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Show FRIARS VINDICATED. "After the storm comes a calm." In political campaigns how few take time to investigate the charges that are made. But when the storm is over, and the multitude realize how they were duped, they see their folly. During and after our war with Spain, from reports published in tho press, I the entire country was up in arms against Church influence in the Philippines. Xoisy, meddlesome preachers and politicians strove to sow the seed of discontent by maligning the friars and disparaging dispar-aging their work. We know the result. Xow comes their vindication aud that of the Church, from one J who knows. It is no hearsay testimony, but that of j the highest government official our present secretary secre-tary of war, who was governor of the islands. Governor Gov-ernor Taft was invited to address the Presbyterian Social Union of Philadelphia recently. In his address, ad-dress, as reported, he said: ''The subject of the Church in the Philippines covers the entire history of these islands. Going back to the beginning of Spanish occupation we find the heroes of Christianity, the Spanish priests and friars, leading the way. Before and with and after the soldiers came these valiant men of God, carrying only the cross." Their mission was not to exterminate, but, like the pioneer missionaries among our own American Ameri-can Indians, to civilize and Christianize. In this twofold, mission they were successful.. The preach-ors preach-ors went to the islands and, with a loud sound of trumpets, made believe they were doing wonders. Backed by the bayonet, churches were destroyed and confiscated. We read of the dense ignorance that prevailed, the laxity, of morals, and the im-menso im-menso wealth of the friars. The new crusaders went there to reform morals. The laws of the sanctity sanc-tity and indissolubility of marriage, that prevailed, were antiquated and wcre-soon repealed. The right I of tho friars to their possessions was questioned, and their tyranny as landlords was heralded far and wide. We know the result a forced sale of their property. But was all this, which the people believed be-lieved at idic time, am stjll believe, Did the friars, like hirelings, go after the wool and abandon aban-don the sheep, to enrich themselves? Did they neglect their twofold mission of Christianizing and civilizing the natives? Governor Taft now answers. The answer is significant and should stop the mouths of growlers. In his address he said: When Spain found that no gold was to be had in ihe islands and that the rich spices that had come from other possessions were not there, it wanted to leave the islands and their peoples. To this course the friars objected. They said: "Here is our field of souls; here our harvest for God. It is not right that we should go and take from these poor souls the light they have just faintly seen." So Spain yielded. The friars made parishes, taught the catechism, taught useful things. Thus it is that we found ready to our hand more than 6,000,-000 6,000,-000 of Malays who are Christians and who are receptive re-ceptive to our civilization. Xo one who knows of conditions as they hare beo"n will charge me with partiality to the friars. Still I will testify to the work and usefulness of these men of God. The Dominicans established the University of St. Thomas in 1610, long before the establishment of Harvard, Yale or any other American Ameri-can university. It was charged the friars obtained their lands unjustly. I did not find that there was truth in this-allegation.- That they were oppressive landlords was also charged. I could find no evidence to sustain this .allegation. Here is an honest expression of the real state of, affairs in the Philippines. It should teach a salutary lesson to disturbers of the peace who in their secret meetings are ever striving to cause irritation ir-ritation and hostility. |