Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-02

had left with him a more deadly enemy
than her soldiers to tie liberty of the peo-
unite the five republics uqder a federal con-
| stitution. and one general government
| planned upon that Of the United States.
| The crafty friars ieftcehind as the secret
| agents Of Spain went quietly among the
people and told them tf1atit was the scheme
| OF Bolivar. first to unite the republics, and
then to create himself emperor of the new
and he fner or
! his countrymen, went into voluntary exile
at Santa Marta. where he died in extreme
poverty and neglect. And thus the friars
| the liberty of the people that is yet recorded
| In history, for had Boliyar's plans been
| consummated it would have changed the
Mnoie course OF political events, and today
we would have United States of South
America in place of a dozen wranglng lit
| Tie republics, torn asunder by constant revo-
| lGtions
| What the Filipinos Want.
But. to revert to the national Filipino
| church Since the American occupation of
| these islands the Filipino people have
| learned much with regard respecting their
own personal rights and liberties, as well
| as of the means and the methods of en-
| forcing them. They have learned that un-
ger American institutions 1t is no longer
necessary for them to grab their bolos and
| take to the hills in order to redress their
grievances. but that other and better chan
nels are open to them under the new con-
| ditions.
"The Filipino people believe that:
tO All church properties and friar es-
tates are the lawful and rightful proper
ties and estates of all the people of these
islands, as common property under the
charge of the government
lp) That all church properties should
De turned over to board of church trus-
tees, one-half of such board to he named
md f11 ota L.
by the government, for the use of the Ma
tional Filipino Church.
"(c) That the friar estates should be held
by the government, in trust for the gem
eral use and benefit Of the people.
The argument is, briefly that the labor
ana the contributions of the Filipino peo-
pie constructed and built up all the church
properties in these islands. and that the
friar estates consist of lands which were
either confiscated or wrung by force from
the Filipino people by the friars. backed
by the arms of Spain or were voluntarily
given in trust the revenues from which
were to go toward the support of the
church in these islands and not to Rome.
Archblshop Aglfpay, on behalf of the
Filipino people, in foro conscientiae, has
presented to Governor Taft and the civil
commission a memorial setting forth good
reasons why the cathedral Of Manila should
be placed at the disposition of the National
Filipino Church as the place of worship for
the Filipino people.
A Petition to the Commission.
Following this comes a petition ad-
dressed to the civil commission from the
municipality Of Victoria, in the province of
Tarlac. This petition which is signed by
the presidente and all municipal officials,
as well as by the leading residents of that
place, asks that effect be given to the ac-
ton of the municipal authorities at a reg
ular meeting, requesting that they be al
lowed to appoint board of trustees to
hold, for the use of the people, the church,
convent building and cemetery the con-
tenton' being that as, they were entirely
built by funds and municipal labor, called
| polistas (poll taxi, they were the property
OF the people and should he so held until
the pope recognized 4 the 10 Filipino clergy.
These movements are, but experimentum
crucis. leading to thef final issue Of this
great question. The realization of this
idea! of the Filipino people Is neither i'm
possible, nor yet improbable Their plan
of campaign against their ancient enemy,
the friars, must come somewhat in the ma
ture of a surprise to those hoary-headed
warriors of the church. 81
ARMED in the righteousness of their
cause the Filipino people need have no
fear of the wisdom and justice Of the peo-
pie of the United States.'' et-.y
This inspired paper also contains the fol-
lowing biographical sketch of Archbishop
Gregorio Aglipay: :aE
Archbishop Gregorio Aglipay.
DUH eil DdeiCh, lioCOS+xI>OTIe, july ~,
1860; educated at Dominican College in
San Juan de Letran;. graduated; entered
seminary at Vigan conducted by Recoletos;
| took theological course; ordained to priest
hood in Manila in 1890: after Dewey de-
| stroyed the Spanish fleet, sent by Arch
| bishop Nozaleda and Capt Gen. Augustin,
| as special envoy, to insurgent leaders to
| make terms for uniting Filipino forces with
| those of Spain: empowered to offer insur-
gents either autonomy or absolute independ-
| ence for such union of forces to repel the
| invading Americans; mission failed and was
| detained within insurgent lines until Ameri-
| cans entered Manila; returned to Manila:
sent by NoZaleda to reorganiZe the churches
| In Luzon; appointed archbishop of the see
| of Neuva Segovia to succeed Archbishop
Hevia. who was Spanish prisoner held by
| insurgents; returned to Manila with eight
| released nuns as prisoners; appointment
| confirmed by ecclesiastical authorities in
| Manila; returned to his see in Vigan. In
| order to repudiate the attempt made to
| unite insurgent and Spanish forces against
| the United States. NoZaleda sacrifices Arch
| bishop Aglipay by issuing. an order of ex-
communication against him. Aglipay, under
| the rules and decisions of canonicaf law,
| communicated Nozaleda and referred the
matter to Rome; dictated by diplomacy in
| connection with the friar question: the Vati-
| can has remained neutral; Aglipay organ
| ICES the National Filipino Church"