New-York tribune., 1908-05-22
MR.. TAFT LIN NASHVILLE
SDedks to Bar association ON Ph'Hp-
nine Church Problem.

Nashville, Tenn May 2i.-secretary Tart was
the guest Of honor of the Tennessee Bar Assoo'a a
ton here to-day. He arrived last eVehi,e' 1
the guest of Judge Horace H. Lurton. IN an ae
drss tor,ebf besore the Bar Association Mr.. Taft
discussed the taking over of the Philippines he
said
One of the most serious objections tnaI @ the dit
us felt in taking over the ~ rise in the transfer
OF the sovereignty of monarchy m m ha In their
ern tne and risdicon inextricably united to
sovereignty like that of the Unlteu si.io and custom
both by Constitution and by tradI'iIbt .ba % 1'burcb
the State is entirely separate from 'he oN
He then discussed at length the reiatiois =.
Church and State the effect OF res'oi a''0,
the Jesuits and the Aguinaldo 1nsurrec'ioi'
soon as peace was restored" he continued ana
the new government had established coihpre-
hensiye judicial system, the question which thrust
itself on the authorities was the danger W 'Ae
peace Of the community growing out OF 'he assei
ton by the friars who owned lalse '," "
agricultural ancs Of their title, and their bringing
suits to collect rents past and present Tor their
property confscated by Agunaldo and captured
by the United States army" He told or the heso-
tiations between the Church of Rome ana the
agents of the government, and gave history or
the negotiations that resulted In Inc purchase vi
the frars' lands adding:
1t is possible that the friar lands will not prove
to be worth what we paid for them although III II
shall probably be able to escape with a slight loss
tenants The rinderpest carried off Is per cent Of
the cattle of the islands and greatly interfered with
affects the ease with which the friar lands may ~
now be disposed OF to tenants. The destruction OF
so many OF the cattle cannot be remedied under
decade The satisfactory disposition of the 1rar
lands now owned by the government VIII pfoDapiy
be retarded for a number of years.
The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines
is IN deplorable condition from properly anu
financial standpoint. Its losses during the Ievo-
utionary were heavy. The deprivation OF lts
priests blythe circumstances which nave re1erTeo
to interfered greatly with its usefulness ana IN
fuence. This is most unfortunate matter 1or the
islands. viewed from a purely governmental Stdhu-
point. The Roman Catholic Church must aiways
be the most important influence for the upilftns
of the Filipino people. and its prosperity VIII az
ways make for the good of the F1lpinos oince
the American occupation other denominations nave
gone into the islands and have been doing good
there both directly and because the spirit or Chrs
tian emulation which, their presence creates ooes
good the older Church.
AS a non-C,atholic. I sincerely beleVe tand L
think that there Protestants that know the
conditions in the island who do not admitl that 1t
whole have :he Roman Catholic Church restored
to a condition of prosperity. This change for fhe
better must be slow. because OF the chanse from
payment of priests by the government TO pay
ment by contributions Of the congregations
Mr. Taft was entertained at old-fashioned
as the guest of Judge j. NJ. Dickinson, president
of tho American Bar Association. He attended the
morning session Of the bar association, but made
formal address, merely expressing his gratitude
for the courtesies shown to him by the Tennessee
lawyers He said he expected to '"n1ict ad-
dress the members of the association tonight.
Lawyers fight and carry controversies from
day to day he added and yet together on
occa sions like this perfect harmony and accord
and this made the legal profession so dear to him