The New York herald., 1875-02-23
THE RELIGIOUS BRoLs IN MEXICO.
CATHOLIC ACCOUNT OF THE REPORTED oUrRAaEs
ON AMERICAN MIssIoNARIEs-THE SCENE AT

CATHOLIC ACCOUNT OF THE REPORTED oUTRAaEs
ON AMERICAN MIssIoNARIEs-THE SCENE AT
ACAPULCO
From the Catholic New York) Review]
well known citizen Of New YORK, who was
passenger on board the Montana en- route for san
Francisco, was in Acapulco about the time OF the
riot already telegraphed with much sensation to
the American press He took pains to make in.
quires concerning the origin OF the trouble, and
from letter to friend In New York we make the
following extract:-
srEHMEE nwra M9STASA; },, OFF THE THE COAST Tor}
On Monday February, l. we anchored IN Aca-
pulco Bay l went ashore and visited the little
Mexican chapel and otnet places OF interest In the
town. very unfortunae affair had happened on
the Tuesday before our arrival. II appears tnat a
PRESBYTERIAN missionary had come from the Clty
Oh MEXICO, at the invitation OF government officials,
10 convert the good people Of Acapulco to the
"Reglon OF the Bipe.' The inhabitants are and
Tney are more tnan half Indians, ana
know no better way OF lwarding on the attacks OF
OF the short, sharp Mex sword Tne ' presoy
teran a! oste, aided by the government, erected a
meeting house and Dea5 n tue work oi evangelical
tion. He himself admit, for We have spoken TO
him, that he always conducted services armed.
Two revolvers IN MS pockets and a Bible IN his
hands. God neip US! or greater safety he lodged
with the Cher or PUice. VINO, with the otner
government officials III the place, were MS cnlef
supporters. HIS congregation. too, following his
meek example. went Armed to church.
Now the people who attended these services
were either government employees, who went
there to spite the CltnOc party. or they were
Catholics VINO went ttere 10 defend in their own
peculiar way their religion from insult. AT the
meeting that took place on the evening OF the 26tn
January general agnt was provoNed between
the contending parties. and the meeting house
was changed INTO slaughter house. Five were
Killed on the spot and eighteen or twenty were
wounded, several OF whom ave since died.
Of course, the whole blame was thrown on the
bloodthlrsty papsts, aud the priest was at the
bottom OF II all. From what nave been able to
learn OF the affair Acapulco Itself and also
the missionary. MI. Hu Crimson. VINO is on board,
fleeing from the soene OF slaughter, nave every
reason to believe tnat the thing was u political
JOB gotten up ny the lnfdel government OF
Mexico to briNa the clerical party into
disrepute. l nitve heard Old sea cap
tain, who has been on the coast Tor
many years, and who understands exactly how
matters stand, say that 1t was political. and that
ex-Congressman Detz was at the bottom OF tue
whole matter. AS Tor the priest In question,
Padre Custo. hcugh nearly pure Indian, ne Is
thorough priest and an educated gentleman, anu
am entiI ely satisfied that least would never
lncite his pe0pk TO blooushed.
Yet SO great rs the Protestant clamor ana so un-
just the MeXl(Jn administration OF Justice tnat 1t
Is much to be feared the poor Padre Will be shot
as the author OF the massacre.