The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-04-11
Those $4,000 Spanish Converts.
SAVANNAH. GA. March 30tb

SAVANNAH, Ga, March 3Oth, 1878.
| To the Editor of the Morning Star:
Sr-l write for the purpose of calling your
attention to the following sensational cable
telegram, emanating from an among nous
, source in the Spanish capital and for obtain
ing some information as to these alleged ICON
versons:"
MADRID. March 27.-According to statistics,
from Protestant sources. thirty thousand
| Spaniards have been converted TO Protestant
| ism since 1868.
| If not totally false, the above statement is
grossly exaggerated, and was probably cooked
up" by an emissary of the English and Ameri-
can Boroboula Cha Associations for the con-
version of anonymous savages in unknown
islands.
From what have heard of the Hspano-
Mexican perverts, l am inclined to believe that
the "thirty Thousand converts" to misty and
uncertain Professionalism upon close scru-
tiny, will dwindle to a few hundred ignorant
people and to the ntidels nihilists and the
members of secret AID sathbound, deistical
J. societies.
1t is singular fact that whenever the 30
called Liberal party" of Spain and Italy OBJ
tain power they demonstrate the love of
liberty of the press, speech and worship" by
suppression of newspapers and by imprisoDing
or banishing editors and clergymen who adj
here to the opposition party; and in Spain,
Italy and Germany, by interfering with the
rights of the citizens who may take orders in
the Church or may aspire to the same.
1t is chiefly in despotic countries, where
there is no real constitutional government,
that the rights and independence aud discip-
line of the Chnrch nferfarai pth md
that citizens, who may choose to connect them
selves with religious societies, are either ban
ished or imprisoned, and their property taken
highway robbers.
Such arbitrary infringement on the rights
and property of the citizens would be impossi-
BILE in any Euglish-speakIng country, where.
thank God, magma charter, the writ of habeas
corpus trial by jury, the liberty of the press,
speech, pulpit and worship, are still cherished
by the people.
Just imagine an order in Council directing
the transfer of st. Georges Cathedral, South
wark, to Mr.. Sturgeon, for use as Baptist
meeting house, or an act of the Congress of the
United States, turning over Trinity Church, in
New York, to the Methodists, and also author.
iaing the seizure of the property belonging to
the Trinity Church corporation, and requiring
that hereafter the rector should be elected by
the congregation, instead of being nominated
in accordance with the canons of the Church.
Such outrages have been perpetrated in Spain,
Italy, Germany and in Mexico to some extent.
At Acapulco, in Mexico, the infidel Governor
took possession of pFirste chapel, erected on
gentleman's plantation for Catholic worship
and gave it to the minister of some Protestant
sect, thus robbing the owner of the estate of
a portion of his own property; all this by one
of the liberal party" in that half breed Indian
country.
The advocutes of free progress when in
power on the Continent, much as they pretend
to love progress, have no love for free discus
sion, for they usually answer the logic and
of their clerical" opponents with |
brute force-tbe bayonet, the Jail, confscation,
Punishment and robbery.
We old fashioned, Jeffersonian, constitution
al, American democrats are disguised with the
absurd inconsistencies aud hypocritical pre-
tensions of the heading spirits of the Cont !
mental liberal party" These imposters have
stolen the livery of heaven to serve the devil
in" They sail under false colors; they pretend
to be constitutioBalists, aud their acts, I'M
worthy of even the Russian Government
prove them to be absoIutists, and to be believ-
era in the divine right Other party. The
of ethe sectarian prosely tsing
who are kept afoat by contributions
from their we'll meaning bat supplemented
British and American 'dupes, seem to be
''cheered" By the increase of inidelity in Spain
aud Italy and some of the gospel" fanatics
whose zeal 'outruns their discretion, go into
oyerthe occasional accession 60 their
Of suspended or exoommunioated