Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-27
TROPIC LANDS
JESUITS FLEEING FROM NJ
CARAGUA.


why the Order is Compelled TO q nit
the Republic-The Peruvian Capi-
taI-Bustness Looking Up-Ranks
he.OPened "A Sunken ChtItan
TransDOrt RaIsed-Captured Can.
non En Route for ChiII-A Vessel
Fired at PIsagua.
PANAMA, June I6.-The steamer Costa
Rica, OF the Pacific Mail Company's Central
American and Mexican Line. arrived here
yesterday, bringing sixteen Jesuit priests.
the advance guard of that strong and i'm
portant body to which an order of expulsion
from the republic of Nicaragua has been
gwen oy the government of that country.
The circumstances which led to this exercise
Oh power, which of late years has
rarely been invoked in Nicaragua. are me-
cullar and exceptional. In 1870 a number
OF Jesuit fathers, who had been expelled
from Guatemala because they had taken
part against the government In its reyolu-
tlons VI that period, arrived in Corinto.
Their advent and their stay In the country
Tor some time attracted no attention. They
established themselves in Leon, where thev
we're favorably received by the masses.
Their number soon increased by additions
from other countries, and their leaders soon
saw the advantages of establishing in the
country central camp Of their organization
in Central America.
Matagolpa, city remote from the capital
OF the country, Mansgua, situated in the
midst of large Indian population (about
IO,OOO) was selected as the capital of the
Jesuits. Here they built a splendid con-
vent, with chapels, cloisters, cells, and every
thing complete according to traditional Gus
tom. The inhabitants received them with
open arms, and in return for the gift of
splendid chapel, ETC., the Jesuits received a
magnificent sugar and coffee estate, which
they have continued to work with great
success up to the present day. The labor
on the estate was performed by the Indians,
who received no pecuniarY recompense for
their toll.
President Quadia, in his message to Con-
gress In 1873, called attention to the pres
ence Of these fathers In the country, hinted
at their hostility to free institutions, de-
nounced them as dangerous to the peace of
the republic, and asked Instructions as to
the course he should pursue with regard to
them. Congress declined to act IN the mat
ter, and tntimated that the constitution
conferred ample power upon the Executive
to deal with all such persons should the
necessity arise. At the beginning of
charge of the parish of Matagolpa, who was
unfavorable to the Jesuits. The latter stirred
up opposition to him and the government
which appointed him, and the result was
the Indian revolt of March this year, which
was suppressed by the people of the city
aEd surrounding country with the loss of
many lives and the destruction OF considera-
| BILE property. Evidence obtained on the
spot by the government commissioner con-
nected the Jesnits with this sanguinary out
break.
An order was at once issued for the sup
preston of the Jesuit monastery at Mata-
golpa and the removal Of the fathers under
guard to Granada. In the meantime
the hostility of the Jesuit fathers
ment college, which was opened there
under charge Of two professors from
Europe, one of whom, in his inaugural ad-
dress, insisted upon free speech and free
press, etc., as necessary to the education of
free people. Their anger at this declars-
tion was already considerable and when the
news from Matagolpa arrived 1t increased to
| open violence. They declared that their
suffering brethren were about to be
violently expelled from the country.
and called upon the faithful everywhere
/ to resist such an outrage upon reli-
| gion. On the Sth of May an outbreak
occurred in the city, In which three or four
| thousand people resisted the police and the
small military force, and defied the govern
4
number of people killed and wounded. The
mob retired to the old Convent of LaRecol-
| leccion, and there barricaded themselves.
Forces were sent from Managua, Granada
and Rivas, and the malcontents we're forced
to disperse. only after display of military
force, and the threat to bury them under
the ruins of their place OF refuge and de-
| fense.
Such acts against law and order impelled
President Seavala to issue a decree ex-
pelling the Jesuits from the country. They
| are flying In all directions By Pacific Mail
/ steamers north and south, via GreytowD,
and by land to Costa Rica, an exodus is In
progress. which is witnessed by the devo-
/ tees of Nicaragua, particularly the women,
with tears and lamentations. The influences
brought to bear upon the government to
prevent their banishment have been ex-
/ traordinary.
Recent adyIces from the South say: zone
! of the famous 1000 Founders OF the point
at Callao, to which the ChilIan ships of war
always gave wide berth in the frequent
| bombardments during the war, was shipped
on board the Matias Consino, bound for
| Chilli on May 3lst."
III Dia, of Callao, of May 31st, says: "The
/ transport Rimac, sunk by the Peruvians to
prevent her falling into the hands OF the
| Chilians, has been successfully raised and
will soon be in good sea-going condition.
/ business IN LlInd Is lOOhtuk up lib1lc. AWO
banks, the Naccional DePeru and the Callao
have reopened their doors in Lima for gen
| eral business"
| Voz Chaeras, of Iquique, says: ga fire
broke out in the bark Christoforo, at Pisa
qua. The vessel was laden with 29, 249
| quintals of nitre on government account,
| 10, 900 Of which had been taken on board at
| Iquique. Two of the crew perished, and
the remainder were arrested pending inves-
tigation into the occurrence, which Is con-