Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-26
IS IT NoN-INIERFERENCE? ]?
Father Crowley Discusses Catholic
 Affairs in the Philippines.

AhAlIS HI LnE < A1AEPPAA4So'
 Editor Democrat:
 In the editorial columns of the American of Monday evening is quot ed substantially from Bishop Brent s article in the Outlook to the effect that the commission in the Philippines has pursued the American policy of non-1n- terference. To the right reverend gen. Geman the policy may look like one of non-fnterference, but it will be diff ficult, I think, to convince the general Catholic public of the non-partisan na- ture of the governments Philippine policy If the commission dld not wish to interfere, why the cry: '"Ihe friars must go?'' Why not let them back to a people that desire their min istrations, if we except few sore heads, like AgHpay, who are disgrunt- led because they have not been al- lowed to run the church to suit their own distorted notions, or because their conduct was found worthy of repro bation?
 The second paragraph of Article VuII of the Treaty of Paris reads as follows: And it is hereby declared that the relinquishment or cession, as the case may be, to which the preced- ing paragraph refers. cannot in any respect impair the property or rights which by law belong to the peaceful possession of property of all kinds, of provinces, municipalities, public or private establishments, ecclesiastical or civic bodies, or any other associa- tion having legal capacity to acquire and possess property in the aforesaid territories renounced or ceded."
 Now, Governor Taft has pronounced their legal capacity to acquire prop erty, and their title to the estates held he has pronounced absolutely perfect. q quote from memory of Taft's report to congressional committed. In har- mony with the tenets of the treaty, are not the friars taking their stand upon the law? Yet the American au- thorities say: "You must go" Is this the policy of non-interference? It may be, but the Filipino Catholic will be easily dissolved from the charge of mental obtuseness if he cannot see it in that light.
 If the Filipino looks upon the com mission as his worst enemy, who, is to blame? Governor Taft goes over there as the representative of this country, allies himself with the Kati- punan society, or at least shows it de cided favoritism, and organizes a so- called Federal party, the leaders of which are the leaders of the secret so- cieties whose hostility to the Catholic church is not even disguised. Tn the constitution of the Federal party, or gan1zed at the suggestion of Governor Taft, is an article expressing in no doubtful terms their opposition to the four religious orders of the church. The chiefs of this society are appoint ed by Governor Taft to the principal offices in the islands. These men know that if the friars were back in theirparishesfhe people would be good Catholics, and in consequence out of the reach of the Katipunan and other such societies. and that their self-ap- pointed guides could not use them to further their own selfish ends. To-day the greater number of the governors are against the church and easily in- tfmidate the people, and when priests raise cry of warning these self-con- sttuted champions of the liberties of a people, the vast majority of whom don't want their leadership, denouncel priests as interfering in politics Yer fly, they are following in the footsteps of the A. F. A. and kindred societies in the states. But is it the policy of non-interference? Again, take the school question. We foist what we call the American system of educa- tion upon a people the vast majority of whom are Catholics and have been receiving a truly Christian education, mere IS much ignorance in the islands, IF IS true; but proportionately the scandard of education is good. Why TOD these people, who believe in the TellgSOus education of their children oI rne r1ght to do so? Why unload on them crowd of imported Americans tnat EnoW nothing of their language. tehgaon' customs and manners? Was It to teach them secular branchas The friars were doing that very snc- cessfully. Was it to teach then1 7oo5.- alfty? Some of those who -Uan+ +haro
 1t learn morality from thoseI 1eI1 @ was 10 secularize the Filipino, to| rop nm or his faith and give himt Ill return. When the call eane TOT teachers, why did not the Sove1i.Hient accept those offered bv Al Aaenpishop n5 Kain or by Father Kelly 1 Cncago! Oh, no; that would he decidedly too much in favor of tho tatholle to mo t, F1lipdnos. who were designed ~ pe rhe prey of American nission~ al res, one or whorn,s by the way was e cofoSsad fraud and found it conve1, dTTos ieaee une country because he hoped ho 100 many into the beIief tbat
 sao Duu make gold out of salt water. says an Episcopalfan miss,onar1 5E IEev John A: staarton) 1T wish iS,HnAey' tn ay pr gss my deliberate conviction that tha people as a whole have 1 One rrfore nf re-, 1nsmate s knowledge of the facts pr our Savior's life to-day than tbaS w1h have fifty years hence, when % rs, lig g1ous processions have been prartic ally prohfbited by or abandoned tnrough the influence of Anericen We send missiona ries to them as if they were heather. Thnse missionaries with the consent and inc