The New York herald., 1873-12-07
Bapsism and Conversion OF the Twenty.

TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD
The Bishop OF Santiago dc Cuba expresses his
eminent satisfaction and gives thanks TO God that
20 OF the murdered crew and passengers OF the
virgnus entered the bosom Of the Church, few
hours before their execution, to save their souls,
and that they were baptized by two jealous aud
worthy priests. That these unfortunate men were
baptized asmlts OF no doubt. SO lar the Bishop
and his priests are, truth iul. But we're they con-
verled as His Lordship tells us2 1t is bu; rarely
that Protestans become converts to the Roman
Catholic fatth, and then only one or two
at the time, and at long intervals,
when they are free, Independent, fearless,
and probably after due inquiry and
instructions; scarcely ever when on the point OF
death. Here. however we nave a batch OF 20 per-
sons who all at once change their faith on the
brink OF the grave, without inquiry or inyestiga-
ion. Is 1t at all probable that these men, under
these peculiar circumstances, voluntarily, spon.
taneously, suddenly changed their iaith, contrary
10 all experience, which teaches that almost al
ways men become steadfast in the iaith In which
they have been reared as they behold or appre-
hend the approach OF deaths Those men were in
durance-in the hands OF their bitter, their deadly
enemies; but, provided they entered the bosom Of
the Church, their lives might be saved" THIS ls
not new trick. IL is as old as the days OF the In
quisltlon, when heretics aud Jews, already bound
on tner lips, TO make the pious spectators beneve
that alter all, they wished 10 die repentant and In
the latin. Were these poor prisoners IN position
10 dash away the vessel that held the water OF
, baptlsmr Would they have submitted to tnat rite
| had they been tree agents Among the ctIms TO
| cruelty aud alsehood was a Jew-Samuel Hard.
felhaps tue Bishop spoke truth. Now, OF all re-
nRlonlsts the Jews entertain the strongest aver
SION 70 Catholicism. Thousands went into exile,
aoanuoDng all their worldly goods, all their pros
/ pects, thousands ol all ages ana botn sexes have
suneleu death ON the pile rather than even merely
| submit 70 the bare, harmless formality o baptism
thousands VINO through rear had submitted TO H.
| abured the new faith as soon as they could safely
do so. Not one has ever been known to lie a
sincere Cath0ic-to die otherwise than
Jew. Is it at all likely that this samuel
Hard this Jew, with his hatred botn OF Iathoclsm
aud OF the spanish administrators OF the rite Of
baptism, would nave submitted to that rite had he
not been persuaded to do so on the promise that
his LIE would be spared2 know enough, not only
Of the jewish sentiment, but OF the d0lngs oil the
Spanish clergy and tneir an ecedens, to be thor.
oughiy convinced oil the TACT that lew or none OF
tile ~ victims were really convertcd-that deceit
or force, perhaps both, were employed IN their
baptism mot convcrsi0n) that lear aud nope and
FOOLISH trust III the promises oil the TWO priests,
and lastly, the useessDess OF resistance TO force,
made these men receive the water OF baptism AZ
the hands OF the Two priests and that the Bisbon