The Irish standard., 1906-03-17

Under the above heading, writer in
one Of the Catholic papers very readily
comes to the conclusion that they ex-
PEELED themselves, says Rev. Ambrose
Coleman, o. p. in Donahoe's Magazine
for March.
In another part Of the same paper
we are told how wrong it was Of the
friars to. abandon the Philippines, sew
eral. specious reasons being brought
forward to, put the responsibility on
them. It is hard indeed to have pa
tience with fiippant writer's Of this de-
scription. who show that during all
those years they have never taken the
trouble to grasp this question Alright.
Up to quite lately the ;friars were
blamed for staying against the wishes
Of the people," and their gradual elimi-
nation was viewed with equanimity, if
mot with real satisfaction, by the very
men who, now, instead Of apportion-
ing some part Of the blame to Them
selves. lay It nj on the friars.
The 9friers have not expelled them
selves; they have not been expelled by
the American government; thy have
not been expelled by the Filipina peo-
pie. They have been steadily driven out
by the same force that has driven them
out Of France and suppressed by the
religious orders in italy, Spain, Portu-
mot been expelled by tn Filipino po-
gal, Mexico and South America. The
government is indeed somewhat to
blame, but yet only that America is in
possession there would not be single
friar' left in the Philippines. Latin
Freemasonry is the keynote to the
whole situation, and to understand that
situation thoroughly, we must go back
10 Spanish times.
The Philippine revolution against the
Spanish government, like most other
revolutions in modern times, was es-
sentially irreligious in character. It's
promoters and principal agents were
anti-clerical and irreligious men Of the
militant type to be found in Latin
countries, and it's aims and objects
were anti-religious. though this fact
was concealed as far as possible from
the ordinary Fflipinos. who are still
dewout Catholics. No explanation of
the disastrous events of 1896 and 1898
Is Of any avail If it leaves Latin Free
masonry and its irreligious aims out Of
consideration. The revolution appealed
to few and was worked by few; the
mass Of the people, living under q pat
riarchal government that rarely had
to have recourse to force, were happy
and content with their lot, which in
deed was an eaviable one. The lead
ers of the revolutionary movement for
several years did not think Of armed re-
bellfon, for the very good reason that
they knew that Spain could count on
the spontaneous loyalty Of the over
whelming majority Of the Filipino peo-
pie. What Rizal and his colleagues
aimed at was the emancipation of their
countrymen from religious influences.
the destruction Of that Church which
had raised them from savagery to civ
ilization. They had all to a man
thrown OF religious beliefs and re-
straints during their sojourn in Europe,
and had entered the ranks of Latin
Freemasonry.
Accordingly, as in all other anti
Christian political movements in mod
ern times. campaign against the re-
ligi0us orders was made the starting
point. This campaign had been in
augurated in an informal way by the
Spanish olhcials who came in large
and increasing numbers to the Philip
pines after the opening of the Suez ca.
nal, and the new movement among the
educated Filipinos had their cordial
sympathy and unfailing support. The
object Of these gentry, a worthless and
incompetent set, was to get rich as
soon as possible and clear out of the
country as soon as they had made
enough. Finding the friars constant
check on their peculations and ready to
stand on the side of the poor agains,
exactions and oppression of every
kind, they conceived a violent hatred
against them and labored to destroy