Religion and politics

Bernard MacGillian is concerned that the Catholic Church is being ignored when selecting chaplains.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

Unknown

Series of editorials on liquor sales, wage earners, labor unions, and the two and a half cent coin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-09

The New York State Conference of Religion calls for further efforts and a “moral revival.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-30

General Wood has concluded an agreement for the church property in the Archbishopric of Santiago that he believes is advantageous. The sugar industry is suffering throughout Cuba but the reduction in railroad tariffs has helped maintain the confidence of the sugar planters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-16

Draft of a letter dictated and edited by Theodore Roosevelt for Outlook editor Lyman Abbott. He wishes to address the “Vatican incident” and has the utmost respect for Catholics. A note at the end says this letter was dictated, perhaps while on a steamship from Alexandria to Naples.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1910-04-03

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-05

The conditions in Puerto Rico are generally satisfactory and Governor Hunt recently delivered a speech to several thousand “respectful and well behaved” people. Bishop Blenk made a mistake by opposing a public school system which has created considerable excitement. Hunt fears that there will be far reaching consequences to Blenk’s misstep.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-06

Typed copy of a newspaper article criticizing Bishop Blenk for refusing to attend a school event in San Juan, Puerto Rico, due to the legal separation of education from religion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-14

Notification that the flag of Zion has been mailed to the President from the Ezras Chovevi Zion Association of Baltimore.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-11

Resolution passed at a meeting of the New York and New England Ministerial Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod protesting against President Roosevelt sending condolences on the death of Pope Leo XIII and therefore officially recognizing the papacy. The synod opposes the Catholic Church due to its stance on religious freedom and separation of church and state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-27

The New York and New England ministerial conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod adopted a resolution protesting against President Roosevelt sending condolences on the death of Pope Leo XIII. The Lutherans in attendance believe this action gives official recognition to the papacy and damages the separation of church and state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-29

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-30

Simon Wolf is part of a movement to send a petition to Emperor Nicholas II and Russia regarding discrimination against Jews. Wolf is willing to stop the petition if it would damage the Roosevelt administration or the country’s interests. He believes Russia is actively working to prevent the petition, including attempts to sway public opinion by bribing journalists. Wolf warns that Russia is masquerading as a friend but is aiming to “absorb China and the Eastern trade.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-03

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Rabbi Wise lists examples of times throughout history when leaders of the United States have intervened and spoken out against persecution of Jewish people around the world. He asks President Roosevelt to publicly denounce the “Kishineff” Massacre in order to prevent further violence against Jews in Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-22

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-27