The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-09
The Mexican Persecution


The conduct of the 'libera" Government
with which Mexico 10 cursed 10 atrocious
| and ridiculous at the same time. Acting
in the name Of q Catholic people, it legis-
iates against their religion, pretending to
favor progress and enlightenment it de-
| scends to the meauest and pettiest modes
OF persecution. The only explanation of it's
| upj ust and arbitrary policy is to be found
In the fact that it is mainly composed of
secret sectaries aud Observation-Disclosures, who
believe it is their mission to extirpate AL
religion from the country. Why, we ask,
should they abolish religious communities
and drive their members into exilef Such
Legislation was not demanded by the peo-
pie, and there never was the slightest Ne
cessity for it shown. Freedom of assoc
iation is one of the privileges which repub-
lican government 10 supposed to bestow
upon its citizens, and no doubt Mexico
claims she possesses it. She does for an
purposes except those connected with the
Catholic Religion. If people want to start
a secret society of any kind they will not
be interfered with. Atheistic, Masonic or
Protestant organizations can be founded
and maintained without running any legal
risks. But Catholics will not be permitted
to form a society devoted to the service of
God and the relief of suffering humanity.
We cannot at all understand why if any
| number of men wish to become Dominicans,
Franciscans, or Garth usians, and live to,
by themselves, they should not be at perfect
liberty to do 80. They certainly intrude
upon nobody's rights. They offend against
no law based upon Justice. They do not
| imperil the safety or the tranquility of the
State. Consequently, the Legislators who
say, "YOu shall not form such associa-
tions," are bound to give some reason for
their prohibition. The Mexican law max :
ers never gave any, but contented them
selves with vague and indefinite allegation q
of no value at all as arguments. Ifmen
could be Condemned upon mere rumors, or
unsubstantiated accusations, there would
| be no such thing as public security in any
part of the world. 1t will be seen that we
purposely leave out of sight the religious
character of the commun mites, which ought
to eptitle them to special consideration and
respect, and place them on a level with Sc
cular organizations for the sake of more
| clearly demonstrating the depotism and in
justice manifested in their suppression
We should not have a word to say if it had
been proved that any of these orders were
dangerous to society or were engaged in in
trigues of any sort. OF course we know very
we'll that such charges would be preposter
Gus and utterly devoid of foundation, bu
the "liberar" legislators should have made
an endeavor to establish them, if it were
only in justification of themselves.
Then, again, what An absurdity is thu
prohibition of religious professions The
Mexicans are all Catholics, most of then
are strongly attached to their Church, anG
surely they never made any objections t.
these PROFESSIONS. If theysdid not, by wha
right or in what interest did the Liberia
Legislators forbid and penalize them VIVA
harm did they do7 What disturbance di,
they createf What business did they inter
fere withf They were simply disagreeabl
to few in6dels, who hate to see any ont
ward manifestation of belief in the Re
deemer-and that is all. These few wan
to force their ideas upon the milllone, ant
in 30 doing they violate all rules of equity
Again, we would remark, what can posi-
bly, be more absurd than the law forbidin,
ecclesiastics to wear in public any dress o
article of dress suggestive of their sacret
callBgf When "liberal, enlightened AM
progressive" statesmen deliberately attemp
to regulate by law the shape of hat and Gu
of coat which shall be worn in the streets
it is about time to question whether the de
mon OF Intolerance hath not possessed then
to madness. The latest Mexican paper
which we have look ed at are literally flle
with accounts of the prosecution of such
bishop for wearing peculiar style of ha
while driving in his carriage, or the impris
, onment nf such priest for wearing a Goa
that looked like a suutane! In one Cit
these pi osecutions were quite fire. qnent INIT
an earthquake shook all the activity out O
the "liberal officials" and then they no
/ only refrained from interfering with the re
ligious PROFESSIONS, but actually participant
ed in them themselves. From one end of tn
republic to the other popular manifesto
tiOns of dislike and opposition to these new
laws have been made on large scale, bu
we do not suppose they will have any effect
Nothing short of a revolution, wound ri
+ by little fusillsding, will teach Ties
"liberal statesmen" that they have beeI
placed in power to carry out the will of 1
Catholic people, and not to display thei
anti Christian hostility to religion. TIA
they are likely to get soon unless they lis
ten to the dictates of common sense ana
abrogate their absurd and despotc enact
ma