact they were entitled to a fair
compensation for it. AS to whether or
not they should be compelled to dis
pose of their lands is question on
which much could be said on both
sides. We know Of no reason why,
under our laws, the friars should not
be allowed to own lands and keep
them in perpetuity. In looking at the
question we must keep in mind that
the friars in the Philippines occupied
two positions: they were members of
the religious orders and they were
landlords. In their capacity of land
lords they had created strong feeling
against themselves and this feeling
was in part evXtended toward the
Church. But the question of whether
or not the friars should be compelled
to dispose of their lands need not be
considered. 1t is sufficient to say that
both sides agreed. The religious Or
ders receive $7,5OO,OOO for their lands,
which comprise an area of more than
100000 acres. The lands will now
be turned over to the Philippines, who
now occupy them, and they will be al
lowed to pay the government on long
time payments. Thus the people who
till the soil will be given an oppor-
tunity to became the owners. The
system of tenure by which individuals
or corporations are allowed to own
large tracts of land which others till
seems to be a failure, and seems to
make little difference whether the
owners are religious corporations in
the Philippines or alien landlords in
Ireland. We We're opposed to depriv-
ing the friars of their holdings against
their will. They We're manifestly en-
titled to the same treatment that any
person under the jurisdiction of this
government was entitled to. We be-
lieved that way would be found to
settle the difficulty without resort to
harsh or unlawful means. We refused
to believe the stories of Adventures
who were DESTROYS of exploiting the
lands in question. These very friars
who have been so much complained
of are indisputably the ones who have
civilized and Christanized the Fill
pinos. They deserved high considera-
ton and we hope that the agreement
will result to their advantage. They
deserved the lands which they had as
Il reward for their labors among the
people, and it is to be hoped that
many of them will remain in the Phil.
ippines to continue their good work.