Catholic Influence in the Philippines
In order to get rid of the friar incubus in the Philippines the President’s commission has recommended that the government of the Philippine Islands borrow money on the Philippine customs, and pay the friars the enormous demand for their holdings. And to the question as to “why the President delayed so long to publish the report of the Philippine Commission,” the Independent makes the following suggestive answer:— Is it not conceivable that during that time he had quite another object than that of persuading Congress to pass the military bill, and that the Catholic authorities in this country were quietly consulted as to whether the proposal of the Taft Commission would be satisfactory, and that it was found to be acceptable? And does anybody notice now that this last week or two the leading Catholic papers are quite changing their tone, and are speaking favorably of the report of the Taft Commission and the proposition for the purchase of the friars’ property and their withdrawal from the islands? People should keep their eyes and ears open. From the very beginning of this new “world-career” of the United States, the Catholic authorities have been quietly consulted by the President of the United States. And now it has become a regular thing. And if the United States ever gets out of the papal meshes thus already woven, it will do more than the papacy intends, and more than those expect who really keep their eyes and ears open. Leo’s statement of 1892, that what the papacy has done for other nations she will do for the United States, is fast coming true.