The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-05-05
c. "A MY 5 -EnHTPA
PHILIPPINE CATHOLICS
Report of Father Vattmann to Bish-
ops Assembly Made Public.
COMMENTS soNINsUseENTPRIEsT
He Highly Praises Philippine Commits
sion and says Catholics Need Fear
No Injustice at Their Hands-Amer.
lean Bishop Coul End Trouble.

sion and Says Catholics Need Fear
No Injustice at Their Hsnds-Amer.
lean Bishop coul End Trouble.
WASHINGTON. May 2.-Extracts from
the report of Father r. j. Vattmann.
chaplain of the 29th United States
infantry. TO tine Catholic bishops as
scmbiy In annual convention here last
week on the status of the Catholic
church in the Philippines has been
made public. Father Vattmann. with
the knowledge and consent of the war
department and under the direction OF
the church authorities. recently made
a careful investigation OF Catholic in
tcrests in the archipelago. He is un-
sparing IN his praise OF Governor Taft
and other members of the Philippine
commission Tor their honesty and i'm.
partialiiy in religious affairs He
comments on the influence of Agipay.
an insursent priest in the islands, and
expresses the belief that had an
American bishop instead of Mousis-
nor Guidi been appointed to Manila
the breach would not have been so
wide and it would have been closed
quickly Father Naumann regards the
prescu, feeling toward the friars as
most unfortunate.
ITO my mind" SAYS Father Watt
mann's report. lit is doplorable that
certain of our Catholic papers persist
in misronresonting Governor Taft and
his administration. He is a clean and
honest man. broad minded and liberal.
with mo- taint Of bieotry in his compo-
sition His attitude towards the
cnu~rh and 10 Catholic interests in
general is simply admirable. You may
be certain that he thoroughly under
stands the character and the selfish
designs Of tho renegade Aglipay. and
that he has a profound knowledge
both of the man and the conditions
around him. | repeat. the governor
is honest and impartial. and we have
nothing TO fear from him-he can al
ways be trusted to do the right
thing.
Commissioner Wright, Governor
Talts able coadjutor. is also fair
rainded and impartial. He Is straight
forward In his dealings and there IS
no evasion or hypocrisy about him.
Judge Smith another member Of
the commission. is a Catholic. and
surely our interests would he safe in
his hands Mr.. Ferguson. secretary
for the Philippines. a former Wash
ingtonian. is another broad-minded
man. with not taint of bigotry. In
fact. the commission itself and all its
members are possessed OF the right
spirit and we Catholics need fear no
injustice at their hands.
"As 10 the Aclipay heresy-for II
may be so Called-I am sorry to say it
has attained very considerable proper
tions. and bodies danger to the faith
of the people Remember, there are
10.ooo.0oo Catholics in the Philippines.
about as many as there are in the
whole United States. I have the i'm
preston that had an American arch
bishop been appointed to Manila the
breach would not have been so wido
and IL would have been quickly closed.
Monsignor Guidi has done very well,
but | really believe the appointment
of an American archbishop would have
carried with it more of prestige. Most
unfortunate is it that there is such
deep feeling against the friars: in
deed. they are really hated They are
looked upon as part and parcel of the
old oppressive Spanish regime, and
it is this feeling that has given an i'm
petus to the Aslipay heresy. I found
this feeling of bitterness against the
friars in every one of the provinces,
except perhaps the province of Cebu.
"It is beautiful to witness the pro-
found love of the Filipinos for the
church. I was, on many occasions.
/ strongly impressed by it. am deeply
grieved to think the faith of such a
/ devoted people is in danger. But !
| believe I have pointed out the solu-
| tiOn of the problem"