New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-20
RELIGIOUS TOLERATION IN SOUTH
AMERICA.

n
America is the question OF relgious toleIauon
Without freedom of religion there VIII De no
free press, no immigration OF foreign LABOR anu
capital, and no consolidation OF q llDeral con-
stitution. For three hundred years all these
countries. rs Spanish and Portuguese depend
encies. have known but one form OF religion,
that of the Roman Catholic Church, and even
when. at the beginning of the present century,
they established their independence, most OF
them continued their intOlerant laws; ana
some of them like Peru, Bolivia, ana ECUADOR
maintain these laws, at least on paper, up 10
the present day.
But it was to be expected that countries
which are in constant commercial and social
intercourse with the great Protestant nations
of the world, and all of which, with only one
exception, have a republican form OF govern
ment, would make at least earnest efforts TO
place themselves, on the question OF religious
liberty, as well as on political questions, on a
level with the most advanced nations OF the
world In some Of the States these efforts nave
met with complete success and secured an OIL
cial recognition of the principle of religious
toeration in all, liberal party is well or
ganized, which, with the aid of an influential
press, demands it. The struggle is assuming
large dimensions in most of the States; and
its present aspect promises the most gratifying
results. =
The greatest advance toward freedom of
religion has been made in Brazil. This En-
pre- which, if the present rate OF increase OF
its population continues-and there is no rea-
son why it should not-must soon take Its
rank among the great powers OF the world,
has long since learned to appreciate the adj
vantages which vast country with q thin
population can expect from an industrious inn
migration. The measures adopted to encourage
immigration have not always been wise, and,
in many cases, the good intentions of the Gov
eminent have been thwarted by the dishOn-
esty of subordinate officers but it must be
said, to the credit of many of the Brazilian
statesmen and ministers, that they desired
to encourage foreign immigration, and that
they did not shrink from offering TO Protestant
settlers free exercise of their religion, and
even financial aid for the establishment OF
churches and schools. And thus, while many
immigrants have again left the country, dis
appointed in their hopes, many have remained,
and Brazil, which already has population OF
fully 100000 Germans and Swiss large pOr-
ton of whom are Protestants, has a num-
Der of churches, schools and newspapers. More
recently Presbyterian missionaries from the
United States have constituted, without hind
eTance from the Government, regular Pres
bytery, the members of which are mostly ma
tives, who have left the Roman Catholic
Church, and now we learn that the Liberal
party, under the leadership of a former Prime
Minister, has resolved to inscribe on its banner
the principles of religious freedom and Of sep
ara,ion between Church and State.
Among the Spanish American Republics, the
Argentine Republic is likely to take the lead
in this as in many other reform questions.
None Of these States have ever had Presi-
dent who was O moro sincere admirer of
liberal Institutions, civil as well as religious, of
the United States, than President Sarmiento.
He has entered upon his duty with the deter.
mnation to make popular education as uni
veIsal as it is in our country, and the first
months of his administration confirm the great
hopes which his well-known progressive views
have awakened. Emigration from Europe is
increasing at very rapid rate, the number of
emigrants during the first six months of the
year 1868 exceeding largely the number of any
not object to the building of Protestant
Churches, Of which there are four in the
Capital Buenos Ayres. 1t seems that in this
respect, the Argentine Republic will soon sur
pass any other South American State.
Chill has a considerable foreign Protestant
population in some of its Southern provinces,
especially in Yaldvia, and it is untirng in its
endeavors TO increase their number. The Protes
tants have for many years had several churches,
and popular opinion inclines to extend their
rights, though it may not yet be prepared to
put them on an equal footing. Mexico boasts
nine small congregations of Protestants.
The most important, though not yet the
greatest, of the cities of Spanish America, Pan
anna, is, as far as its commerce and wealth is
concerned foreign and n Protestant city, and
it is likely to become so more and more. The
liberal policy in the United States of CO.
lombia has generally favored the cause of
religious freedom, and o significant fact
with regard Ito this point is the
recent dedication in its capital, Bogota, of
Protestant Church in the presence of an ex-
President of the Republic and many other of |
the most prominent men of the State. Yene- |
zuela, also, is very anxious TO secure an
though it be Protestant, from the |
United States. Thus, in most of the South |
American States the principle of religious
liberation has made, and is still making, con-
siderable progress, and there is even reason to |
hope that ere long even full freedom of religion
will be established in some of them Once
firmly established in few States, religious |
liberty will soon extend its triumphant march I
over the whole of the South American Continent. |