The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-11-06

While the Philippine currency ques-
ton has been settled for the present
in a satisfactory way, the friar ques-
ton has not yet been settled, but it is
announced from Rome that the vati-
can looks for a solution at an early
date.
The vatican has delayed action out
of consideration for the friars of the
Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustin
ians and Recolletos, whom it did not
wish to antagonize, although these
friars had incurred the hatred and
continual antagOnism of the Philip
pine churchmen, who, during the rev.
olutions of 1895 and 1898. drove all
the members of these orders, acting
as parish priests, out Of their parishes,
killing a large number and imprison
ing several hundred, the remainder
taking refuge in Manila after our
troops occupied the city. Of about
1900 of the friars in the islands in
1896 only about five hundred remain.
The removal of the friars Of the
four great orders was the demand Of
the people who did not oppose the
native secular clergy, nor the few
Jesuits, Capuchins, Benedictines and
Paulists engaged in mission work on
the islands. Our government found
that a land question was involved, as
the friars were willing to go if their
10 Y,1C moi fn,, 1or &c
demanded, but the friars now reduce
the price to $12,0OO,O00 and the pres
ent proposition cOntemplates the pay
ment of s10,000,000 by our govern
ment for the lands. Meantime, the
efforts Of the vatican are directed to-
ward convincing the friars that the
money derived from the sale of the
lands does not belong to them, but
must be set apart as part Of the
church's funds for the essential relig-
ious work of the church in the Philip
pines. The friars do not readily fall
in with this idea, as they have SO long
occupied the property for their own
benefit, deriving a considerable income
from rents paid by Philippine tenants,
that they are inclined to claim pro-
prietary rights.
1t seems likely from the dispatches
that the bishops and archbishops of
the American branch of the Roman
church, in the event of the refusal by
the friars to leave the islands, will
use their episcopal authority to COM
RI in,
dorsing any of the stigmas fastened
upon them by the Filipino churchmen
whose bitterness toward them is I'M
abated. The Roman authorities are
| about to supply the needs Of the arch
ipelago for the minstrations Of their
church with American priests, who
| will be assisted by the Filipino priests
who are found qualified for such SER
vice.
1t may be added that the Francis
cans were never permitted to own
property except in converts and
schools, but the other three orders own
valuable business property in Manila
and have much money to loan in a
business way, but their property is
chiefly in agricultural lands which
are partly embodied in their haciendas
and are largely rented to the people.
The Philippine commission, in its
report on the friar question, express
SEES the belief that there are very few
cases where the ownership Of property
by the friars can be successfully at
tackled in law, as prescription has sup
piled any defect which may have ex-
listed in the original title. The friars
will go if the superior ecclesiastical