The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-06
Tho FiIip'nOs Defended by Filipino
~ udcDt.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir. With
regard to Catholicism and the New Filipino
Independent Church, established by Father
Aglipay, Americans ought to be correctly
informed of the facts
Father Aglipay Is young man OF an I'm
petuous and domineering character, and be-
fore the Spanish American War no one had
ever heard Of him. 1t is true that Aguinaldo
bestowed upon him the title of "Vicario Gen-
eral Castrense." and he began to act accord
ingly without any regard to the Archbishop
OF Manila. He was one Of the first Filipino
priests who openly favored the Philippine
instruction against Spain in 1903 When
the war between the Filipinos and Americans
broke out. Aglipay cast his lot with his patron,
Aguinaldo, and after n little while he laid
aside his clerical habit. buckled on the sword
and became Filipino General. fighting against
Americans, whom he despised and hated. till
about May or June. 1901 Then he surren-
dered and came to Manila to Join the Federal
party: hoping thus to secure the confidence
and friendship Of Gov. Taft
The national Catholic Church Of Father
Aglipay is certainly dying out. Although for
a while he gathered around him some three
or four thousand Filipinos. the fact Is that
he and his unfortunate priests and follow
ers became the by-word Of ridcule among
their sound-minded countrymen
! would had words and idioms and the
perfect mastery OF the language 10 give you
an idea OF how public affairs are going
on now in the Philippine Islands l am Ger
and made the acquaintance Of this free people.
who, having distinguished themselves, by
deeds Of patriotism In their own land have
felt themselves called upon to mpart the
blessings they enjoy to other lands.
You will find, no doubt. among Aglipay''s
followers some who will say that everything is
going on well in the Philippines since the Amer
lean flag. floats over the ramparts; and walls and
towers. that civilization and education move
aapaoe with the spread OF your powerful n,
and the ron e
your beneficial rule. should like to see this
happy day; but am afraid that # you per
sist in the policy which. up to this, uppLtnci-
pied adventures have pursued. you will be
Now, one of the greatest misfortunes. ] be-
lieve Of the civi! government over there ~
that 1t trusts too much in people like Father
Aglipay, who, proclqimlng their love for th'
American flag. would like to carry on H.
public affairs. ENJOYING a happy and easy easy III"
ter your Governors and in order to barter. ava
the welfare Of eight millions OF their fellow
citizens. they try, by all means in their nowehr
Catholic, institutions, which are. 50 far, r.
principal obstacle to their attaining to III"
fulnlment Of their desires
1t is n mistake to suppose that the Filipino;
who got their education in the very bosom Of
the Catholic Church, nay, under the tutorship
Of Jesuits, are upciyiiized and ignorant
Of having got my classical and scientific studies
in the Atcneo de Manila in charge Of the Jesuit
Fathers and We're not afraid Of being
too boastful, | would say that, In snite Of MI
the calumnies and mischoyons conduct OF
base sectariln people, the Filipinos who har"
been trained by lesnts are as civilized a7
any people in the world.
Ii YOU were present at the philosophical,
Inspirations always in LATIN and ltorarr
academies held very regularly in the Col'eg"
Hall of the At.neo dc Manila in the pres
encc of the highest society Of the city. you
would see bow sharply boys not beyond ~
years argue the most subtle questions of
metaphysics, how elegantly they speak Latin;
how beautiful are the poems they write and
how quickly they catch Mt first glance the
most difficult theorems in mathematics, phys-
lea, mechanics. and SO forth. All those and q
thousand others, came ont Of the Jesuit Col
lege A FILIPINO STrDENr AT YALE
NEW HAVEN, Oct l.