A CURIOUS ISSUE by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 10.

A CURIOUS ISSUE.

By G.

PRESIDENT SCHURMAN, of Cornell University, who, from personal observation, is in a position to know whereof he speaks, has given his opinion of the issue in the Philippines. The real trouble there, according to a recent address by the professor, is between the natives and the Spanish religious orders. The majority of the “civilized” natives are Catholic, therefore their controversy with the Spanish “fathers” is not religious. The orders own vast estates of the best lands, and the natives object to them, not as religious overseers, but as landlords. It is mainly because these Spanish friars are landlords that the Filipinos have long been demanding that native priests be assigned to them.

Long before the late war between the United States and Spain, the Filipinos had been in rebellion against the Spanish Government, but their real grievance was the landlordism and secular domination of the friars. But the Church of Rome was a State church, supported by the government, and rebellion against the church’s rule was rebellion against the State. So far as the Philippine country was concerned, the church was not only supported by the State but it ruled the State. Practically, the church usurped the powers of the State.

One of the conditions of peace with the United States which the Filipinos have all along held out, has been that the Spanish friars be banished from the country, and their extensive landholdings be restored to the State. But the priestly orders hold these immense estates by law. Their titles were granted and recognized by Spain, and must be recognized by the United States, according to the treaty of peace between the two governments. If it were shown that the orders were holding lands in excess of their absolute titles, of course the excess would legally revert to the public domain; otherwise, the government would not be legally warranted in confiscating the property.

But it is a strange issue between a nominally Christian ministry and the flock over which they claim spiritual oversight. That the shepherds of the Master’s flock should also, by intrigue with a world power, become lords of the land designed for the sustenance of the flock, and carry on a system of oppression by virtue of such lordship, is far from the Spirit of Christ. Peter, whom Rome claims to regard as the first pope, has left very clear instruction on this subject. To the elders he says: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5: 2, 3.

That a government founded on principles of Protestant-republicanism should be inveigled into a necessary support of such a scheme, is evidence of a decided change. A decade ago, aside from the declarations of prophecy, people could not have been persuaded that the great model republic of the United States could have been so maneuvered thru the machinations of a religious power essentially and logically antagonistic to republican principles. Nothing could better illustrate the cunning of the great deceiver than the alertness with which a scheme inaugurated under monarchical auspices, and apparently possible only under monarchical principles, is being transferred to the fostering care of a republic whose boast is civil and religious liberty for her people. As a matter of fact, the lands are held by those nominal shepherds of the Christian church by force of the sword, their claims to them under the laws of Spain having been upheld by the sword for many years.

President Schurman suggests that, as the Filipinos do not like the friars as landlords, the government should buy the estates of the religious orders and sell them in small holdings to the people. He claims that it is not a religious controversy, but a question of landlord and tenant. However, the outlook seems to indicate that Rome will eventually decide what will be done, as her agents are in possession.