Diplomatic Relations With Rome
By L. A. S.
The Northwestern Christian Advocate (Methodist) is stirred over the progress Rome is making to secure through the Philippine negotiations the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States. It appears that very satisfactory progress to this end is being made at Manila, the papal apostolic delegate and the archbishop of Manila having been recognized by the United States authorities as diplomatic representatives to the islands. Not only this, but the names of these two papal prelates stand first in the list of diplomatic and consular representatives as published in the official government directory at Manila. They are given precedence over the dean of the consular corps. The Advocate says it is evident “that some one in the office of the adjutant-general of the Philippine division of the United States army at Manila assumes to possess more power than the president of the United States or the Secretary of War, and in the exercise of that assumption of power has recognized the papal apostolic delegate and the archbishop of Manila as diplomatic representatives to the Philippine Islands.” “We commend the unauthorized action,—we are sure that this action is unauthorized,”—says the Advocate, “to the notice of the president of the United States and the Secretary of War, who we have no doubt will direct the adjutant-general to issue a new directory of diplomatic and consular representatives with the names of the apostolic delegate and the archbishop of Manila omitted.” We are not so sure as is the Advocate that this concession to Rome on the part of the American representative at Manila was entirely unauthorized by the home government, or that a new directory will be issued with the names of the apostolic delegate and the archbishop omitted. Governmental honors to the papacy are by no means unknown at Washington. It was only a month ago that Secretary-of-war Taft gave a dinner at which the guest of honor was Cardinal Satolli, who was present as a church dignitary, dressed in his ecclesiastical robes. The secretary gave a toast to the cardinal, in which he spoke of being deeply indebted to the latter for past favors. It is quite probable that the cardinal might be willing to accept diplomatic recognition of Rome in the Philippines in part payment of this indebtedness. It is quite certain that while cordial relations with the papacy exist at Washington, those at Manila will be of a similar character. There remains also the Catholic vote to be considered, which in the pending national election might be antagonized by any such action on the part of the administration, as the Advocate suggests. The purpose of the papacy is to prolong the negotiations relating to Philippine affairs, in the hope that an opportunity will occur, or that an occasion can be created, for securing the establishment of diplomatic relations between Rome and the United States. The mission of Governor Taft to the Vatican, while authorized here as a business one solely, was treated as of a diplomatic character at Rome, and repeatedly through the press, hints have been thrown out that a diplomatic representative from the Vatican might soon be accredited6to Washington, the purpose in this being to feel the pulse of public sentiment in the matter and to accustom the public mind to the idea. A further advantage has now been gained at Manila by the recognition of the papal ecclesiastics as holding a high diplomatic position. When public sentiment in this country consents to this — if it does consent — the way will be open for a further step. The danger lies in the fact that American Protestantism is on the wane. Recently American statesmen have been saying that the nation has outgrown the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. It may be that the principle of the separation of church and state has likewise been “outgrown.” Rome is losing ground in Catholic nations; but if she captures the American republic, her gain here will more than make good all the loss she sustains elsewhere.