Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-11-16
TAFT EXPLAINS PURCHASE
OF LANDS IN PHILIPPINES.
Says Catholics Got Same Consideration
That Would Have Been Accorded Any
Religious Body in Same Position.

church in the Philippines except tt
say this:
That the influence of all the churches
| in the Philippines was necessary fol
the uplifting Of the people and that
| therefore everyone would desire tho
prosperity Of all The churches, and that
as the Roman Catholic church had the
largest following every one, protes-
tants or Catholics, would desire its
prosperity; that it was in deplorablC
| condition due to the change in the sit
nation in which the government paid
its expenses, to one in which it was
bound to look to its parishOners for
support. and that they We're in the
habit of deriving benefit from the
church and not contributing to it. II
made a difficult situation for the Ro-
man church.
Is it not true that half of the population
of 100000 of the people are not Roman
Catholics. There was at one time a large
detection, due to the so-called Aglipay
schism, but it has not been maintained
in number and many arc returning to ele
Roman Catholic church. while others are
going into Protestant churches.
The present governor is Roman Cath
olic but lie is one Of the most careful men
in maintaining an impartial attitude be-
tween Catholics and Protestants that we
could possibly have He does not forbid
teachers to take an interest in Protestant
Sunday school work or to attend Protes-
tant churches. Only by law there is en-
joined upon teachers the non-teaching OF
religious matters in public schools.
No money has been paid to the friars
for libraries that they claim to have been
burned, so far as l can recollect. The
sum of money paid was for rent and dam
age to converts or rectolies by United
States soldiers.
/ do not think that Catholic disnita:ies
in the Catholic churches should have
greater consideration from a public Off
cial than any other regularly organized
religious body. 1t has happened that by
reason of the fact that the Philippine
government under Spain was ineXtiicably
united with the Catholic church. and that
that union had to be severed and prOp-
erty and other interests had to be as
signed tc the church or to the estate l
had much to do with the hiarchy of the
Catholic church and visited Rome in or
der to bring about a settlement The set
tlemert has been brought about, an,i in
my Judgment it is fair ard just to all
parties.
Il am not a Catholic, and have not
been affiliated with the Catholic church.
All l have attempted to do was TO do
Justice to that church and to the Phili-
pno people / have treated that church
exactly as l would have treated any
other church had it been in a similar
position to that of the Catholic church.
\ | may add with respect to the friars'
, lands that the purchase vas political
one and agrarian one rather than COM
mercial one. There were $4,000 tenants on
the fliars' lands who became of the con-
fiscatory measure passed by the so-called
Malolos Aounaldo convention, refused to
recognize the title of the friars. This
title was as good a title as there was
in the Philippines. and it authorized the
friars to 30 into our courts when they
were established and institute $1,000 evic-
ton suits. This would have led 70 a
second revolution, and it was an ah-
solute political necessity that we should
buy the lands and then attempt to dis
pose of them. as we are now doing to the
tenants on long and even terms Cf pur-
I chase.
(Signed) Very sincerely yOnrs,
WILLIAM II. TAFT
, The Rev. Magnus Larson. First SWed-
ish Baptist church, SCI Sims street. St
Paul, MINI.