The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-03
SPAIN.
Religious LIbersy-Imprisonms for
PrOtentan nttsm.

Religious Liberey-Im prisonmsnt for
PrOtestantism.
In the English House OF Commons on the
goth of July, Mr.. Baines asked the Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs If il was true that
Julian de Vargas, Spanish schoolmaster at
Malaga had been imprisoned in felon's prison
since the 18th OF March, and was now under
prosecution by the Fiscal, who demanded a SEN
tence OF seventeen months Imprisonment for
having in his house Spanish Bible and Testa-
mentLand aitew French Protestant books not of
a controversial character; and whether he
would use the friendly influence Of this Govern
ment with the Government OF Spain to OBJ AIN
an abandonment Of this religious persecution,
so calculated to offend the public feeling of the
rest OF Europe, where the rights of conscience
are now ackno wledged by the law of all couu-
tres, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and even
Mohamme edan.
Lord Stanley said he believed the facts of the
case were that man named Vargas, school,
master at Malaga, had been in prison some
weeks, and was at present under prosecution,
but there was some discrepancy in the various
statements which had reached him as to the
precise nature of the charge. If he understood
1t Alright, the charge was not for having Protest
ant books 10 his possession, but that he, being a
schoolmaster, was alleged to have taught Pro-
testant doctrines and the fact OF his having these
books in his possession was brought forward IN
support Of the charge The proceedings instl-
tuted were by the local authorities, and not
by the Spanish Government. This was
a very delicate matter for Her Maesty's
Government to meddle with, because, as
authority whatever to interfere. Any commune
cation between the two Governments must be
of the most friendly character and even in that
case they had 10 guard most carefully against
even the appearance of wishing to dictate to the
Spanish Government The only ground upon
which diplomatic acuon could be founded 10 q
case of this kind was that such proceedings
tended to create good deal OF excitement
among the Protestant communities which might
result in i'll feeling, and on that ground alone he
had felt himself at liberty, in friendly and un-
official manner, to alvlse the Spanish Govern.
ment to deal with Vargas with as much
leniency as possible under the circumstances.
Beyond that he did not think proper to go.
GREECE.
Greek sympathy with the Usited States.
On the 9th of June last, about midday, the
Metropolitan of Athens paid visit to his EX-
cellency MIR. Tuckerna an, United States Minister.
After the usual piments had been exchanged
the METROPOLITAN addressed Mr.. Tuckerman in a
speech, in which he said:-
"As one of the men of our grand struggle
commencing in 1921, and which continues still,
and as Chief of the Hellenic Clergy, desire to
express to you, the representative of the great
American nation, the gratitude OF my old COM
panions in arms belonging to the orthodox
clergy, and that of the whole Greek nation,
the American nation, in the old struggle
as in the new one in Crete, has conferred,
and yet confers, upon Eastern Christians
who fight for religion, country, and liberty.
| pray your eACelleDCy W CONVEY lue expressions
of our profound gratitude to the glorious Ameri-
can nation, and, if it be possible, to every
| American citizen, and say to them that SO long
as there shall be Greeks IN the world, the feeling
| of Hellenic gratitude towards the glorious
| American natisn will be transmitted from gene
ration to generation, and will be traced in in
! delible characters On the hearts of Greeks. The
! Greek clergy will ever pray the Eternal to grant
peace and prosperity to the world, but especially
to the nations SO closely united by benefits and
by gratitude. We could hardly stand in our
great struggle without the favors of Amerca
| but for American kindness many Cretan wido ws
and orphans must have perished of hunger aud
cold. God bless the Americans, the beneiactors
of the Christians of the Eastln