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Series of exhibits highlighting religious issues in the Philippines, including disputes between religious and municipal authorities, opposition to the friars, and conflict between the Catholic Church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903
Archbishop John Ireland congratulates President Roosevelt about the success of the negotiations with the Vatican over the purchase of the Friar’s land in the Philippines. Ireland provides evaluations of several politicians both in Minnesota and at the national level.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-23
Partial page of The Commercial Advertiser with articles relating to William Jennings Bryan’s candidacy, Cuban Reciprocity, Governor Taft purchasing the friars’ lands in the Philippine islands, a Bogota conspiracy, and gold imports.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-12
Governor General of the Philippines Taft is concerned about Beekman Winthrop’s appointment to the Philippine Commission. There are several more experienced candidates and the appointment of such a young man could “disintegrate the Government.” Vice Governor Luke E. Wright has been diagnosed with amoebic dysentery and is not well. Bishops Denis J. Dougherty and Frederick Zadok Rooker have taken up their posts and Taft is pleased with them. He views the arrival of the American bishops as the end of the “Spanish friar hierarchy.” Negotiations for the friars’ lands continue, and Taft would recommend a deal that does not exceed $7.5 million.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-31
Governor Taft has received a protest from the town of Dagupan regarding two Dominican friars in town. According to the Treaty of Paris, Spaniards, including friars, are entitled to go anywhere in the Philippines “in pursuit of their calling.” Citizens are not required to listen to the friars or to attend church and can attend any religious worship they choose. The government will preserve peace and freedom of religion. Governor Favilla’s task is to explain the situation to the citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-13
Governor Taft defends the Philippine Commission and the Federal Party against charges that they have pursued policies hostile to the Catholic Church. The complaint was submitted by Father O’Mahoney through Bishop McFaul of New Jersey. Taft specifically addresses the complaints and defends his own position and the position of others in regards to the charges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-05
Governor Taft reviews recent events in the Philippines, including negotiations over the acquisition of the friars’ lands, difficulties with merchants, the construction of an electric trolley railway, and a survey for a new Manila water supply. General Wood has taken hold of Moro Province with “vim and vigor.” Robert Taft has returned to the United States for preparatory school, and Helen Herron Taft is not ill but needs “building up of her nerves.” Taft has been horseback riding for exercise and hopes to continue this activity when he returns to Washington, D.C. He would like an exception made so his horse can accompany him back to the states.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-22
Summaries of 105 incidents related to religious controversies throughout the Philippines. The incident and the action taken by the government is described for each event.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-22
Justice McDonough of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is surprised by the rumors that he has been “antagonizing the Commissioners,” so he explains to President Roosevelt his interactions with Governor William H. Taft and General James Francis Smith. McDonough discusses the conflict between the Catholic friars and the government and expresses regret that the friars wish only to deal with Taft and not Smith, the latter of whom has been described harshly by Filipino Catholics. For his own part, McDonough has been reticent to denounce the friars because he sees their potential to preach peace, lawfulness, and loyalty to the United States and because he upholds freedom of religion in the Philippines. He also sees the sale of the friars’ lands as “purely a church question.” These privately expressed opinions aside, McDonough assures Roosevelt that he has been careful with his words and has not opposed Taft, Smith, or Vice Governor Wright in any way. He also quells a rumor that he has sought a seat of his own on the commission, expressing his desire merely to “serve this court with credit” before returning to Albany. He closes with a postscript requesting financial and transportation assistance for him and his family to return home when his term in the Philippines is over.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-14
Father Vattmann discusses his audience with Pope Leo XIII and other Catholic dignitaries, especially concerning information he had learned during his stay in the Philippines. Vattmann expresses disappointment among military that Colonel William Spencer McCaskey has not been promoted to Brigadier General.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-24
The main Philippines question that interests American Catholics is the proposed government purchase of the holdings of the religious corporations. Richard Campbell believes that the whole future of church-state relations on the islands depends on the solution to this issue. The friars are demanding exorbitant prices and the papal delegate, Monsignor Giovanni Battista Guidi, appears to lack the authority to force a settlement. There is often violence against the religious corporations as they are viewed as an extension of the old Spanish administration. Campbell found many faults with the Spanish administration but compliments them on bringing and maintaining Christianity in the Philippines. He believes that the new bishops will be the key to handling the land purchases and the church will decide what to do with the friars. The general conditions of the islands are well and Campbell compliments the work of Governor Taft, Vice Governor Wright, and Commissioner Ide.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-30
Justice McDonough reflects on his first three months in the Philippines. He tells President Roosevelt of his surprise at the “remarkable progress” there and remarks how much the natives like Governor William H. Taft. In general, McDonough finds the Filipinos to be hard workers, and a “happy, clean, sober, virtuous, family-loving and religious people.” He also shares his thoughts on the Catholic friars in the Philippines. As much as they are criticized, McDonough praises the “great good” they have achieved in religion and education over the last three centuries and sees them as potential allies in assuring Filipino cooperation with the American government. Still, the friars’ land ownership is widely resented by the Filipino people, who McDonough feels would look more favorably on the friars’ work if these lands were acquired by the government. Presently, the friars complain of discrimination at the hands of barrio officials who even prevent them from ministering to those who have requested it. McDonough will do what he can to ensure that clergymen of every denomination are given equal protection under the law and to bring about an “amicable settlement” in the land matter, even if that means paying more than the land is worth.
Governor Taft addresses several topics; including a draft law for the administration of the Moro region, the purchase of friar lands in the Philippines from the Catholic Church, and Taft’s potential future as Secretary of War and presidential nominee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-04-27
Vice Governor Wright agrees with the value of scientific research in the Philippines outlined in the Committee of the Academy of Science report, but doubts the ability of the Insular Government to undertake it. He also comments on church issues in the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-26
Salvatore Cortesi confidentially relates a conversation with Cardinal Satolli in which Satolli indicated that he would privately agree with the expulsion of troublesome friars from the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-24
Governor Taft is working towards finding a land settlement with the Catholic Church in the Philippines, which has been complicated by the success of a schismatic independent Filipino church. Taft thanks President Roosevelt for allowing him to remain as Governor of the Philippines and apologizes for any embarrassment that was caused when the President had to find a new appointee for the Supreme Court.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-27
Eugene A. Philbin sends multiple enclosures on a variety of topics related to the Roman Catholic Church. Many in New York oppose President Roosevelt’s actions in the Philippines and will vote against the Republicans. Philbin did not allow “the friar matter” to cause opposition to Governor Odell. He also discusses the Freemasons and hopes that Roosevelt will meet with Monsignor Kennedy of the American College at Rome.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-24
John J. Wynne is pleased that Judge Smith has been appointed to the Philippine Commission and thought that President Roosevelt reacted well to Catholic protests over the friar question. However, Wynne does not favor Roosevelt’s support of Freemasonry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-07
Governor Taft reviews a variety of Philippine issues; including the friars controversy, the public school system, reforming the civil administration, and the military situation of the islands. Generally, he believes that the condition of the Philippines is good and likely to get better.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-13
Bishop McFaul would like Eugene A. Philbin to assure President Roosevelt of the good will of the American Federation of Catholic Societies. McFaul favors a public school system in the Philippines but wanted it to be adapted to the Catholic majority with religion as part of the curriculum. He also believes that the friar question would have resolved itself without government intervention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-20