The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-06-04
Friars in the
Total lob DAG

The latter number has been reduced
considerably since the first of the year,
and it is probable that there are now
less than 200 altogether, most of them
living idly in the mOnasteries Of Man
lila because they dare not go into the
country for fear of the vengeance of
their former parishioners Many of
them are old and infrm and cannot
leave the country. Others are needed
here to look after the property of their
orders, but none of them is doing par
ish work outside of Manila. The DOM
inicans have formally renowned be-
fore the holy see all claims upon their
former parishes, and have dedicated
themselves hereafter exclusively to
educational work. Most of those who
have left have gone back to Spain or
to the South American countries. That
has been the most difficult feature of
the problem. They are not welcomed
anywhere and there really was no
place for them to go.
The truth of the matter is that Gov
ernor Taft and Mgr. Guidi settled the
friar land question in a satisfactory
manner to both sides and the only op-
position to the settlement comes from
the tenants who have occupied the
friar lands since the beginning of the
revolution in 1896 up to the present
time without paying any rents to the
friars. These tenants now claim title
to much of this land and refuse to va
cate or pay rent. Naturally these peo-
pie are opposed to the friars for selfish
motives and are interested in keeping
up a struggle which has been to their
interest. We can hardly understand
how Mr.. Curtis can find reason for
charging the Catholic Church with
present troubles. The holy see and
the head of the religious orders Joined
with the American government in
striving to arrive at Il fair settlement
of the land question. Mr.. Curtis has
never been suspected Of being friend
of the Catholic Church and yet he is
compelled to say:
'"rhe negotiations were conducted
personally by Judge Taft and Com
missioner Smith, secretary of educa-
ton and justice who is himself q
Roman Catholic, on the part Of the
government, and Mgr. Guidi, the apos-
tolc delegate who was sent from Rome
for this purpose. assisted by three at
torncys representing the Franciscans,
Recoletos and Augustinians. and Il
Dominican monk who has great bust
ness and legal ability.
"When Mgr. Guidi first came here he
met With considerable opposition and
other difficulties. After the Spanish
surrender and while the peace COM
missoners We're sitting at Paris, the
FMnciscans, Recoletos and Augustin-
ians, fearing that their property would
lie confiscated hurriedly conveyed
their titles to lay trustees and attor-
neys and to fictitious corporations
which We're organized for that pur-
pose. So when Mgr. Guidi called upon
them for an accounting they denied
having any lands or other agricultural
property. The Dominicans, however,
We're open and candid in all their deal
ings and made full and accurate
statement of their possessions. The
other orders resented the interference
of the vatican in their affairs. The
failure of Judge Taft's efforts to secure
a settlement in Rome in 1902 was due
to similar attitude on the part of the
superiors of the several orders there.
10 console and crafty them the nego-
tiations We're transferred to Manila
and Mgr. Guidi was sent over to con-
duct them. He is a man of great abil-
fty. tact, shrewdness and determine